Cost of hiring in the North Missouri nonmetro area
Administrative Assistant is the largest of these 15 jobs in the North Missouri nonmetro area, with about 1,360 people1. Medians run from $33,710 a year for virtual receptionists to $76,590 for project coordinators.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in the North Missouri nonmetro area
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Receptionist | -11.3% | 550 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -14.7% | 70 | |
| Bookkeeper | -17.1% | 780 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -17.4% | 430 | |
| Recruiter | -18.2% | 310 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -19.5% | 1,240 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -20.7% | 100 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -21.2% | 1,360 | |
| Accountant | -21.5% | 570 | |
| Project Coordinator | -25.1% | 260 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -28.7% | 190 | |
| Paralegal | -30.4% | 90 | |
| Executive Assistant | -32.3% | 200 | |
| Office Manager | -32.3% | 690 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -43.8% | 280 |
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 $37,470 median for administrative assistants, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $48,348 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
the North Missouri nonmetro area against the US
The North Missouri nonmetro area pays below the US median for all 15 roles. The gap is smallest for virtual receptionists (-11.3%) and data entry specialists (-14.7%) and largest for sales development representatives (-43.8%). The middle gap across all 15 is -21.2%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for recruiters, #403 of 521 areas by median pay; its lowest is for office managers, #518 of 519.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, the North Missouri nonmetro area has more administrative assistants (19.1% of these jobs here, against 10.9% nationally) and payroll specialists (1.4% against 1.0%), and fewer marketing specialists (2.7% against 5.7%) and sales development representatives (3.9% against 8.0%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Texarkana, TX-AR is nearest, at -21.1%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anniston-Oxford, AL | -20.8% | 11 | 3,450 |
| Dothan, AL | -21.1% | 14 | 5,820 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | -21.1% | 15 | 4,440 |
| North Missouri (Nonmetro) | -21.2% (this area) | 15 | 7,120 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | -21.4% | 14 | 5,090 |
| Hattiesburg, MS | -21.5% | 15 | 5,210 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, marketing specialists in the North Missouri nonmetro area span $34,610–$100,900, the widest band (2.9×); medical administrative assistants the narrowest, $33,860–$47,340. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 11 of 15 roles, sales development representatives most ($37,980–$148,840 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, paralegals, office managers and 4 more roles: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($50,560 against a $39,360 median for sales development representatives).
the North Missouri nonmetro area against Missouri
Against Missouri as a whole, the North Missouri nonmetro area pays less for every one of the 14 roles with a statewide figure. It comes closest for virtual receptionists (-5.7%) and is furthest below for sales development representatives (-34.9%). It has the lowest median in Missouri for office managers, sales development representatives and customer support specialists.
Other areas in Missouri
By jobs in these roles, the North Missouri nonmetro area is #8 of 12 areas in Missouri. The table shows the areas closest to it in size, from Kansas City to Cape Girardeau.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 118,710 | 17 |
| Springfield, MO | 20,430 | 16 |
| Southeast Missouri (Nonmetro) | 10,450 | 16 |
| Columbia, MO | 10,200 | 16 |
| Central Missouri (Nonmetro) | 10,000 | 17 |
| Jefferson City, MO | 8,300 | 16 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | 6,160 | 14 |
| Southwest Missouri (Nonmetro) | 5,240 | 16 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | 3,920 | 15 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | 3,590 | 14 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in the North Missouri nonmetro area?
Of the 15 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $76,590 a year, about $98,826 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $33,710.
Is hiring in the North Missouri nonmetro area cheaper than the US median?
Yes, for every role we track: all 15 medians are below the US figure, the furthest for sales development representatives (-43.8%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.