Cost of hiring in Kankakee, IL
Administrative Assistant is the largest of these 13 jobs in Kankakee, with about 540 people1. Medians run from $35,620 a year for virtual receptionists to $95,790 for project coordinators.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in Kankakee
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Assistant | -5.9% | 540 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -6.2% | 70 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -6.3% | 310 | |
| Project Coordinator | -6.4% | 70 | |
| Bookkeeper | -6.8% | 400 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -9.6% | 480 | |
| Executive Assistant | -11.9% | 60 | |
| Office Manager | -13.6% | 220 | |
| Accountant | -14.4% | 210 | |
| Recruiter | -16.1% | 160 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -18.0% | 320 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -20.8% | 220 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -28.8% | 100 |
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 $44,740 median for administrative assistants, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $57,729 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
Kankakee against the US
Kankakee pays below the US median for all 13 roles. The gap is smallest for administrative assistants (-5.9%) and data entry specialists (-6.2%) and largest for marketing specialists (-28.8%). The middle gap across all 13 is -11.9%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for executive assistants, #170 of 509 areas by median pay; its lowest is for marketing specialists, #428 of 516.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, Kankakee has more data entry specialists (2.2% of these jobs here, against 0.8% nationally) and virtual receptionists (9.8% against 6.0%), and fewer project coordinators (2.2% against 7.0%) and marketing specialists (3.2% against 5.9%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Killeen-Temple, TX is nearest, at -11.9%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | -11.9% | 17 | 40,630 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach, FL | -11.9% | 17 | 20,940 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | -11.9% | 17 | 13,290 |
| Kankakee, IL | -11.9% (this area) | 13 | 3,160 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | -12.0% | 17 | 75,230 |
| Evansville, IN | -12.1% | 17 | 11,260 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in Kankakee span $34,960–$118,180, the widest band (3.4×); data entry specialists the narrowest, $37,490–$46,710. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 9 of 13 roles, data entry specialists most ($31,200–$58,790 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, customer support specialists, marketing specialists and 2 more roles: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($66,810 against a $55,410 median for sales development representatives).
Kankakee against Illinois
Against Illinois as a whole, Kankakee pays less for every one of the 13 roles with a statewide figure. It comes closest for bookkeepers (-4.7%) and is furthest below for marketing specialists (-29.1%). It has the lowest median in Illinois for medical administrative assistants.
Other areas in Illinois
By jobs in these roles, Kankakee is #11 of 12 areas in Illinois. The table shows the areas closest to it in size, from Peoria to Decatur.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Peoria, IL | 14,860 | 17 |
| West Central Illinois (Nonmetro) | 12,990 | 17 |
| Springfield, IL | 11,900 | 16 |
| East Central Illinois (Nonmetro) | 11,370 | 17 |
| Rockford, IL | 11,210 | 17 |
| South Illinois (Nonmetro) | 10,780 | 16 |
| Northwest Illinois (Nonmetro) | 9,540 | 17 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | 8,380 | 16 |
| Bloomington, IL | 6,740 | 14 |
| Decatur, IL | 3,000 | 14 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in Kankakee?
Of the 13 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $95,790 a year, about $123,600 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $35,620.
Is hiring in Kankakee cheaper than the US median?
Yes, for every role we track: all 13 medians are below the US figure, the furthest for marketing specialists (-28.8%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.