Cost of hiring in the Southwest Maine nonmetro area
BLS counts about 11,730 people in these 16 roles in the Southwest Maine nonmetro area1. Project Coordinator has the highest median ($94,320 a year), Virtual Receptionist the lowest ($41,760), and Customer Support Specialist is the largest job, with about 1,930 people.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in the Southwest Maine nonmetro area
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Receptionist | +9.9% | 720 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +9.1% | 1,930 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +2.6% | 850 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +0.5% | 1,660 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -2.1% | 120 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -3.5% | 70 | |
| Office Manager | -3.8% | 1,350 | |
| Bookkeeper | -4.6% | 1,690 | |
| Paralegal | -5.9% | 190 | |
| Project Coordinator | -7.8% | 440 | |
| Recruiter | -10.0% | 570 | |
| HR Assistant | -10.5% | 130 | |
| Accountant | -15.8% | 800 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -16.6% | 280 | |
| Executive Assistant | -22.2% | 620 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -32.5% | 310 |
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 $48,840 median for customer support specialists, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $63,019 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
the Southwest Maine nonmetro area against the US
The Southwest Maine nonmetro area pays above the US median for 3 of the 16 roles, most of all for virtual receptionists (+9.9%) and customer support specialists (+9.1%), and below it for 12, furthest for sales development representatives (-32.5%). For administrative assistants it is within 1% of the US figure. The middle gap across all 16 is -5.2%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for customer support specialists, #26 of 520 areas by median pay; its lowest is for sales development representatives, #473 of 520.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, the Southwest Maine nonmetro area has more HR assistants (1.1% of these jobs here, against 0.6% nationally) and executive assistants (5.3% against 2.9%), and fewer sales development representatives (2.6% against 8.0%) and marketing specialists (2.4% against 5.7%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Duluth, MN-WI is nearest, at -5.2%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | -5.2% | 17 | 43,050 |
| Southwest Maine (Nonmetro) | -5.2% (this area) | 16 | 11,730 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | -5.2% | 15 | 9,370 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI | -5.2% | 17 | 51,290 |
| Santa Fe, NM | -5.4% | 13 | 7,600 |
| Rockford, IL | -5.4% | 17 | 11,210 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, project coordinators in the Southwest Maine nonmetro area span $58,270–$155,990, the widest band (2.7×); virtual receptionists the narrowest, $35,800–$48,490. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 14 of 16 roles, sales development representatives most ($37,980–$148,840 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, accountants, bookkeepers and 1 more role: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($57,620 against a $47,260 median for sales development representatives).
the Southwest Maine nonmetro area against Maine
Against Maine as a whole, the Southwest Maine nonmetro area pays more only for customer support specialists (+3.6%), and less for 13, most of all sales development representatives (-26.0%). It has the highest median in Maine for customer support specialists, and the lowest for accountants, executive assistants and sales development representatives and 2 more roles.
Other areas in Maine
By jobs in these roles, the Southwest Maine nonmetro area is #2 of 5 areas in Maine. The table shows the other 4.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 24,580 | 17 |
| Bangor, ME | 5,910 | 16 |
| Northeast Maine (Nonmetro) | 4,830 | 14 |
| Lewiston-Auburn, ME | 3,830 | 16 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in the Southwest Maine nonmetro area?
Of the 16 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $94,320 a year, about $121,703 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $41,760.
Is hiring in the Southwest Maine nonmetro area cheaper than the US median?
For 12 of the 16 roles, yes, most of all sales development representatives (-32.5%). 3 pay more than the US median, led by virtual receptionists (+9.9%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.