Cost of hiring in the Western North Carolina nonmetro area
Customer Support Specialist is the largest of these 17 jobs in the Western North Carolina nonmetro area, with about 3,150 people1. Medians run from $34,840 a year for virtual receptionists to $91,200 for project coordinators.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in the Western North Carolina nonmetro area
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -5.5% | 120 | |
| HR Assistant | -6.0% | 140 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -8.3% | 1,120 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -8.4% | 120 | |
| Accountant | -10.6% | 1,720 | |
| Project Coordinator | -10.9% | 1,000 | |
| Bookkeeper | -11.3% | 2,710 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -12.9% | 2,900 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -15.6% | 2,340 | |
| Recruiter | -16.1% | 980 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -17.4% | 3,150 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -18.6% | 1,390 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -19.0% | 700 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -21.0% | 150 | |
| Office Manager | -22.1% | 1,850 | |
| Executive Assistant | -23.0% | 360 | |
| Paralegal | -26.0% | 500 |
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 $36,970 median for customer support specialists, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $47,703 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
the Western North Carolina nonmetro area against the US
The Western North Carolina nonmetro area pays below the US median for all 17 roles. The gap is smallest for e-commerce order specialists (-5.5%) and HR assistants (-6.0%) and largest for paralegals (-26.0%). The middle gap across all 17 is -15.6%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for marketing specialists, #225 of 516 areas by median pay; its lowest is for office managers, #491 of 519.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, the Western North Carolina nonmetro area has more medical administrative assistants (11.0% of these jobs here, against 6.1% nationally) and bookkeepers (12.8% against 8.7%), and fewer marketing specialists (3.3% against 5.7%) and executive assistants (1.7% against 2.9%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Albany, GA is nearest, at -15.6%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheeling, WV-OH | -15.6% | 16 | 4,830 |
| Mobile, AL | -15.6% | 16 | 17,970 |
| Western North Carolina (Nonmetro) | -15.6% (this area) | 17 | 21,250 |
| Albany, GA | -15.6% | 15 | 5,610 |
| Tyler, TX | -15.6% | 16 | 10,470 |
| Florence, SC | -15.7% | 14 | 8,060 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in the Western North Carolina nonmetro area span $33,120–$113,240, the widest band (3.4×); medical administrative assistants the narrowest, $33,860–$48,540. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 12 of 17 roles, paralegals most ($44,740–$101,500 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, marketing specialists, recruiters and 2 more roles: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($66,170 against a $56,970 median for sales development representatives).
the Western North Carolina nonmetro area against North Carolina
Against North Carolina as a whole, the Western North Carolina nonmetro area pays less for every one of the 17 roles with a statewide figure. It comes closest for HR assistants (-1.3%) and is furthest below for paralegals (-19.1%). It has the lowest median in North Carolina for office managers and paralegals.
Other areas in North Carolina
By jobs in these roles, the Western North Carolina nonmetro area is #7 of 18 areas in North Carolina. The table shows the areas closest to it in size, from Raleigh-Cary to Fayetteville.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 87,470 | 17 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 37,280 | 17 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | 37,170 | 17 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 26,040 | 17 |
| Eastern North Carolina (Nonmetro) | 21,670 | 17 |
| Wilmington, NC | 19,910 | 17 |
| Asheville, NC | 18,810 | 17 |
| Central North Carolina (Nonmetro) | 17,340 | 17 |
| Hickory-Lenoir, NC | 12,690 | 17 |
| Fayetteville, NC | 11,520 | 17 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in the Western North Carolina nonmetro area?
Of the 17 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $91,200 a year, about $117,677 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $34,840.
Is hiring in the Western North Carolina nonmetro area cheaper than the US median?
Yes, for every role we track: all 17 medians are below the US figure, the furthest for paralegals (-26.0%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.