Cost of hiring in Joplin, MO-KS
BLS counts about 6,160 people in these 14 roles in Joplin1. Project Coordinator has the highest median ($77,760 a year), Virtual Receptionist the lowest ($34,350), and Customer Support Specialist is the largest job, with about 1,080 people.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in Joplin
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customer Support Specialist | -6.5% | 1,080 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -9.6% | 510 | |
| Bookkeeper | -10.8% | 530 | |
| Accountant | -13.3% | 560 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -16.0% | 260 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -16.7% | 100 | |
| Office Manager | -18.3% | 590 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -18.9% | 990 | |
| Recruiter | -19.4% | 390 | |
| Project Coordinator | -24.0% | 330 | |
| Paralegal | -25.9% | 100 | |
| Executive Assistant | -30.0% | 160 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -30.1% | 270 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -36.7% | 290 |
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 $41,850 median for customer support specialists, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $54,000 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
Joplin against the US
Joplin pays below the US median for all 14 roles. The gap is smallest for customer support specialists (-6.5%) and virtual receptionists (-9.6%) and largest for sales development representatives (-36.7%). The middle gap across all 14 is -18.6%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for customer support specialists, #237 of 520 areas by median pay; its lowest is for sales development representatives, #510 of 520.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, Joplin has more payroll specialists (1.6% of these jobs here, against 1.0% nationally) and administrative assistants (16.1% against 11.0%), and fewer sales development representatives (4.7% against 8.1%) and paralegals (1.6% against 2.5%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Lafayette, LA is nearest, at -18.7%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muncie, IN | -18.2% | 15 | 3,740 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | -18.3% | 15 | 3,330 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | -18.5% | 16 | 15,130 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | -18.6% (this area) | 14 | 6,160 |
| Lafayette, LA | -18.7% | 16 | 14,680 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY | -18.9% | 16 | 12,600 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in Joplin span $29,380–$97,920, the widest band (3.3×); virtual receptionists the narrowest, $28,600–$41,270. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 6 of 14 roles, virtual receptionists most ($28,760–$49,950 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, paralegals, marketing specialists and 2 more roles: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($57,080 against a $44,310 median for sales development representatives).
Joplin against Missouri
Against Missouri as a whole, Joplin pays less for every one of the 14 roles with a statewide figure. It comes closest for virtual receptionists (-3.9%) and is furthest below for sales development representatives (-26.7%). Its best rank within Missouri is #4 of 12 areas, for customer support specialists.
Other areas in Missouri
By jobs in these roles, Joplin is #9 of 12 areas in Missouri. The table shows the areas closest to it in size, from Kansas City to Cape Girardeau.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 118,710 | 17 |
| Springfield, MO | 20,430 | 16 |
| Southeast Missouri (Nonmetro) | 10,450 | 16 |
| Columbia, MO | 10,200 | 16 |
| Central Missouri (Nonmetro) | 10,000 | 17 |
| Jefferson City, MO | 8,300 | 16 |
| North Missouri (Nonmetro) | 7,120 | 15 |
| Southwest Missouri (Nonmetro) | 5,240 | 16 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | 3,920 | 15 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | 3,590 | 14 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in Joplin?
Of the 14 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $77,760 a year, about $100,335 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $34,350.
Is hiring in Joplin cheaper than the US median?
Yes, for every role we track: all 14 medians are below the US figure, the furthest for sales development representatives (-36.7%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.