Cost of hiring in the Southwest Colorado nonmetro area
BLS counts about 9,690 people in these 17 roles in the Southwest Colorado nonmetro area1. Project Coordinator has the highest median ($96,080 a year), Data Entry Specialist the lowest ($35,990), and Administrative Assistant is the largest job, with about 1,420 people.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in the Southwest Colorado nonmetro area
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales Development Representative | +12.0% | 960 | |
| Paralegal | +9.9% | n/a | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +2.9% | 30 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -0.4% | 470 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -0.9% | 550 | |
| HR Assistant | -1.2% | 40 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -1.3% | 1,420 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -2.4% | 900 | |
| Bookkeeper | -2.7% | 1,250 | |
| Office Manager | -4.6% | 1,030 | |
| Accountant | -4.8% | 970 | |
| Project Coordinator | -6.1% | 570 | |
| Recruiter | -11.4% | 420 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -12.9% | n/a | |
| Marketing Specialist | -17.9% | 610 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -20.0% | 130 | |
| Executive Assistant | -28.3% | 340 |
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 $46,910 median for administrative assistants, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $60,529 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
the Southwest Colorado nonmetro area against the US
The Southwest Colorado nonmetro area pays above the US median for 3 of the 17 roles, most of all for sales development representatives (+12.0%) and paralegals (+9.9%), and below it for 12, furthest for executive assistants (-28.3%). For virtual receptionists and medical administrative assistants it is within 1% of the US figure. The middle gap across all 17 is -2.7%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for sales development representatives, #18 of 520 areas by median pay; its lowest is for executive assistants, #448 of 509.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, the Southwest Colorado nonmetro area has more bookkeepers (12.9% of these jobs here, against 9.0% nationally) and payroll specialists (1.3% against 1.0%), and fewer customer support specialists (9.3% against 16.9%) and e-commerce order specialists (0.3% against 0.5%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Binghamton, NY is nearest, at -2.6%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany, OR | -2.6% | 15 | 3,490 |
| Binghamton, NY | -2.6% | 17 | 9,350 |
| Southwest Colorado (Nonmetro) | -2.7% (this area) | 17 | 9,690 |
| Midland, MI | -2.8% | 13 | 3,720 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | -2.8% | 17 | 132,140 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | -2.8% | 17 | 50,590 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, marketing specialists in the Southwest Colorado nonmetro area span $43,480–$141,820, the widest band (3.3×); data entry specialists the narrowest, $33,100–$44,870. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 12 of 17 roles, sales development representatives most ($37,980–$148,840 across the US). Budget from the median for marketing specialists, payroll specialists, recruiters and 1 more role: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($77,500 against a $64,680 median for marketing specialists).
the Southwest Colorado nonmetro area against Colorado
Against Colorado as a whole, the Southwest Colorado nonmetro area pays less for every one of the 17 roles with a statewide figure. It comes closest for sales development representatives (-1.8%) and is furthest below for marketing specialists (-30.5%). It has the lowest median in Colorado for office managers, executive assistants and payroll specialists and 1 more role.
Other areas in Colorado
By jobs in these roles, the Southwest Colorado nonmetro area is #7 of 10 areas in Colorado. The table shows the other 9.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora, CO | 190,810 | 17 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 31,880 | 17 |
| Boulder, CO | 23,510 | 17 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | 17,200 | 17 |
| Northwest Colorado (Nonmetro) | 11,790 | 16 |
| Greeley, CO | 10,220 | 17 |
| Grand Junction, CO | 6,320 | 16 |
| Eastern and Southern Colorado (Nonmetro) | 5,500 | 16 |
| Pueblo, CO | 5,280 | 16 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in the Southwest Colorado nonmetro area?
Of the 17 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $96,080 a year, about $123,974 with benefits; the lowest is Data Entry Specialist, $35,990.
Is hiring in the Southwest Colorado nonmetro area cheaper than the US median?
For 12 of the 17 roles, yes, most of all executive assistants (-28.3%). 3 pay more than the US median, led by sales development representatives (+12.0%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.