Cost of hiring in the Southeast Missouri nonmetro area
Administrative Assistant is the largest of these 16 jobs in the Southeast Missouri nonmetro area, with about 1,920 people1. Medians run from $33,280 a year for virtual receptionists to $79,430 for project coordinators.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in the Southeast Missouri nonmetro area
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Entry Specialist | -6.8% | 90 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -12.4% | 890 | |
| HR Assistant | -12.5% | 40 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -17.0% | 1,500 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -17.5% | 190 | |
| Bookkeeper | -17.5% | 1,320 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -19.9% | 620 | |
| Recruiter | -20.9% | 590 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -21.8% | 1,920 | |
| Project Coordinator | -22.4% | 460 | |
| Accountant | -23.4% | 770 | |
| Paralegal | -25.7% | 110 | |
| Office Manager | -27.2% | 1,000 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -29.7% | 310 | |
| Executive Assistant | -33.5% | 220 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -34.8% | 420 |
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 $37,180 median for administrative assistants, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $47,974 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
the Southeast Missouri nonmetro area against the US
The Southeast Missouri nonmetro area pays below the US median for all 16 roles. The gap is smallest for data entry specialists (-6.8%) and virtual receptionists (-12.4%) and largest for sales development representatives (-34.8%). The middle gap across all 16 is -21.4%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for data entry specialists, #226 of 394 areas by median pay; its lowest is for office managers, #509 of 519.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, the Southeast Missouri nonmetro area has more payroll specialists (1.8% of these jobs here, against 1.0% nationally) and administrative assistants (18.4% against 10.8%), and fewer paralegals (1.1% against 2.5%) and sales development representatives (4.0% against 8.0%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL is nearest, at -21.4%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dothan, AL | -21.1% | 14 | 5,820 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | -21.1% | 15 | 4,440 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | -21.4% | 14 | 5,090 |
| Southeast Missouri (Nonmetro) | -21.4% (this area) | 16 | 10,450 |
| Hattiesburg, MS | -21.5% | 15 | 5,210 |
| McAllen-Edinburg, TX | -21.6% | 17 | 28,300 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in the Southeast Missouri nonmetro area span $31,310–$99,990, the widest band (3.2×); virtual receptionists the narrowest, $28,600–$42,170. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 10 of 16 roles, marketing specialists most ($43,390–$155,480 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, data entry specialists, accountants and 7 more roles: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($58,590 against a $45,610 median for sales development representatives).
the Southeast Missouri nonmetro area against Missouri
Against Missouri as a whole, the Southeast Missouri nonmetro area pays less for every one of the 15 roles with a statewide figure. It comes closest for virtual receptionists (-6.9%) and is furthest below for sales development representatives (-24.5%). It has the lowest median in Missouri for administrative assistants, medical administrative assistants and virtual receptionists.
Other areas in Missouri
By jobs in these roles, the Southeast Missouri nonmetro area is #4 of 12 areas in Missouri. The table shows the areas closest to it in size, from St. Louis to St. Joseph.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 132,140 | 17 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 118,710 | 17 |
| Springfield, MO | 20,430 | 16 |
| Columbia, MO | 10,200 | 16 |
| Central Missouri (Nonmetro) | 10,000 | 17 |
| Jefferson City, MO | 8,300 | 16 |
| North Missouri (Nonmetro) | 7,120 | 15 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | 6,160 | 14 |
| Southwest Missouri (Nonmetro) | 5,240 | 16 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | 3,920 | 15 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in the Southeast Missouri nonmetro area?
Of the 16 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $79,430 a year, about $102,490 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $33,280.
Is hiring in the Southeast Missouri nonmetro area cheaper than the US median?
Yes, for every role we track: all 16 medians are below the US figure, the furthest for sales development representatives (-34.8%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.