Cost of hiring in Johnson City, TN
Customer Support Specialist is the largest of these 17 jobs in Johnson City, with about 1,940 people1. Medians run from $31,180 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 Johnson City
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR Assistant | -7.6% | 100 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -12.7% | 30 | |
| Office Manager | -14.5% | 1,420 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -15.7% | 1,030 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -18.0% | 300 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -18.3% | 1,940 | |
| Recruiter | -18.7% | 360 | |
| Bookkeeper | -19.7% | 870 | |
| Paralegal | -19.8% | 120 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -20.4% | 1,580 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -20.8% | 90 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -22.5% | 40 | |
| Accountant | -22.7% | 510 | |
| Executive Assistant | -23.3% | 80 | |
| Project Coordinator | -23.7% | 300 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -25.4% | 220 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -33.8% | 350 |
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 $36,570 median for customer support specialists, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $47,187 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
Johnson City against the US
Johnson City pays below the US median for all 17 roles. The gap is smallest for HR assistants (-7.6%) and data entry specialists (-12.7%) and largest for sales development representatives (-33.8%). The middle gap across all 17 is -19.8%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for HR assistants, #247 of 384 areas by median pay; its lowest is for bookkeepers, #502 of 521.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, Johnson City has more medical administrative assistants (16.9% of these jobs here, against 6.1% nationally) and HR assistants (1.1% against 0.6%), and fewer executive assistants (0.9% against 2.9%) and data entry specialists (0.3% against 0.8%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Houma-Bayou Cane, LA is nearest, at -19.7%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beckley, WV | -19.3% | 14 | 3,140 |
| Sebring, FL | -19.3% | 14 | 2,750 |
| Enid, OK | -19.7% | 13 | 1,780 |
| Lubbock, TX | -19.7% | 17 | 17,180 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane, LA | -19.7% | 15 | 6,390 |
| Johnson City, TN | -19.8% (this area) | 17 | 9,340 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in Johnson City span $26,380–$97,640, the widest band (3.7×); medical administrative assistants the narrowest, $30,450–$47,130. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 8 of 17 roles, paralegals most ($44,740–$101,500 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, project coordinators, recruiters and 3 more roles: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($56,150 against a $46,320 median for sales development representatives).
Johnson City against Tennessee
Against Tennessee as a whole, Johnson City pays more only for HR assistants (+2.2%), and less for 16, most of all sales development representatives (-23.1%). It has the lowest median in Tennessee for accountants and bookkeepers.
Other areas in Tennessee
By jobs in these roles, Johnson City is #8 of 14 areas in Tennessee. The table shows the areas closest to it in size, from Knoxville to Morristown.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Knoxville, TN | 46,920 | 17 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | 28,700 | 17 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | 11,540 | 17 |
| North Central Tennessee (Nonmetro) | 10,290 | 17 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | 9,360 | 17 |
| West Tennessee (Nonmetro) | 9,320 | 17 |
| South Central Tennessee (Nonmetro) | 8,960 | 17 |
| East Tennessee (Nonmetro) | 8,610 | 17 |
| Jackson, TN | 7,250 | 17 |
| Morristown, TN | 3,900 | 17 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in Johnson City?
Of the 17 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $78,100 a year, about $100,774 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $31,180.
Is hiring in Johnson City cheaper than the US median?
Yes, for every role we track: all 17 medians are below the US figure, the furthest for sales development representatives (-33.8%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.