Cost of hiring in the Northwest Virginia nonmetro area
BLS counts about 4,810 people in these 15 roles in the Northwest Virginia nonmetro area1. Project Coordinator has the highest median ($88,120 a year), Virtual Receptionist the lowest ($35,820), and Administrative Assistant is the largest job, with about 760 people.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in the Northwest Virginia nonmetro area
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +0.4% | 240 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -5.8% | 310 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -5.9% | 40 | |
| Accountant | -6.7% | 400 | |
| Recruiter | -7.8% | 210 | |
| Bookkeeper | -7.8% | 540 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -7.9% | 760 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -12.6% | 40 | |
| Office Manager | -12.7% | 570 | |
| Project Coordinator | -13.9% | 300 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -16.4% | 600 | |
| Executive Assistant | -22.1% | 120 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -23.9% | 360 | |
| Paralegal | -24.2% | 110 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -25.4% | 210 |
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 $43,770 median for administrative assistants, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $56,477 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
the Northwest Virginia nonmetro area against the US
The Northwest Virginia nonmetro area pays below the US median for 14 of the 15 roles, furthest for marketing specialists (-25.4%). For medical administrative assistants it is within 1% of the US figure. The middle gap across all 15 is -12.6%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for medical administrative assistants, #146 of 516 areas by median pay; its lowest is for paralegals, #438 of 506.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, the Northwest Virginia nonmetro area has more administrative assistants (15.8% of these jobs here, against 10.9% nationally) and office managers (11.9% against 9.1%), and fewer recruiters (4.4% against 5.8%) and customer support specialists (12.5% against 16.5%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Decatur, AL is nearest, at -12.6%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waco, TX | -12.5% | 17 | 13,190 |
| Lima, OH | -12.6% | 16 | 3,780 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale, AR | -12.6% | 17 | 25,800 |
| Northwest Virginia (Nonmetro) | -12.6% (this area) | 15 | 4,810 |
| Decatur, AL | -12.6% | 15 | 5,210 |
| Gettysburg, PA | -12.6% | 12 | 2,320 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in the Northwest Virginia nonmetro area span $30,580–$123,780, the widest band (4.0×); virtual receptionists the narrowest, $29,330–$44,680. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 9 of 15 roles, paralegals most ($44,740–$101,500 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, marketing specialists, project coordinators and 1 more role: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($67,040 against a $53,250 median for sales development representatives).
the Northwest Virginia nonmetro area against Virginia
Against Virginia as a whole, the Northwest Virginia nonmetro area pays about the same or less for all 15 roles, and less for 13, most of all project coordinators (-27.1%). It has the highest median in Virginia for medical administrative assistants, and the lowest for marketing specialists.
Other areas in Virginia
By jobs in these roles, the Northwest Virginia nonmetro area is #11 of 13 areas in Virginia. The table shows the areas closest to it in size, from Roanoke to Staunton-Stuarts Draft.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Roanoke, VA | 14,960 | 17 |
| Charlottesville, VA | 10,660 | 17 |
| Southwest Virginia (Nonmetro) | 8,930 | 17 |
| Lynchburg, VA | 8,420 | 17 |
| Southside Virginia (Nonmetro) | 7,620 | 17 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | 6,190 | 16 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | 4,890 | 16 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg, VA | 4,870 | 16 |
| Northeast Virginia (Nonmetro) | 3,830 | 14 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | 3,520 | 14 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in the Northwest Virginia nonmetro area?
Of the 15 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $88,120 a year, about $113,703 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $35,820.
Is hiring in the Northwest Virginia nonmetro area cheaper than the US median?
Mostly: no role pays more than the US median, and 14 of 15 pay less.
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.