Cost of hiring in the Maryland nonmetro area
Administrative Assistant is the largest of these 17 jobs in the Maryland nonmetro area, with about 2,320 people1. Medians run from $37,340 a year for virtual receptionists to $90,490 for project coordinators.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in the Maryland nonmetro area
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +2.1% | 40 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -1.8% | 900 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -2.5% | 2,320 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -2.9% | 670 | |
| Bookkeeper | -3.5% | 1,140 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -3.8% | 70 | |
| Recruiter | -4.0% | 370 | |
| Paralegal | -4.7% | 80 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -8.1% | 40 | |
| Accountant | -8.9% | 710 | |
| Office Manager | -9.4% | 1,110 | |
| HR Assistant | -10.8% | 50 | |
| Executive Assistant | -11.0% | 310 | |
| Project Coordinator | -11.6% | 630 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -15.3% | 1,540 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -20.9% | 620 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -24.5% | 400 |
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 $46,340 median for administrative assistants, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $59,794 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
the Maryland nonmetro area against the US
The Maryland nonmetro area pays above the US median for only one of the 17 roles, e-commerce order specialists (+2.1%), and below it for 16, furthest for marketing specialists (-24.5%). The middle gap across all 17 is -8.1%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for e-commerce order specialists, #78 of 287 areas by median pay; its lowest is for HR assistants, #294 of 384.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, the Maryland nonmetro area has more administrative assistants (21.1% of these jobs here, against 10.8% nationally) and virtual receptionists (8.2% against 5.7%), and fewer paralegals (0.7% against 2.5%) and data entry specialists (0.4% against 0.8%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Greenville-Anderson, SC is nearest, at -8.1%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flagstaff, AZ | -7.9% | 16 | 5,220 |
| Spartanburg, SC | -8.0% | 17 | 13,230 |
| Greenville-Anderson, SC | -8.1% | 17 | 46,700 |
| Maryland (Nonmetro) | -8.1% (this area) | 17 | 11,000 |
| Billings, MT | -8.1% | 15 | 7,460 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | -8.1% | 17 | 130,870 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, marketing specialists in the Maryland nonmetro area span $38,150–$112,490, the widest band (2.9×); virtual receptionists the narrowest, $31,320–$47,070. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 14 of 17 roles, sales development representatives most ($37,980–$148,840 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, marketing specialists, customer support specialists and 2 more roles: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($65,510 against a $55,340 median for sales development representatives).
the Maryland nonmetro area against Maryland
Against Maryland as a whole, the Maryland nonmetro area pays less for every one of the 17 roles with a statewide figure. It comes closest for e-commerce order specialists (-1.2%) and is furthest below for marketing specialists (-22.1%). It has the lowest median in Maryland for marketing specialists, payroll specialists and sales development representatives and 2 more roles.
Other areas in Maryland
By jobs in these roles, the Maryland nonmetro area is #2 of 5 areas in Maryland. The table shows the other 4.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia, MD | 156,430 | 17 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | 9,790 | 16 |
| Lexington Park, MD | 6,240 | 14 |
| Salisbury, MD | 5,870 | 15 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in the Maryland nonmetro area?
Of the 17 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $90,490 a year, about $116,761 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $37,340.
Is hiring in the Maryland nonmetro area cheaper than the US median?
For 16 of the 17 roles, yes, most of all marketing specialists (-24.5%). One pays more than the US median: e-commerce order specialists (+2.1%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.