Cost of hiring in the Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area
Administrative Assistant is the largest of these 17 jobs in the Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area, with about 1,750 people1. Medians run from $35,190 a year for virtual receptionists to $84,080 for project coordinators.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in the Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +3.2% | 60 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -4.4% | 150 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -6.5% | 60 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -7.4% | 900 | |
| HR Assistant | -7.6% | 60 | |
| Bookkeeper | -11.5% | 1,200 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -12.1% | 1,570 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -13.5% | 650 | |
| Office Manager | -14.9% | 1,350 | |
| Recruiter | -16.2% | 610 | |
| Paralegal | -16.9% | 120 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -17.3% | 1,750 | |
| Project Coordinator | -17.8% | 400 | |
| Accountant | -19.5% | 1,030 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -20.7% | 420 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -26.3% | 350 | |
| Executive Assistant | -29.4% | 190 |
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 $39,320 median for administrative assistants, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $50,735 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
the Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area against the US
The Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area pays above the US median for only one of the 17 roles, e-commerce order specialists (+3.2%), and below it for 16, furthest for executive assistants (-29.4%). The middle gap across all 17 is -14.9%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for e-commerce order specialists, #61 of 287 areas by median pay; its lowest is for executive assistants, #460 of 509.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, the Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area has more administrative assistants (16.1% of these jobs here, against 10.8% nationally) and virtual receptionists (8.3% against 5.7%), and fewer paralegals (1.1% against 2.5%) and sales development representatives (3.9% against 7.9%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA is nearest, at -14.9%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, GA-AL | -14.7% | 17 | 11,380 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | -14.9% | 17 | 11,540 |
| Northwestern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | -14.9% (this area) | 17 | 10,870 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway, SC | -15.0% | 16 | 14,720 |
| Ocala, FL | -15.1% | 17 | 10,870 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | -15.1% | 15 | 3,920 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in the Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area span $31,200–$123,240, the widest band (4.0×); HR assistants the narrowest, $38,370–$56,310. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 8 of 17 roles, marketing specialists most ($43,390–$155,480 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, paralegals, accountants and 3 more roles: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($67,630 against a $55,470 median for sales development representatives).
the Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area against Pennsylvania
Against Pennsylvania as a whole, the Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area pays more only for e-commerce order specialists (+1.7%), and less for 14, most of all executive assistants (-28.2%). It has the lowest median in Pennsylvania for executive assistants.
Other areas in Pennsylvania
By jobs in these roles, the Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area is #10 of 20 areas in Pennsylvania. The table shows the areas closest to it in size, from Lancaster to Altoona.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Lancaster, PA | 21,700 | 17 |
| Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, PA | 20,060 | 17 |
| York-Hanover, PA | 14,930 | 17 |
| Reading, PA | 14,430 | 17 |
| Central Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | 13,520 | 17 |
| Southwestern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | 10,340 | 17 |
| Erie, PA | 9,750 | 17 |
| Northeastern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | 9,700 | 17 |
| State College, PA | 5,930 | 15 |
| Altoona, PA | 4,760 | 15 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in the Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area?
Of the 17 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $84,080 a year, about $108,490 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $35,190.
Is hiring in the Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area cheaper than the US median?
For 16 of the 17 roles, yes, most of all executive assistants (-29.4%). One pays more than the US median: e-commerce order specialists (+3.2%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.