Cost of hiring in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area
Administrative Assistant is the largest of these 17 jobs in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area, with about 2,290 people1. Medians run from $33,920 a year for virtual receptionists to $93,300 for project coordinators.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -1.4% | 60 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -6.7% | 1,930 | |
| Project Coordinator | -8.8% | 240 | |
| Bookkeeper | -9.7% | 1,770 | |
| HR Assistant | -10.6% | 90 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -10.8% | 990 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -12.3% | 120 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -12.8% | 120 | |
| Office Manager | -13.1% | 960 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -13.4% | 2,290 | |
| Recruiter | -13.9% | 540 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -16.0% | 940 | |
| Accountant | -16.2% | 1,000 | |
| Paralegal | -21.7% | 110 | |
| Executive Assistant | -22.3% | 300 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -30.1% | 890 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -43.0% | 640 |
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 $41,150 median for administrative assistants, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $53,097 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
the West Central Illinois nonmetro area against the US
The West Central Illinois nonmetro area pays below the US median for all 17 roles. The gap is smallest for e-commerce order specialists (-1.4%) and customer support specialists (-6.7%) and largest for marketing specialists (-43.0%). The middle gap across all 17 is -13.1%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for e-commerce order specialists, #111 of 287 areas by median pay; its lowest is for marketing specialists, #512 of 516.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, the West Central Illinois nonmetro area has more administrative assistants (17.6% of these jobs here, against 10.8% nationally) and bookkeepers (13.6% against 8.7%), and fewer project coordinators (1.8% against 6.7%) and paralegals (0.8% against 2.5%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Bay City, MI is nearest, at -13.2%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gainesville, FL | -13.0% | 16 | 13,460 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg, VA | -13.1% | 16 | 4,870 |
| West Central Illinois (Nonmetro) | -13.1% (this area) | 17 | 12,990 |
| Bay City, MI | -13.2% | 13 | 2,430 |
| Punta Gorda, FL | -13.3% | 15 | 5,620 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | -13.4% | 17 | 14,610 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, marketing specialists in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area span $31,200–$82,090, the widest band (2.6×); medical administrative assistants the narrowest, $36,130–$47,410. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 11 of 17 roles, sales development representatives most ($37,980–$148,840 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, marketing specialists and paralegals: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($59,040 against a $48,920 median for sales development representatives).
the West Central Illinois nonmetro area against Illinois
Against Illinois as a whole, the West Central Illinois nonmetro area pays less for every one of the 17 roles with a statewide figure. It comes closest for e-commerce order specialists (-4.5%) and is furthest below for marketing specialists (-43.3%). It has the lowest median in Illinois for marketing specialists, data entry specialists and virtual receptionists.
Other areas in Illinois
By jobs in these roles, the West Central Illinois nonmetro area is #3 of 12 areas in Illinois. The table shows the areas closest to it in size, from Chicago-Naperville to Kankakee.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN | 456,940 | 17 |
| Peoria, IL | 14,860 | 17 |
| Springfield, IL | 11,900 | 16 |
| East Central Illinois (Nonmetro) | 11,370 | 17 |
| Rockford, IL | 11,210 | 17 |
| South Illinois (Nonmetro) | 10,780 | 16 |
| Northwest Illinois (Nonmetro) | 9,540 | 17 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | 8,380 | 16 |
| Bloomington, IL | 6,740 | 14 |
| Kankakee, IL | 3,160 | 13 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area?
Of the 17 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $93,300 a year, about $120,387 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $33,920.
Is hiring in the West Central Illinois 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 (-43.0%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.