Cost of hiring in Eau Claire, WI
Customer Support Specialist is the largest of these 16 jobs in Eau Claire, with about 1,340 people1. Medians run from $41,310 a year for virtual receptionists to $95,840 for project coordinators.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in Eau Claire
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Receptionist | +8.7% | 990 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +4.4% | 350 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +2.6% | 1,340 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +0.3% | 40 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -0.2% | 80 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -1.2% | 720 | |
| Office Manager | -2.2% | 610 | |
| Bookkeeper | -2.8% | 780 | |
| HR Assistant | -3.7% | 40 | |
| Project Coordinator | -6.3% | 460 | |
| Accountant | -8.7% | 670 | |
| Executive Assistant | -10.5% | 100 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -13.8% | 580 | |
| Recruiter | -14.5% | 390 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -21.3% | 460 | |
| Paralegal | -22.0% | 110 |
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 $45,930 median for customer support specialists, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $59,265 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
Eau Claire against the US
Eau Claire pays above the US median for 3 of the 16 roles, most of all for virtual receptionists (+8.7%) and medical administrative assistants (+4.4%), and below it for 11, furthest for paralegals (-22.0%). For data entry specialists and payroll specialists it is within 1% of the US figure. The middle gap across all 16 is -3.2%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for virtual receptionists, #64 of 521 areas by median pay; its lowest is for paralegals, #395 of 506.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, Eau Claire has more virtual receptionists (12.8% of these jobs here, against 5.8% nationally) and bookkeepers (10.1% against 8.7%), and fewer executive assistants (1.3% against 2.9%) and paralegals (1.4% against 2.5%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Nashville-Murfreesboro, TN is nearest, at -3.3%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield, IL | -3.1% | 16 | 11,900 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel, IN | -3.1% | 17 | 105,820 |
| Bozeman, MT | -3.2% | 13 | 5,430 |
| Eau Claire, WI | -3.2% (this area) | 16 | 7,720 |
| Nashville-Murfreesboro, TN | -3.3% | 17 | 133,260 |
| Minot, ND | -3.5% | 12 | 2,360 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in Eau Claire span $37,010–$105,740, the widest band (2.9×); paralegals the narrowest, $45,410–$65,830. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 14 of 16 roles, paralegals most ($44,740–$101,500 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, marketing specialists, paralegals and 2 more roles: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($69,240 against a $60,320 median for sales development representatives).
Eau Claire against Wisconsin
Against Wisconsin as a whole, Eau Claire pays more only for data entry specialists (+8.7%), and less for 11, most of all paralegals (-16.2%). Its best rank within Wisconsin is #3 of 17 areas, for medical administrative assistants.
Other areas in Wisconsin
By jobs in these roles, Eau Claire is #9 of 17 areas in Wisconsin. The table shows the areas closest to it in size, from the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area to Wausau.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Northeastern Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | 16,030 | 17 |
| South Central Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | 14,740 | 17 |
| Appleton, WI | 12,090 | 17 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | 9,050 | 16 |
| Western Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | 8,730 | 17 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | 7,310 | 17 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | 6,260 | 16 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | 6,200 | 17 |
| Kenosha, WI | 6,200 | 16 |
| Wausau, WI | 5,900 | 15 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in Eau Claire?
Of the 16 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $95,840 a year, about $123,665 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $41,310.
Is hiring in Eau Claire cheaper than the US median?
For 11 of the 16 roles, yes, most of all paralegals (-22.0%). 3 pay more than the US median, led by virtual receptionists (+8.7%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.