Cost of hiring in Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI
BLS counts about 4,010 people in these 16 roles in Muskegon-Norton Shores1. Project Coordinator has the highest median ($83,360 a year), Virtual Receptionist the lowest ($36,460), and Customer Support Specialist is the largest job, with about 700 people.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in Muskegon-Norton Shores
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Entry Specialist | +5.1% | 40 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -4.1% | 320 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -5.3% | 520 | |
| Bookkeeper | -5.4% | 440 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -5.9% | 30 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -8.3% | 40 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -9.0% | 700 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -9.6% | 350 | |
| Accountant | -9.8% | 300 | |
| Recruiter | -11.2% | 230 | |
| Office Manager | -11.3% | 300 | |
| Project Coordinator | -18.5% | 240 | |
| Executive Assistant | -19.7% | 70 | |
| Paralegal | -23.8% | 60 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -25.9% | 190 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -29.0% | 180 |
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 $40,760 median for customer support specialists, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $52,594 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
Muskegon-Norton Shores against the US
Muskegon-Norton Shores pays above the US median for only one of the 16 roles, data entry specialists (+5.1%), and below it for 15, furthest for sales development representatives (-29.0%). The middle gap across all 16 is -9.7%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for data entry specialists, #89 of 394 areas by median pay; its lowest is for paralegals, #427 of 506.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, Muskegon-Norton Shores has more e-commerce order specialists (0.7% of these jobs here, against 0.5% nationally) and medical administrative assistants (8.7% against 6.1%), and fewer sales development representatives (4.5% against 8.0%) and executive assistants (1.7% against 2.9%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Chambersburg, PA is nearest, at -9.7%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Savannah, GA | -9.7% | 17 | 17,290 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass, FL | -9.7% | 16 | 19,150 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | -9.7% | 17 | 11,080 |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | -9.7% (this area) | 16 | 4,010 |
| Chambersburg, PA | -9.7% | 15 | 4,340 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | -9.7% | 17 | 26,040 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in Muskegon-Norton Shores span $35,710–$99,370, the widest band (2.8×); medical administrative assistants the narrowest, $35,550–$46,980. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 13 of 16 roles, marketing specialists most ($43,390–$155,480 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, paralegals and accountants: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($60,790 against a $49,700 median for sales development representatives).
Muskegon-Norton Shores against Michigan
Against Michigan as a whole, Muskegon-Norton Shores pays more only for data entry specialists (+14.1%), and less for 14, most of all sales development representatives (-32.3%). It has the lowest median in Michigan for sales development representatives and paralegals.
Other areas in Michigan
By jobs in these roles, Muskegon-Norton Shores is #15 of 19 areas in Michigan. The table shows the areas closest to it in size, from the Northern Michigan nonmetro area to Bay City.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Michigan (Nonmetro) | 8,630 | 17 |
| Upper Peninsula of Michigan (Nonmetro) | 8,320 | 17 |
| Saginaw, MI | 8,170 | 17 |
| Traverse City, MI | 6,340 | 16 |
| Niles, MI | 4,780 | 15 |
| Jackson, MI | 4,680 | 15 |
| Battle Creek, MI | 3,900 | 14 |
| Midland, MI | 3,720 | 13 |
| Monroe, MI | 2,660 | 13 |
| Bay City, MI | 2,430 | 13 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in Muskegon-Norton Shores?
Of the 16 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $83,360 a year, about $107,561 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $36,460.
Is hiring in Muskegon-Norton Shores cheaper than the US median?
For 15 of the 16 roles, yes, most of all sales development representatives (-29.0%). One pays more than the US median: data entry specialists (+5.1%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.