Cost of hiring in the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area
BLS counts about 9,700 people in these 17 roles in the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area1. Project Coordinator has the highest median ($96,830 a year), Virtual Receptionist the lowest ($35,200), and Administrative Assistant is the largest job, with about 1,890 people.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | -5.4% | 290 | |
| HR Assistant | -5.7% | 50 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -6.6% | 1,890 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -7.4% | 860 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -8.2% | 50 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -9.8% | 460 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -11.8% | 50 | |
| Recruiter | -12.1% | 440 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -14.3% | 1,500 | |
| Office Manager | -14.6% | 1,120 | |
| Bookkeeper | -14.8% | 1,190 | |
| Accountant | -16.4% | 690 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -16.7% | 70 | |
| Paralegal | -18.3% | 160 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -19.1% | 430 | |
| Executive Assistant | -19.7% | 160 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -23.2% | 290 |
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 $44,380 median for administrative assistants, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $57,265 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area against the US
The Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area pays below the US median for all 17 roles. The gap is smallest for project coordinators (-5.4%) and HR assistants (-5.7%) and largest for marketing specialists (-23.2%). The middle gap across all 17 is -14.3%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for project coordinators, #178 of 518 areas by median pay; its lowest is for bookkeepers, #472 of 521.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area has more administrative assistants (19.5% of these jobs here, against 10.8% nationally) and virtual receptionists (8.9% against 5.7%), and fewer project coordinators (3.0% against 6.7%) and marketing specialists (3.0% against 5.7%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL is nearest, at -14.2%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amarillo, TX | -14.2% | 17 | 11,690 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | -14.2% | 15 | 8,150 |
| Northeastern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | -14.3% (this area) | 17 | 9,700 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | -14.5% | 15 | 7,570 |
| Jefferson City, MO | -14.5% | 16 | 8,300 |
| Longview, TX | -14.6% | 17 | 10,300 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area span $34,340–$116,090, the widest band (3.4×); medical administrative assistants the narrowest, $35,110–$49,110. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 10 of 17 roles, marketing specialists most ($43,390–$155,480 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, paralegals, marketing specialists and 1 more role: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($65,590 against a $56,610 median for sales development representatives).
the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area against Pennsylvania
Against Pennsylvania as a whole, the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area pays less for every one of the 17 roles with a statewide figure. It comes closest for HR assistants (-2.2%) and is furthest below for paralegals (-18.9%). Its best rank within Pennsylvania is #7 of 20 areas, for project coordinators.
Other areas in Pennsylvania
By jobs in these roles, the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area is #13 of 20 areas in Pennsylvania. The table shows the areas closest to it in size, from Reading to Williamsport.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Reading, PA | 14,430 | 17 |
| Central Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | 13,520 | 17 |
| Northwestern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | 10,870 | 17 |
| Southwestern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | 10,340 | 17 |
| Erie, PA | 9,750 | 17 |
| State College, PA | 5,930 | 15 |
| Altoona, PA | 4,760 | 15 |
| Chambersburg, PA | 4,340 | 15 |
| Lebanon, PA | 3,880 | 15 |
| Williamsport, PA | 3,880 | 15 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area?
Of the 17 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $96,830 a year, about $124,942 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $35,200.
Is hiring in the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area cheaper than the US median?
Yes, for every role we track: all 17 medians are below the US figure, the furthest for marketing specialists (-23.2%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.