Cost of hiring in the South Florida nonmetro area
Administrative Assistant is the largest of these 15 jobs in the South Florida nonmetro area, with about 1,080 people1. Medians run from $36,400 a year for data entry specialists to $86,170 for project coordinators.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in the South Florida nonmetro area
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Receptionist | -1.2% | 420 | |
| Bookkeeper | -2.3% | 880 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -5.8% | 1,080 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -6.0% | 1,000 | |
| Accountant | -6.6% | 530 | |
| Paralegal | -9.8% | 220 | |
| Office Manager | -10.5% | 830 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -11.2% | 520 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -11.2% | 610 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -11.9% | 60 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -12.7% | 100 | |
| Recruiter | -14.5% | 330 | |
| Executive Assistant | -15.0% | 140 | |
| Project Coordinator | -15.8% | 420 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -19.5% | 260 |
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 $44,770 median for administrative assistants, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $57,768 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
the South Florida nonmetro area against the US
The South Florida nonmetro area pays below the US median for all 15 roles. The gap is smallest for virtual receptionists (-1.2%) and bookkeepers (-2.3%) and largest for marketing specialists (-19.5%). The middle gap across all 15 is -11.2%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for bookkeepers, #157 of 521 areas by median pay; its lowest is for data entry specialists, #312 of 394.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, the South Florida nonmetro area has more payroll specialists (1.4% of these jobs here, against 1.0% nationally) and bookkeepers (11.9% against 8.7%), and fewer marketing specialists (3.5% against 5.7%) and executive assistants (1.9% against 2.9%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Sandusky, OH is nearest, at -11.1%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | -11.0% | 17 | 28,700 |
| Knoxville, TN | -11.0% | 17 | 46,920 |
| Sandusky, OH | -11.1% | 15 | 3,400 |
| South Florida (Nonmetro) | -11.2% (this area) | 15 | 7,400 |
| Dubuque, IA | -11.4% | 15 | 5,880 |
| Manhattan, KS | -11.5% | 15 | 5,610 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in the South Florida nonmetro area span $31,830–$118,470, the widest band (3.7×); virtual receptionists the narrowest, $29,450–$47,190. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 6 of 15 roles, paralegals most ($44,740–$101,500 across the US). Budget from the median for data entry specialists, marketing specialists, sales development representatives and 5 more roles: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($41,640 against a $36,400 median for data entry specialists).
the South Florida nonmetro area against Florida
Against Florida as a whole, the South Florida nonmetro area pays more for 3 of 15 roles, led by customer support specialists (+4.1%) and sales development representatives (+2.4%), and less for 10, most of all marketing specialists (-15.9%). Its best rank within Florida is #2 of 24 areas, for sales development representatives.
Other areas in Florida
By jobs in these roles, the South Florida nonmetro area is #19 of 24 areas in Florida. The table shows the areas closest to it in size, from Gainesville to Sebring.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Gainesville, FL | 13,460 | 16 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach, FL | 11,320 | 17 |
| Ocala, FL | 10,870 | 17 |
| North Florida (Nonmetro) | 8,520 | 15 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | 8,150 | 15 |
| Punta Gorda, FL | 5,620 | 15 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL | 5,600 | 13 |
| Wildwood-The Villages, FL | 3,510 | 15 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | 3,330 | 15 |
| Sebring, FL | 2,750 | 14 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in the South Florida nonmetro area?
Of the 15 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $86,170 a year, about $111,187 with benefits; the lowest is Data Entry Specialist, $36,400.
Is hiring in the South Florida nonmetro area cheaper than the US median?
Yes, for every role we track: all 15 medians are below the US figure, the furthest for marketing specialists (-19.5%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.