Cost of hiring in the East Arkansas nonmetro area
BLS counts about 3,880 people in these 12 roles in the East Arkansas nonmetro area1. Project Coordinator has the highest median ($66,540 a year), Virtual Receptionist the lowest ($31,210), and Customer Support Specialist is the largest job, with about 750 people.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in the East Arkansas nonmetro area
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customer Support Specialist | -16.4% | 750 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -17.9% | 390 | |
| Bookkeeper | -21.1% | 570 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -23.0% | 110 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -25.5% | 120 | |
| Accountant | -27.5% | 300 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -28.0% | 580 | |
| Recruiter | -29.7% | 250 | |
| Office Manager | -30.0% | 540 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -32.3% | 50 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -34.8% | 130 | |
| Project Coordinator | -35.0% | 90 |
The employer pays more than the wage: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, so a $37,440 median for customer support specialists, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $48,310 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
the East Arkansas nonmetro area against the US
The East Arkansas nonmetro area pays below the US median for all 12 roles. The gap is smallest for customer support specialists (-16.4%) and virtual receptionists (-17.9%) and largest for project coordinators (-35.0%). The middle gap across all 12 is -27.7%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for marketing specialists, #392 of 516 areas by median pay; its lowest is for accountants, #520 of 521.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, the East Arkansas nonmetro area has more virtual receptionists (10.1% of these jobs here, against 6.2% nationally) and bookkeepers (14.7% against 9.3%), and fewer project coordinators (2.3% against 7.2%) and sales development representatives (3.4% against 8.5%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Brownsville-Harlingen, TX is nearest, at -24.4%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria, LA | -23.3% | 14 | 4,980 |
| Eagle Pass, TX | -23.6% | 11 | 1,250 |
| Laredo, TX | -24.2% | 17 | 10,520 |
| Gadsden, AL | -24.4% | 11 | 2,870 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | -24.4% | 17 | 15,460 |
| East Arkansas (Nonmetro) | -27.7% (this area) | 12 | 3,880 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, marketing specialists in the East Arkansas nonmetro area span $31,050–$97,420, the widest band (3.1×); virtual receptionists the narrowest, $26,060–$37,620. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 8 of 12 roles, sales development representatives most ($37,980–$148,840 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, project coordinators, office managers and 5 more roles: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($59,160 against a $45,640 median for sales development representatives).
the East Arkansas nonmetro area against Arkansas
Against Arkansas as a whole, the East Arkansas nonmetro area pays less for every one of the 12 roles with a statewide figure. It comes closest for customer support specialists (-1.1%) and is furthest below for office managers (-16.2%). It has the lowest median in Arkansas for office managers, payroll specialists and administrative assistants and 1 more role.
Other areas in Arkansas
By jobs in these roles, the East Arkansas nonmetro area is #8 of 9 areas in Arkansas. The table shows the other 8.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR | 32,430 | 17 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale, AR | 25,800 | 17 |
| North Arkansas (Nonmetro) | 8,220 | 17 |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | 7,690 | 16 |
| South Arkansas (Nonmetro) | 6,720 | 14 |
| West Arkansas (Nonmetro) | 4,930 | 15 |
| Jonesboro, AR | 4,150 | 15 |
| Hot Springs, AR | 2,720 | 12 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in the East Arkansas nonmetro area?
Of the 12 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $66,540 a year, about $85,858 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $31,210.
Is hiring in the East Arkansas nonmetro area cheaper than the US median?
Yes, for every role we track: all 12 medians are below the US figure, the furthest for project coordinators (-35.0%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.