Cost of hiring in State College, PA
Administrative Assistant is the largest of these 15 jobs in State College, with about 1,140 people1. Medians run from $34,860 a year for virtual receptionists to $81,820 for project coordinators.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in State College
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Assistant | +0.3% | 1,140 | |
| HR Assistant | -3.6% | 40 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -3.6% | 250 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -4.9% | 940 | |
| Paralegal | -8.3% | 80 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -8.3% | 470 | |
| Bookkeeper | -8.5% | 490 | |
| Office Manager | -12.1% | 510 | |
| Accountant | -12.7% | 460 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -13.2% | 70 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -15.3% | 300 | |
| Recruiter | -15.4% | 260 | |
| Executive Assistant | -19.5% | 170 | |
| Project Coordinator | -20.0% | 470 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -22.5% | 280 |
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 $47,700 median for administrative assistants, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $61,548 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
State College against the US
State College pays below the US median for 14 of the 15 roles, furthest for marketing specialists (-22.5%). For administrative assistants it is within 1% of the US figure. The middle gap across all 15 is -12.1%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for administrative assistants, #132 of 520 areas by median pay; its lowest is for project coordinators, #405 of 518.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, State College has more administrative assistants (19.2% of these jobs here, against 10.9% nationally) and virtual receptionists (7.9% against 5.8%), and fewer paralegals (1.3% against 2.5%) and sales development representatives (5.1% against 8.0%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Evansville, IN is nearest, at -12.1%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kankakee, IL | -11.9% | 13 | 3,160 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | -12.0% | 17 | 75,230 |
| Evansville, IN | -12.1% | 17 | 11,260 |
| State College, PA | -12.1% (this area) | 15 | 5,930 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | -12.1% | 17 | 6,400 |
| Wichita, KS | -12.2% | 17 | 32,410 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, marketing specialists in State College span $28,470–$110,860, the widest band (3.9×); medical administrative assistants the narrowest, $36,100–$53,110. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 11 of 15 roles, accountants most ($56,020–$144,090 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, project coordinators and marketing specialists: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($68,690 against a $59,260 median for sales development representatives).
State College against Pennsylvania
Against Pennsylvania as a whole, State College pays more only for administrative assistants (+3.1%), and less for 13, most of all project coordinators (-18.3%). Its best rank within Pennsylvania is #2 of 20 areas, for administrative assistants.
Other areas in Pennsylvania
By jobs in these roles, State College is #14 of 20 areas in Pennsylvania. The table shows the areas closest to it in size, from the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area to Johnstown.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Central Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | 13,520 | 17 |
| Northwestern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | 10,870 | 17 |
| Southwestern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | 10,340 | 17 |
| Erie, PA | 9,750 | 17 |
| Northeastern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | 9,700 | 17 |
| Altoona, PA | 4,760 | 15 |
| Chambersburg, PA | 4,340 | 15 |
| Lebanon, PA | 3,880 | 15 |
| Williamsport, PA | 3,880 | 15 |
| Johnstown, PA | 3,870 | 15 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in State College?
Of the 15 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $81,820 a year, about $105,574 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $34,860.
Is hiring in State College cheaper than the US median?
Mostly: no role pays more than the US median, and 14 of 15 pay less.
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.