Cost of hiring in the East Kentucky nonmetro area
Medical Administrative Assistant is the largest of these 16 jobs in the East Kentucky nonmetro area, with about 2,020 people1. Medians run from $29,640 a year for virtual receptionists to $78,100 for project coordinators.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in the East Kentucky nonmetro area
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Entry Specialist | -10.9% | 30 | |
| Bookkeeper | -14.6% | 1,190 | |
| HR Assistant | -16.4% | 30 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -19.5% | 1,210 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -20.6% | 1,210 | |
| Office Manager | -21.0% | 950 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -22.0% | 370 | |
| Paralegal | -22.4% | 190 | |
| Accountant | -23.0% | 450 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -23.1% | 2,020 | |
| Project Coordinator | -23.7% | 260 | |
| Executive Assistant | -28.6% | 90 | |
| Recruiter | -28.7% | 310 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -29.4% | 70 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -31.8% | 240 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -38.5% | 120 |
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 $35,300 median for medical administrative assistants, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $45,548 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
the East Kentucky nonmetro area against the US
The East Kentucky nonmetro area pays below the US median for all 16 roles. The gap is smallest for data entry specialists (-10.9%) and bookkeepers (-14.6%) and largest for marketing specialists (-38.5%). The middle gap across all 16 is -22.7%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for data entry specialists, #295 of 394 areas by median pay; its lowest is for virtual receptionists, #512 of 521.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, the East Kentucky nonmetro area has more medical administrative assistants (23.1% of these jobs here, against 6.1% nationally) and bookkeepers (13.6% against 8.7%), and fewer marketing specialists (1.4% against 5.7%) and sales development representatives (2.7% against 8.0%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Hammond, LA is nearest, at -22.6%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | -22.3% | 14 | 3,590 |
| Hammond, LA | -22.6% | 14 | 3,540 |
| East Kentucky (Nonmetro) | -22.7% (this area) | 16 | 8,740 |
| Valdosta, GA | -22.8% | 15 | 4,420 |
| Monroe, LA | -22.8% | 16 | 7,200 |
| Alexandria, LA | -23.3% | 14 | 4,980 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in the East Kentucky nonmetro area span $32,180–$96,580, the widest band (3.0×); data entry specialists the narrowest, $30,390–$46,380. Wider than nationally for paralegals and virtual receptionists, narrower for recruiters and marketing specialists. Budget from the median for sales development representatives, marketing specialists, accountants and 4 more roles: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($57,760 against a $47,750 median for sales development representatives).
the East Kentucky nonmetro area against Kentucky
Against Kentucky as a whole, the East Kentucky nonmetro area pays about the same or less for all 16 roles, and less for 15, most of all payroll specialists (-22.3%). It has the lowest median in Kentucky for accountants, executive assistants and recruiters and 7 more roles.
Other areas in Kentucky
By jobs in these roles, the East Kentucky nonmetro area is #6 of 10 areas in Kentucky. The table shows the other 9.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville, KY-IN | 67,530 | 17 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | 30,310 | 17 |
| Central Kentucky (Nonmetro) | 15,920 | 17 |
| South Central Kentucky (Nonmetro) | 15,900 | 17 |
| West Kentucky (Nonmetro) | 10,320 | 17 |
| Bowling Green, KY | 6,960 | 15 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | 5,430 | 15 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | 4,800 | 15 |
| Owensboro, KY | 4,240 | 14 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in the East Kentucky nonmetro area?
Of the 16 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $78,100 a year, about $100,774 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $29,640.
Is hiring in the East Kentucky nonmetro area cheaper than the US median?
Yes, for every role we track: all 16 medians are below the US figure, the furthest for marketing specialists (-38.5%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.