Cost of hiring in the Northern Michigan nonmetro area
Administrative Assistant is the largest of these 17 jobs in the Northern Michigan nonmetro area, with about 1,210 people1. Medians run from $37,440 a year for virtual receptionists to $80,840 for project coordinators.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in the Northern Michigan nonmetro area
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Receptionist | -1.5% | 870 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -5.5% | 40 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -6.3% | 70 | |
| HR Assistant | -8.6% | 30 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -10.5% | 1,100 | |
| Bookkeeper | -10.7% | 1,190 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -13.0% | 90 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -14.9% | 740 | |
| Office Manager | -15.0% | 730 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -16.6% | 1,210 | |
| Accountant | -16.7% | 840 | |
| Paralegal | -17.0% | 80 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -17.7% | 420 | |
| Recruiter | -20.6% | 430 | |
| Project Coordinator | -21.0% | 300 | |
| Executive Assistant | -23.3% | 160 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -32.6% | 330 |
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 $39,660 median for administrative assistants, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $51,174 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
the Northern Michigan nonmetro area against the US
The Northern Michigan nonmetro area pays below the US median for all 17 roles. The gap is smallest for virtual receptionists (-1.5%) and e-commerce order specialists (-5.5%) and largest for marketing specialists (-32.6%). The middle gap across all 17 is -15.0%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for virtual receptionists, #170 of 521 areas by median pay; its lowest is for marketing specialists, #459 of 516.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, the Northern Michigan nonmetro area has more virtual receptionists (10.1% of these jobs here, against 5.7% nationally) and bookkeepers (13.8% against 8.7%), and fewer paralegals (0.9% against 2.5%) and project coordinators (3.5% against 6.7%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Myrtle Beach-Conway, SC is nearest, at -15.0%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | -14.9% | 17 | 11,540 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway, SC | -15.0% | 16 | 14,720 |
| Northern Michigan (Nonmetro) | -15.0% (this area) | 17 | 8,630 |
| Ocala, FL | -15.1% | 17 | 10,870 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | -15.1% | 15 | 3,920 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL | -15.3% | 13 | 5,600 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in the Northern Michigan nonmetro area span $36,560–$110,090, the widest band (3.0×); medical administrative assistants the narrowest, $34,250–$48,450. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 13 of 17 roles, executive assistants most ($50,560–$109,850 across the US). Budget from the median for marketing specialists, e-commerce order specialists, paralegals and 4 more roles: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($62,350 against a $53,100 median for marketing specialists).
the Northern Michigan nonmetro area against Michigan
Against Michigan as a whole, the Northern Michigan nonmetro area pays more only for data entry specialists (+1.7%), and less for 15, most of all sales development representatives (-21.5%). It has the lowest median in Michigan for project coordinators, accountants and recruiters and 3 more roles.
Other areas in Michigan
By jobs in these roles, the Northern Michigan nonmetro area is #9 of 19 areas in Michigan. The table shows the areas closest to it in size, from Ann Arbor to Jackson.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor, MI | 19,610 | 17 |
| Mid Michigan (Nonmetro) | 11,610 | 17 |
| Flint, MI | 11,050 | 17 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | 10,830 | 17 |
| Southern Michigan (Nonmetro) | 8,870 | 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 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in the Northern Michigan nonmetro area?
Of the 17 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $80,840 a year, about $104,310 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $37,440.
Is hiring in the Northern Michigan 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 (-32.6%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.