Cost of hiring in Erie, PA
Customer Support Specialist is the largest of these 17 jobs in Erie, with about 1,610 people1. Medians run from $32,210 a year for virtual receptionists to $93,590 for project coordinators.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in Erie
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -4.9% | 40 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -5.8% | 80 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -6.8% | 1,610 | |
| HR Assistant | -8.0% | 60 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -8.1% | 570 | |
| Project Coordinator | -8.5% | 520 | |
| Bookkeeper | -10.6% | 920 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -10.9% | 50 | |
| Paralegal | -10.9% | 170 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -12.0% | 1,240 | |
| Office Manager | -14.5% | 1,040 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -15.3% | 890 | |
| Accountant | -16.3% | 970 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -19.7% | 460 | |
| Recruiter | -19.9% | 540 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -22.9% | 420 | |
| Executive Assistant | -23.2% | 170 |
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 $41,720 median for customer support specialists, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $53,832 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
Erie against the US
Erie pays below the US median for all 17 roles. The gap is smallest for e-commerce order specialists (-4.9%) and payroll specialists (-5.8%) and largest for executive assistants (-23.2%). The middle gap across all 17 is -10.9%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for payroll specialists, #220 of 486 areas by median pay; its lowest is for recruiters, #447 of 521.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, Erie has more virtual receptionists (9.1% of these jobs here, against 5.7% nationally) and administrative assistants (12.7% against 10.8%), and fewer sales development representatives (4.7% against 7.9%) and executive assistants (1.7% against 2.9%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Roanoke, VA is nearest, at -10.9%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville, NC | -10.8% | 16 | 7,660 |
| Wilmington, NC | -10.9% | 17 | 19,910 |
| Erie, PA | -10.9% (this area) | 17 | 9,750 |
| Roanoke, VA | -10.9% | 17 | 14,960 |
| Saginaw, MI | -10.9% | 17 | 8,170 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | -11.0% | 17 | 28,700 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in Erie span $32,520–$121,440, the widest band (3.7×); medical administrative assistants the narrowest, $36,180–$50,840. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 9 of 17 roles, marketing specialists most ($43,390–$155,480 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, recruiters, accountants and 1 more role: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($65,950 against a $56,210 median for sales development representatives).
Erie against Pennsylvania
Against Pennsylvania as a whole, Erie pays less for every one of the 17 roles with a statewide figure. It comes closest for payroll specialists (-1.4%) and is furthest below for executive assistants (-21.9%). It has the lowest median in Pennsylvania for virtual receptionists.
Other areas in Pennsylvania
By jobs in these roles, Erie is #12 of 20 areas in Pennsylvania. The table shows the areas closest to it in size, from York-Hanover to Lebanon.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| York-Hanover, PA | 14,930 | 17 |
| Reading, PA | 14,430 | 17 |
| Central Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | 13,520 | 17 |
| Northwestern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | 10,870 | 17 |
| Southwestern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | 10,340 | 17 |
| Northeastern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | 9,700 | 17 |
| State College, PA | 5,930 | 15 |
| Altoona, PA | 4,760 | 15 |
| Chambersburg, PA | 4,340 | 15 |
| Lebanon, PA | 3,880 | 15 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in Erie?
Of the 17 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $93,590 a year, about $120,761 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $32,210.
Is hiring in Erie cheaper than the US median?
Yes, for every role we track: all 17 medians are below the US figure, the furthest for executive assistants (-23.2%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.