Cost of hiring in the Eastern North Carolina nonmetro area
Bookkeeper is the largest of these 17 jobs in the Eastern North Carolina nonmetro area, with about 2,990 people1. Medians run from $32,940 a year for virtual receptionists to $94,390 for project coordinators.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in the Eastern North Carolina nonmetro area
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Entry Specialist | -6.1% | 190 | |
| Project Coordinator | -7.8% | 980 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -8.6% | 100 | |
| Accountant | -9.4% | 1,770 | |
| HR Assistant | -10.6% | 130 | |
| Paralegal | -11.2% | 680 | |
| Bookkeeper | -11.8% | 2,990 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -13.0% | 180 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -13.2% | 2,490 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -13.3% | 1,080 | |
| Recruiter | -15.6% | 970 | |
| Office Manager | -16.5% | 1,920 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -17.6% | 2,900 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -18.0% | 2,880 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -18.0% | 1,390 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -19.0% | 720 | |
| Executive Assistant | -20.7% | 300 |
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 $44,690 median for bookkeepers, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $57,665 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
the Eastern North Carolina nonmetro area against the US
The Eastern North Carolina nonmetro area pays below the US median for all 17 roles. The gap is smallest for data entry specialists (-6.1%) and project coordinators (-7.8%) and largest for executive assistants (-20.7%). The middle gap across all 17 is -13.2%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for marketing specialists, #227 of 516 areas by median pay; its lowest is for customer support specialists, #457 of 520.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, the Eastern North Carolina nonmetro area has more medical administrative assistants (13.4% of these jobs here, against 6.1% nationally) and bookkeepers (13.8% against 8.7%), and fewer executive assistants (1.4% against 2.9%) and marketing specialists (3.3% against 5.7%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Punta Gorda, FL is nearest, at -13.3%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg, VA | -13.1% | 16 | 4,870 |
| Bay City, MI | -13.2% | 13 | 2,430 |
| Eastern North Carolina (Nonmetro) | -13.2% (this area) | 17 | 21,670 |
| Punta Gorda, FL | -13.3% | 15 | 5,620 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | -13.4% | 17 | 14,610 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | -13.4% | 17 | 37,570 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in the Eastern North Carolina nonmetro area span $34,760–$129,760, the widest band (3.7×); data entry specialists the narrowest, $32,110–$48,420. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 6 of 17 roles, data entry specialists most ($31,200–$58,790 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, marketing specialists, recruiters and 2 more roles: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($69,070 against a $57,390 median for sales development representatives).
the Eastern North Carolina nonmetro area against North Carolina
Against North Carolina as a whole, the Eastern North Carolina nonmetro area pays less for every one of the 17 roles with a statewide figure. It comes closest for data entry specialists (-2.0%) and is furthest below for marketing specialists (-18.7%). Its best rank within North Carolina is #7 of 18 areas, for paralegals.
Other areas in North Carolina
By jobs in these roles, the Eastern North Carolina nonmetro area is #6 of 18 areas in North Carolina. The table shows the areas closest to it in size, from Charlotte-Concord to Hickory-Lenoir.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC | 150,280 | 17 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 87,470 | 17 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 37,280 | 17 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | 37,170 | 17 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 26,040 | 17 |
| Western North Carolina (Nonmetro) | 21,250 | 17 |
| Wilmington, NC | 19,910 | 17 |
| Asheville, NC | 18,810 | 17 |
| Central North Carolina (Nonmetro) | 17,340 | 17 |
| Hickory-Lenoir, NC | 12,690 | 17 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in the Eastern North Carolina nonmetro area?
Of the 17 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $94,390 a year, about $121,794 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $32,940.
Is hiring in the Eastern North Carolina nonmetro area cheaper than the US median?
Yes, for every role we track: all 17 medians are below the US figure, the furthest for executive assistants (-20.7%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.