Cost of hiring in the Southern Michigan nonmetro area
BLS counts about 8,870 people in these 17 roles in the Southern Michigan nonmetro area1. Project Coordinator has the highest median ($96,590 a year), Virtual Receptionist the lowest ($36,130), and Administrative Assistant is the largest job, with about 1,260 people.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in the Southern Michigan nonmetro area
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales Development Representative | +2.3% | 420 | |
| HR Assistant | -0.3% | 30 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -1.9% | 1,190 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -4.9% | 640 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -5.4% | n/a | |
| Project Coordinator | -5.6% | 410 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -6.0% | 70 | |
| Bookkeeper | -7.2% | 1,200 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -9.3% | 1,260 | |
| Accountant | -11.1% | 1,000 | |
| Office Manager | -11.7% | 760 | |
| Recruiter | -12.5% | 590 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -14.6% | 110 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -14.7% | 480 | |
| Paralegal | -20.1% | 60 | |
| Executive Assistant | -22.3% | 230 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -22.6% | 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 $43,130 median for administrative assistants, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $55,652 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
the Southern Michigan nonmetro area against the US
The Southern Michigan nonmetro area pays above the US median for only one of the 17 roles, sales development representatives (+2.3%), and below it for 15, furthest for marketing specialists (-22.6%). For HR assistants it is within 1% of the US figure. The middle gap across all 17 is -9.3%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for sales development representatives, #57 of 520 areas by median pay; its lowest is for payroll specialists, #364 of 486.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, the Southern Michigan nonmetro area has more e-commerce order specialists (0.8% of these jobs here, against 0.5% nationally) and bookkeepers (13.5% against 8.7%), and fewer paralegals (0.7% against 2.5%) and HR assistants (0.3% against 0.6%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Great Falls, MT is nearest, at -9.3%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lewiston, ID-WA | -9.1% | 13 | 2,320 |
| Southern Michigan (Nonmetro) | -9.3% (this area) | 17 | 8,870 |
| Great Falls, MT | -9.3% | 14 | 2,750 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee, FL | -9.3% | 17 | 164,900 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | -9.4% | 16 | 9,790 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | -9.5% | 14 | 3,520 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, marketing specialists in the Southern Michigan nonmetro area span $38,650–$150,610, the widest band (3.9×); medical administrative assistants the narrowest, $32,940–$50,520. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 13 of 17 roles, data entry specialists most ($31,200–$58,790 across the US). Budget from the median for marketing specialists, paralegals and recruiters: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($78,420 against a $60,970 median for marketing specialists).
the Southern Michigan nonmetro area against Michigan
Against Michigan as a whole, the Southern Michigan nonmetro area pays more for 2 of 17 roles, led by HR assistants (+4.5%) and data entry specialists (+2.7%), and less for 14, most of all paralegals (-19.1%). Its best rank within Michigan is #3 of 19 areas, for sales development representatives.
Other areas in Michigan
By jobs in these roles, the Southern Michigan nonmetro area is #8 of 19 areas in Michigan. The table shows the areas closest to it in size, from Lansing-East Lansing to Niles.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 21,260 | 17 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 19,610 | 17 |
| Mid Michigan (Nonmetro) | 11,610 | 17 |
| Flint, MI | 11,050 | 17 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | 10,830 | 17 |
| Northern Michigan (Nonmetro) | 8,630 | 17 |
| Upper Peninsula of Michigan (Nonmetro) | 8,320 | 17 |
| Saginaw, MI | 8,170 | 17 |
| Traverse City, MI | 6,340 | 16 |
| Niles, MI | 4,780 | 15 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in the Southern Michigan nonmetro area?
Of the 17 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $96,590 a year, about $124,632 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $36,130.
Is hiring in the Southern Michigan nonmetro area cheaper than the US median?
For 15 of the 17 roles, yes, most of all marketing specialists (-22.6%). One pays more than the US median: sales development representatives (+2.3%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.