Cost of hiring in the Southern Ohio nonmetro area
BLS counts about 11,260 people in these 17 roles in the Southern Ohio nonmetro area1. Project Coordinator has the highest median ($82,910 a year), Virtual Receptionist the lowest ($34,210), and Administrative Assistant is the largest job, with about 1,950 people.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in the Southern Ohio nonmetro area
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -3.6% | 40 | |
| HR Assistant | -6.0% | 70 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -7.2% | 1,950 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -8.2% | 70 | |
| Bookkeeper | -8.9% | 1,240 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -10.0% | 1,000 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -11.9% | 130 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -12.3% | 650 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -12.8% | 1,240 | |
| Office Manager | -13.8% | 1,110 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -15.2% | 750 | |
| Executive Assistant | -17.1% | 200 | |
| Accountant | -17.5% | 960 | |
| Project Coordinator | -19.0% | 540 | |
| Paralegal | -19.1% | 120 | |
| Recruiter | -20.4% | 770 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -24.8% | 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 $44,130 median for administrative assistants, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $56,942 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
the Southern Ohio nonmetro area against the US
The Southern Ohio nonmetro area pays below the US median for all 17 roles. The gap is smallest for e-commerce order specialists (-3.6%) and HR assistants (-6.0%) and largest for marketing specialists (-24.8%). The middle gap across all 17 is -12.8%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for sales development representatives, #197 of 520 areas by median pay; its lowest is for recruiters, #458 of 521.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, the Southern Ohio nonmetro area has more administrative assistants (17.3% of these jobs here, against 10.8% nationally) and virtual receptionists (8.9% against 5.7%), and fewer paralegals (1.1% against 2.5%) and executive assistants (1.8% against 2.9%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Hickory-Lenoir, NC is nearest, at -12.8%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur, AL | -12.6% | 15 | 5,210 |
| Gettysburg, PA | -12.6% | 12 | 2,320 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | -12.7% | 17 | 4,480 |
| Southern Ohio (Nonmetro) | -12.8% (this area) | 17 | 11,260 |
| Hickory-Lenoir, NC | -12.8% | 17 | 12,690 |
| Dalton, GA | -12.8% | 17 | 5,620 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in the Southern Ohio nonmetro area span $34,510–$124,550, the widest band (3.6×); medical administrative assistants the narrowest, $33,860–$46,990. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 10 of 17 roles, marketing specialists most ($43,390–$155,480 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, recruiters, customer support specialists and 5 more roles: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($72,740 against a $61,390 median for sales development representatives).
the Southern Ohio nonmetro area against Ohio
Against Ohio as a whole, the Southern Ohio nonmetro area pays more only for sales development representatives (+3.4%), and less for 16, most of all marketing specialists (-18.6%). It has the lowest median in Ohio for recruiters.
Other areas in Ohio
By jobs in these roles, the Southern Ohio nonmetro area is #11 of 16 areas in Ohio. The table shows the areas closest to it in size, from Toledo to Sandusky.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Toledo, OH | 23,500 | 17 |
| North Northeastern Ohio (Nonmetro) | 17,530 | 17 |
| West Northwestern Ohio (Nonmetro) | 16,180 | 16 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | 13,420 | 17 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | 12,130 | 17 |
| Eastern Ohio (Nonmetro) | 10,040 | 17 |
| Lima, OH | 3,780 | 16 |
| Springfield, OH | 3,550 | 15 |
| Mansfield, OH | 3,440 | 15 |
| Sandusky, OH | 3,400 | 15 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in the Southern Ohio nonmetro area?
Of the 17 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $82,910 a year, about $106,981 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $34,210.
Is hiring in the Southern Ohio nonmetro area cheaper than the US median?
Yes, for every role we track: all 17 medians are below the US figure, the furthest for marketing specialists (-24.8%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.