Cost of hiring in the Massachusetts nonmetro area
Administrative Assistant is the largest of these 14 jobs in the Massachusetts nonmetro area, with about 560 people1. Medians run from $44,940 a year for virtual receptionists to $96,270 for project coordinators.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in the Massachusetts nonmetro area
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeper | +21.9% | 450 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +18.5% | 560 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | +18.2% | 200 | |
| Paralegal | +16.0% | 50 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +12.1% | 180 | |
| Accountant | +11.5% | 310 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +7.7% | 430 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +7.1% | 30 | |
| Recruiter | +4.1% | 160 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +4.0% | 200 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +2.6% | 210 | |
| Office Manager | +2.0% | 380 | |
| Executive Assistant | +0.2% | 180 | |
| Project Coordinator | -5.9% | 90 |
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 $56,340 median for administrative assistants, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $72,697 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
the Massachusetts nonmetro area against the US
The Massachusetts nonmetro area pays above the US median for 12 of the 14 roles, most of all for bookkeepers (+21.9%) and administrative assistants (+18.5%), and below it only for project coordinators (-5.9%). For executive assistants it is within 1% of the US figure. The middle gap across all 14 is +7.4%: for most of these roles, hiring costs more here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for bookkeepers, #5 of 521 areas by median pay; its lowest is for project coordinators, #194 of 518.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, the Massachusetts nonmetro area has more executive assistants (5.2% of these jobs here, against 3.0% nationally) and administrative assistants (16.3% against 11.0%), and fewer project coordinators (2.6% against 6.8%) and paralegals (1.5% against 2.5%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Kahului-Wailuku, HI is nearest, at +7.3%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks, CA | +8.0% | 17 | 27,360 |
| Massachusetts (Nonmetro) | +7.4% (this area) | 14 | 3,430 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | +7.3% | 15 | 6,080 |
| Hartford-West Hartford, CT | +7.1% | 17 | 63,230 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | +7.1% | 16 | 11,040 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | +7.1% | 17 | 25,810 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, marketing specialists in the Massachusetts nonmetro area span $49,950–$152,020, the widest band (3.0×); virtual receptionists the narrowest, $37,140–$57,150. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 12 of 14 roles, sales development representatives most ($37,980–$148,840 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, marketing specialists, recruiters and 1 more role: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($85,640 against a $72,790 median for sales development representatives).
the Massachusetts nonmetro area against Massachusetts
Against Massachusetts as a whole, the Massachusetts nonmetro area pays more for 3 of 14 roles, led by bookkeepers (+3.2%) and virtual receptionists (+2.4%), and less for 11, most of all marketing specialists (-20.6%). It has the highest median in Massachusetts for bookkeepers.
Other areas in Massachusetts
By jobs in these roles, the Massachusetts nonmetro area is #7 of 7 areas in Massachusetts. The table shows the other 6.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge, MA-NH | 302,950 | 17 |
| Worcester, MA | 32,420 | 17 |
| Springfield, MA | 17,070 | 17 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | 8,510 | 14 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | 5,890 | 14 |
| Pittsfield, MA | 5,230 | 15 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in the Massachusetts nonmetro area?
Of the 14 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $96,270 a year, about $124,219 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $44,940.
Is hiring in the Massachusetts nonmetro area cheaper than the US median?
For one of the 14 roles, yes: project coordinators (-5.9%). 12 pay more than the US median, led by bookkeepers (+21.9%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.