Cost of hiring in the Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area
BLS counts about 10,340 people in these 17 roles in the Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area1. Project Coordinator has the highest median ($94,870 a year), Virtual Receptionist the lowest ($35,100), and Administrative Assistant is the largest job, with about 1,760 people.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in the Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR Assistant | -4.5% | 60 | |
| Project Coordinator | -7.3% | 470 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -7.7% | 710 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -8.9% | 240 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -9.9% | 1,380 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -10.3% | 80 | |
| Bookkeeper | -11.0% | 1,420 | |
| Office Manager | -14.4% | 1,310 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -14.5% | 60 | |
| Accountant | -15.0% | 850 | |
| Recruiter | -15.1% | 480 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -15.6% | 450 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -16.8% | 510 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -17.2% | 1,760 | |
| Executive Assistant | -18.3% | 160 | |
| Paralegal | -20.8% | 90 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -24.5% | 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 $39,380 median for administrative assistants, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $50,813 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
the Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area against the US
The Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area pays below the US median for all 17 roles. The gap is smallest for HR assistants (-4.5%) and project coordinators (-7.3%) and largest for marketing specialists (-24.5%). The middle gap across all 17 is -14.5%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for project coordinators, #217 of 518 areas by median pay; its lowest is for accountants, #430 of 521.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, the Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area has more data entry specialists (2.3% of these jobs here, against 0.8% nationally) and bookkeepers (13.7% against 8.7%), and fewer paralegals (0.9% against 2.5%) and marketing specialists (3.0% against 5.7%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Idaho Falls, ID is nearest, at -14.5%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwestern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | -14.5% (this area) | 17 | 10,340 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | -14.5% | 15 | 7,570 |
| Jefferson City, MO | -14.5% | 16 | 8,300 |
| Longview, TX | -14.6% | 17 | 10,300 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | -14.7% | 15 | 4,400 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | -14.7% | 14 | 2,520 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, marketing specialists in the Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area span $37,340–$104,160, the widest band (2.8×); data entry specialists the narrowest, $35,100–$44,770. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 11 of 17 roles, data entry specialists most ($31,200–$58,790 across the US). Budget from the median for marketing specialists, project coordinators and sales development representatives: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($66,150 against a $59,500 median for marketing specialists).
the Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area against Pennsylvania
Against Pennsylvania as a whole, the Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area pays less for every one of the 17 roles with a statewide figure. It comes closest for HR assistants (-1.0%) and is furthest below for paralegals (-21.4%). It has the lowest median in Pennsylvania for e-commerce order specialists and medical administrative assistants.
Other areas in Pennsylvania
By jobs in these roles, the Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area is #11 of 20 areas in Pennsylvania. The table shows the areas closest to it in size, from Scranton-Wilkes-Barre to Chambersburg.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, PA | 20,060 | 17 |
| York-Hanover, PA | 14,930 | 17 |
| Reading, PA | 14,430 | 17 |
| Central Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | 13,520 | 17 |
| Northwestern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | 10,870 | 17 |
| Erie, PA | 9,750 | 17 |
| Northeastern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | 9,700 | 17 |
| State College, PA | 5,930 | 15 |
| Altoona, PA | 4,760 | 15 |
| Chambersburg, PA | 4,340 | 15 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in the Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area?
Of the 17 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $94,870 a year, about $122,413 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $35,100.
Is hiring in the Southwestern Pennsylvania 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 (-24.5%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.