Cost of hiring in the Southwest Missouri nonmetro area
BLS counts about 5,240 people in these 16 roles in the Southwest Missouri nonmetro area1. Project Coordinator has the highest median ($74,970 a year), Virtual Receptionist the lowest ($33,860), and Administrative Assistant is the largest job, with about 960 people.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in the Southwest Missouri nonmetro area
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR Assistant | -8.2% | 30 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -10.9% | 440 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -13.8% | 150 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -14.7% | 40 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -18.6% | 840 | |
| Bookkeeper | -18.8% | 480 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -20.1% | 960 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -24.2% | 90 | |
| Accountant | -25.3% | 390 | |
| Recruiter | -26.1% | 280 | |
| Project Coordinator | -26.7% | 220 | |
| Office Manager | -29.9% | 570 | |
| Paralegal | -33.9% | 70 | |
| Executive Assistant | -35.4% | 130 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -39.8% | 300 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -48.5% | 250 |
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 $37,990 median for administrative assistants, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $49,019 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
the Southwest Missouri nonmetro area against the US
The Southwest Missouri nonmetro area pays below the US median for all 16 roles. The gap is smallest for HR assistants (-8.2%) and virtual receptionists (-10.9%) and largest for marketing specialists (-48.5%). The middle gap across all 16 is -24.7%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for medical administrative assistants, #327 of 516 areas by median pay; its lowest is for marketing specialists, #516 of 516.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, the Southwest Missouri nonmetro area has more payroll specialists (1.7% of these jobs here, against 1.0% nationally) and administrative assistants (18.3% against 10.8%), and fewer medical administrative assistants (2.9% against 6.1%) and paralegals (1.3% against 2.5%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Brownsville-Harlingen, TX is nearest, at -24.4%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eagle Pass, TX | -23.6% | 11 | 1,250 |
| Laredo, TX | -24.2% | 17 | 10,520 |
| Jonesboro, AR | -24.3% | 15 | 4,150 |
| Gadsden, AL | -24.4% | 11 | 2,870 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | -24.4% | 17 | 15,460 |
| Southwest Missouri (Nonmetro) | -24.7% (this area) | 16 | 5,240 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, marketing specialists in the Southwest Missouri nonmetro area span $28,600–$79,490, the widest band (2.8×); medical administrative assistants the narrowest, $34,120–$47,300. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 11 of 16 roles, sales development representatives most ($37,980–$148,840 across the US). Budget from the median for paralegals, marketing specialists, sales development representatives and 5 more roles: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($53,070 against a $41,600 median for paralegals).
the Southwest Missouri nonmetro area against Missouri
Against Missouri as a whole, the Southwest Missouri nonmetro area pays less for every one of the 15 roles with a statewide figure. It comes closest for HR assistants (-3.1%) and is furthest below for marketing specialists (-42.2%). It has the lowest median in Missouri for accountants, recruiters and executive assistants and 3 more roles.
Other areas in Missouri
By jobs in these roles, the Southwest Missouri nonmetro area is #10 of 12 areas in Missouri. The table shows the areas closest to it in size, from Kansas City to Cape Girardeau.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 118,710 | 17 |
| Springfield, MO | 20,430 | 16 |
| Southeast Missouri (Nonmetro) | 10,450 | 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 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | 3,920 | 15 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | 3,590 | 14 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in the Southwest Missouri nonmetro area?
Of the 16 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $74,970 a year, about $96,735 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $33,860.
Is hiring in the Southwest 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 marketing specialists (-48.5%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.