Cost of hiring in the High Desert Utah nonmetro area
Administrative Assistant is the largest of these 15 jobs in the High Desert Utah nonmetro area, with about 1,350 people1. Medians run from $36,660 a year for virtual receptionists to $92,550 for project coordinators.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in the High Desert Utah nonmetro area
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Receptionist | -3.6% | 780 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -7.1% | 80 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -8.7% | 1,350 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -9.0% | n/a | |
| Project Coordinator | -9.5% | 740 | |
| Accountant | -9.7% | 650 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -10.3% | 1,140 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -10.4% | 380 | |
| Bookkeeper | -11.0% | 850 | |
| Paralegal | -11.4% | 90 | |
| Office Manager | -11.9% | 1,030 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -13.0% | 290 | |
| Recruiter | -14.8% | 330 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -26.1% | 380 | |
| Executive Assistant | -27.6% | 230 |
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 $43,400 median for administrative assistants, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $56,000 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
the High Desert Utah nonmetro area against the US
The High Desert Utah nonmetro area pays below the US median for all 15 roles. The gap is smallest for virtual receptionists (-3.6%) and payroll specialists (-7.1%) and largest for executive assistants (-27.6%). The middle gap across all 15 is -10.4%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for sales development representatives, #150 of 520 areas by median pay; its lowest is for executive assistants, #441 of 509.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, the High Desert Utah nonmetro area has more virtual receptionists (9.4% of these jobs here, against 5.8% nationally) and administrative assistants (16.2% against 11.0%), and fewer paralegals (1.1% against 2.5%) and medical administrative assistants (3.5% against 6.2%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Columbia, SC is nearest, at -10.5%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton, SC | -10.3% | 16 | 8,860 |
| Flint, MI | -10.3% | 17 | 11,050 |
| High Desert Utah (Nonmetro) | -10.4% (this area) | 15 | 8,320 |
| Columbia, SC | -10.5% | 17 | 47,890 |
| Traverse City, MI | -10.6% | 16 | 6,340 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | -10.6% | 16 | 4,890 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in the High Desert Utah nonmetro area span $37,370–$145,010, the widest band (3.9×); virtual receptionists the narrowest, $26,950–$45,230. Wider than nationally for data entry specialists and paralegals, narrower for payroll specialists and marketing specialists. Budget from the median for sales development representatives, paralegals, executive assistants and 3 more roles: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($78,680 against a $62,680 median for sales development representatives).
the High Desert Utah nonmetro area against Utah
Against Utah as a whole, the High Desert Utah nonmetro area pays about the same or less for all 15 roles, and less for 13, most of all data entry specialists (-20.2%). It has the lowest median in Utah for office managers, marketing specialists and bookkeepers and 2 more roles.
Other areas in Utah
By jobs in these roles, the High Desert Utah nonmetro area is #4 of 7 areas in Utah. The table shows the other 6.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 103,510 | 17 |
| Provo-Orem, UT | 37,730 | 16 |
| Ogden, UT | 22,220 | 16 |
| St. George, UT | 8,320 | 15 |
| Logan, UT-ID | 6,470 | 15 |
| Wasatch Front Fringe Utah (Nonmetro) | 5,460 | 14 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in the High Desert Utah nonmetro area?
Of the 15 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $92,550 a year, about $119,419 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $36,660.
Is hiring in the High Desert Utah nonmetro area cheaper than the US median?
Yes, for every role we track: all 15 medians are below the US figure, the furthest for executive assistants (-27.6%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.