Cost of hiring in the West Arkansas nonmetro area
Customer Support Specialist is the largest of these 15 jobs in the West Arkansas nonmetro area, with about 900 people1. Medians run from $31,300 a year for virtual receptionists to $80,570 for project coordinators.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in the West Arkansas nonmetro area
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Entry Specialist | -12.7% | 40 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -17.7% | 520 | |
| Bookkeeper | -18.3% | 650 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -18.7% | 900 | |
| Project Coordinator | -21.3% | 190 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -22.3% | 130 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -22.4% | 630 | |
| Accountant | -23.8% | 360 | |
| Paralegal | -27.1% | 90 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -27.7% | 50 | |
| Office Manager | -29.2% | 680 | |
| Recruiter | -29.2% | 250 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -30.8% | 160 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -36.1% | 170 | |
| Executive Assistant | -37.6% | 110 |
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 $36,410 median for customer support specialists, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $46,981 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
the West Arkansas nonmetro area against the US
The West Arkansas nonmetro area pays below the US median for all 15 roles. The gap is smallest for data entry specialists (-12.7%) and virtual receptionists (-17.7%) and largest for executive assistants (-37.6%). The middle gap across all 15 is -23.8%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for data entry specialists, #324 of 394 areas by median pay; its lowest is for office managers, #512 of 519.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, the West Arkansas nonmetro area has more virtual receptionists (10.5% of these jobs here, against 5.8% nationally) and office managers (13.8% against 9.1%), and fewer sales development representatives (3.2% against 8.0%) and medical administrative assistants (2.6% against 6.1%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Eagle Pass, TX is nearest, at -23.6%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria, LA | -23.3% | 14 | 4,980 |
| Eagle Pass, TX | -23.6% | 11 | 1,250 |
| West Arkansas (Nonmetro) | -23.8% (this area) | 15 | 4,930 |
| Laredo, TX | -24.2% | 17 | 10,520 |
| Gadsden, AL | -24.4% | 11 | 2,870 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | -24.4% | 17 | 15,460 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, project coordinators in the West Arkansas nonmetro area span $44,490–$166,180, the widest band (3.7×); medical administrative assistants the narrowest, $30,270–$42,840. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 9 of 15 roles, sales development representatives most ($37,980–$148,840 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, project coordinators, marketing specialists and 5 more roles: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($65,630 against a $48,450 median for sales development representatives).
the West Arkansas nonmetro area against Arkansas
Against Arkansas as a whole, the West Arkansas nonmetro area pays more for 2 of 15 roles, led by data entry specialists (+6.6%) and project coordinators (+4.4%), and less for 13, most of all marketing specialists (-23.1%). Its best rank within Arkansas is #2 of 9 areas, for project coordinators.
Other areas in Arkansas
By jobs in these roles, the West Arkansas nonmetro area is #6 of 9 areas in Arkansas. The table shows the other 8.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR | 32,430 | 17 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale, AR | 25,800 | 17 |
| North Arkansas (Nonmetro) | 8,220 | 17 |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | 7,690 | 16 |
| South Arkansas (Nonmetro) | 6,720 | 14 |
| Jonesboro, AR | 4,150 | 15 |
| East Arkansas (Nonmetro) | 3,880 | 12 |
| Hot Springs, AR | 2,720 | 12 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in the West Arkansas nonmetro area?
Of the 15 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $80,570 a year, about $103,961 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $31,300.
Is hiring in the West Arkansas nonmetro area cheaper than the US median?
Yes, for every role we track: all 15 medians are below the US figure, the furthest for executive assistants (-37.6%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.