Cost of hiring in Rockford, IL
Customer Support Specialist is the largest of these 17 jobs in Rockford, with about 2,070 people1. Medians run from $37,460 a year for virtual receptionists to $94,690 for project coordinators.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in Rockford
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +0.2% | 930 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -1.4% | 1,000 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -2.3% | 160 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -3.0% | 1,360 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -3.4% | 2,070 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -4.4% | 50 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -4.5% | 120 | |
| Paralegal | -5.1% | 200 | |
| Office Manager | -5.4% | 750 | |
| Project Coordinator | -7.5% | 390 | |
| Bookkeeper | -7.7% | 1,020 | |
| Accountant | -10.1% | 850 | |
| HR Assistant | -11.0% | 60 | |
| Recruiter | -13.8% | 650 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -14.7% | 980 | |
| Executive Assistant | -18.9% | 160 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -21.5% | 460 |
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 $43,260 median for customer support specialists, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $55,819 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
Rockford against the US
Rockford pays below the US median for 16 of the 17 roles, furthest for marketing specialists (-21.5%). For medical administrative assistants it is within 1% of the US figure. The middle gap across all 17 is -5.4%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for medical administrative assistants, #151 of 516 areas by median pay; its lowest is for HR assistants, #298 of 384.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, Rockford has more data entry specialists (1.4% of these jobs here, against 0.8% nationally) and virtual receptionists (8.9% against 5.7%), and fewer executive assistants (1.4% against 2.9%) 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; Medford, OR is nearest, at -5.4%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe, NM | -5.4% | 13 | 7,600 |
| Rockford, IL | -5.4% (this area) | 17 | 11,210 |
| Medford, OR | -5.4% | 17 | 8,460 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach, FL | -5.4% | 17 | 11,320 |
| North Port-Bradenton, FL | -5.5% | 17 | 34,660 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | -5.5% | 14 | 3,650 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in Rockford span $35,950–$120,810, the widest band (3.4×); virtual receptionists the narrowest, $31,200–$46,630. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 12 of 17 roles, recruiters most ($47,180–$128,720 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, marketing specialists, office managers and 1 more role: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($70,820 against a $59,720 median for sales development representatives).
Rockford against Illinois
Against Illinois as a whole, Rockford pays about the same or less for all 17 roles, and less for 16, most of all marketing specialists (-21.9%). Its best rank within Illinois is #2 of 12 areas, for virtual receptionists.
Other areas in Illinois
By jobs in these roles, Rockford is #6 of 12 areas in Illinois. The table shows the areas closest to it in size, from Chicago-Naperville to Kankakee.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN | 456,940 | 17 |
| Peoria, IL | 14,860 | 17 |
| West Central Illinois (Nonmetro) | 12,990 | 17 |
| Springfield, IL | 11,900 | 16 |
| East Central Illinois (Nonmetro) | 11,370 | 17 |
| South Illinois (Nonmetro) | 10,780 | 16 |
| Northwest Illinois (Nonmetro) | 9,540 | 17 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | 8,380 | 16 |
| Bloomington, IL | 6,740 | 14 |
| Kankakee, IL | 3,160 | 13 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in Rockford?
Of the 17 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $94,690 a year, about $122,181 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $37,460.
Is hiring in Rockford cheaper than the US median?
Mostly: no role pays more than the US median, and 16 of 17 pay less.
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.