Cost of hiring in Lima, OH
BLS counts about 3,780 people in these 16 roles in Lima1. Project Coordinator has the highest median ($81,670 a year), Virtual Receptionist the lowest ($35,600), and Administrative Assistant is the largest job, with about 490 people.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in Lima
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +2.7% | 30 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -5.1% | 50 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -5.4% | 460 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -6.3% | 370 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -6.5% | 490 | |
| Bookkeeper | -8.1% | 430 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -11.5% | 30 | |
| Office Manager | -12.4% | 330 | |
| Accountant | -12.8% | 300 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -14.9% | 420 | |
| Recruiter | -16.4% | 230 | |
| Executive Assistant | -19.0% | 80 | |
| Project Coordinator | -20.2% | 150 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -21.5% | 250 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -21.8% | 130 | |
| Paralegal | -23.5% | 30 |
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 $44,460 median for administrative assistants, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $57,368 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
Lima against the US
Lima pays above the US median for only one of the 16 roles, e-commerce order specialists (+2.7%), and below it for 15, furthest for paralegals (-23.5%). The middle gap across all 16 is -12.6%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for e-commerce order specialists, #69 of 287 areas by median pay; its lowest is for paralegals, #421 of 506.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, Lima has more medical administrative assistants (11.1% of these jobs here, against 6.1% nationally) and virtual receptionists (9.8% against 5.8%), and fewer paralegals (0.8% against 2.5%) and project coordinators (4.0% against 6.8%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Fayetteville-Springdale, AR is nearest, at -12.6%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Island, NE | -12.5% | 13 | 2,920 |
| Waco, TX | -12.5% | 17 | 13,190 |
| Lima, OH | -12.6% (this area) | 16 | 3,780 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale, AR | -12.6% | 17 | 25,800 |
| Decatur, AL | -12.6% | 15 | 5,210 |
| Gettysburg, PA | -12.6% | 12 | 2,320 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in Lima span $36,630–$106,010, the widest band (2.9×); medical administrative assistants the narrowest, $36,570–$48,450. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 8 of 16 roles, sales development representatives most ($37,980–$148,840 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, project coordinators, marketing specialists and 3 more roles: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($66,670 against a $54,940 median for sales development representatives).
Lima against Ohio
Against Ohio as a whole, Lima pays more only for e-commerce order specialists (+2.8%), and less for 14, most of all paralegals (-20.3%). Its best rank within Ohio is #2 of 14 areas, for e-commerce order specialists.
Other areas in Ohio
By jobs in these roles, Lima is #13 of 16 areas in Ohio. The table shows the areas closest to it in size, from Toledo to Sandusky.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Toledo, OH | 23,500 | 17 |
| North Northeastern Ohio (Nonmetro) | 17,530 | 17 |
| West Northwestern Ohio (Nonmetro) | 16,180 | 16 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | 13,420 | 17 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | 12,130 | 17 |
| Southern Ohio (Nonmetro) | 11,260 | 17 |
| Eastern Ohio (Nonmetro) | 10,040 | 17 |
| Springfield, OH | 3,550 | 15 |
| Mansfield, OH | 3,440 | 15 |
| Sandusky, OH | 3,400 | 15 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in Lima?
Of the 16 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $81,670 a year, about $105,381 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $35,600.
Is hiring in Lima cheaper than the US median?
For 15 of the 16 roles, yes, most of all paralegals (-23.5%). One pays more than the US median: e-commerce order specialists (+2.7%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.