Cost of hiring in the South Illinois nonmetro area
BLS counts about 10,780 people in these 16 roles in the South Illinois nonmetro area1. Project Coordinator has the highest median ($91,680 a year), Virtual Receptionist the lowest ($36,790), and Administrative Assistant is the largest job, with about 2,700 people.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in the South Illinois nonmetro area
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Entry Specialist | +0.1% | 60 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -3.2% | 930 | |
| HR Assistant | -6.9% | 70 | |
| Bookkeeper | -10.0% | 1,320 | |
| Project Coordinator | -10.4% | 200 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -11.7% | 730 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -12.3% | 1,340 | |
| Recruiter | -16.5% | 440 | |
| Accountant | -16.7% | 750 | |
| Office Manager | -17.1% | 740 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -18.8% | 110 | |
| Paralegal | -21.8% | n/a | |
| Administrative Assistant | -22.1% | 2,700 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -23.1% | 330 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -27.0% | 710 | |
| Executive Assistant | -29.9% | 350 |
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 $37,040 median for administrative assistants, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $47,794 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
the South Illinois nonmetro area against the US
The South Illinois nonmetro area pays below the US median for 15 of the 16 roles, furthest for executive assistants (-29.9%). For data entry specialists it is within 1% of the US figure. The middle gap across all 16 is -16.6%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for data entry specialists, #127 of 394 areas by median pay; its lowest is for administrative assistants, #496 of 520.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, the South Illinois nonmetro area has more administrative assistants (25.0% of these jobs here, against 11.1% nationally) and virtual receptionists (8.6% against 5.9%), and fewer project coordinators (1.9% against 6.9%) and marketing specialists (3.1% against 5.8%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Slidell-Mandeville, LA is nearest, at -16.6%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | -16.5% | 15 | 5,000 |
| Columbia, MO | -16.5% | 16 | 10,200 |
| Slidell-Mandeville, LA | -16.6% | 14 | 9,120 |
| South Illinois (Nonmetro) | -16.6% (this area) | 16 | 10,780 |
| Charleston, WV | -16.7% | 16 | 9,840 |
| Terre Haute, IN | -16.7% | 16 | 4,500 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, marketing specialists in the South Illinois nonmetro area span $34,430–$109,790, the widest band (3.2×); virtual receptionists the narrowest, $31,200–$46,060. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 10 of 16 roles, sales development representatives most ($37,980–$148,840 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, executive assistants, recruiters and 5 more roles: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($64,290 against a $51,070 median for sales development representatives).
the South Illinois nonmetro area against Illinois
Against Illinois as a whole, the South Illinois nonmetro area pays less for every one of the 16 roles with a statewide figure. It comes closest for virtual receptionists (-1.6%) and is furthest below for executive assistants (-27.8%). It has the lowest median in Illinois for recruiters, office managers and executive assistants and 2 more roles.
Other areas in Illinois
By jobs in these roles, the South Illinois nonmetro area is #7 of 12 areas in Illinois. The table shows the areas closest to it in size, from Peoria to Decatur.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Peoria, IL | 14,860 | 17 |
| West Central Illinois (Nonmetro) | 12,990 | 17 |
| Springfield, IL | 11,900 | 16 |
| East Central Illinois (Nonmetro) | 11,370 | 17 |
| Rockford, IL | 11,210 | 17 |
| Northwest Illinois (Nonmetro) | 9,540 | 17 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | 8,380 | 16 |
| Bloomington, IL | 6,740 | 14 |
| Kankakee, IL | 3,160 | 13 |
| Decatur, IL | 3,000 | 14 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in the South Illinois nonmetro area?
Of the 16 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $91,680 a year, about $118,297 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $36,790.
Is hiring in the South Illinois nonmetro area cheaper than the US median?
Mostly: no role pays more than the US median, and 15 of 16 pay less.
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.