Cost of hiring in the South Arkansas nonmetro area
BLS counts about 6,720 people in these 14 roles in the South Arkansas nonmetro area1. Project Coordinator has the highest median ($72,030 a year), Virtual Receptionist the lowest ($32,130), and Customer Support Specialist is the largest job, with about 1,000 people.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in the South Arkansas nonmetro area
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Entry Specialist | -10.0% | 50 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -15.5% | 820 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -17.7% | 1,000 | |
| Bookkeeper | -20.0% | 990 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -21.1% | 130 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -25.0% | 120 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -25.3% | 920 | |
| Office Manager | -26.5% | 980 | |
| Accountant | -26.5% | 480 | |
| Project Coordinator | -29.6% | 290 | |
| Recruiter | -30.7% | 370 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -33.8% | 210 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -34.8% | 210 | |
| Executive Assistant | -37.6% | 150 |
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 $36,830 median for customer support specialists, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $47,523 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
the South Arkansas nonmetro area against the US
The South Arkansas nonmetro area pays below the US median for all 14 roles. The gap is smallest for data entry specialists (-10.0%) and virtual receptionists (-15.5%) and largest for executive assistants (-37.6%). The middle gap across all 14 is -25.9%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for data entry specialists, #286 of 394 areas by median pay; its lowest is for recruiters, #518 of 521.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, the South Arkansas nonmetro area has more virtual receptionists (12.2% of these jobs here, against 5.9% nationally) and payroll specialists (1.8% against 1.0%), and fewer medical administrative assistants (1.9% against 6.3%) and sales development representatives (3.1% against 8.2%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Brownsville-Harlingen, TX is nearest, at -24.4%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria, LA | -23.3% | 14 | 4,980 |
| Eagle Pass, TX | -23.6% | 11 | 1,250 |
| Laredo, TX | -24.2% | 17 | 10,520 |
| Gadsden, AL | -24.4% | 11 | 2,870 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | -24.4% | 17 | 15,460 |
| South Arkansas (Nonmetro) | -25.9% (this area) | 14 | 6,720 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, project coordinators in the South Arkansas nonmetro area span $44,700–$141,270, the widest band (3.2×); virtual receptionists the narrowest, $27,580–$41,300. Wider than nationally for bookkeepers and project coordinators, narrower for sales development representatives and marketing specialists. Budget from the median for sales development representatives, project coordinators, marketing specialists and 4 more roles: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($56,070 against a $45,640 median for sales development representatives).
the South Arkansas nonmetro area against Arkansas
Against Arkansas as a whole, the South Arkansas nonmetro area pays more only for data entry specialists (+9.9%), and less for 13, most of all marketing specialists (-20.4%). It has the lowest median in Arkansas for executive assistants.
Other areas in Arkansas
By jobs in these roles, the South Arkansas nonmetro area is #5 of 9 areas in Arkansas. The table shows the other 8.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR | 32,430 | 17 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale, AR | 25,800 | 17 |
| North Arkansas (Nonmetro) | 8,220 | 17 |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | 7,690 | 16 |
| West Arkansas (Nonmetro) | 4,930 | 15 |
| Jonesboro, AR | 4,150 | 15 |
| East Arkansas (Nonmetro) | 3,880 | 12 |
| Hot Springs, AR | 2,720 | 12 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in the South Arkansas nonmetro area?
Of the 14 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $72,030 a year, about $92,942 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $32,130.
Is hiring in the South Arkansas nonmetro area cheaper than the US median?
Yes, for every role we track: all 14 medians are below the US figure, the furthest for executive assistants (-37.6%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.