Cost of hiring in Winston-Salem, NC
BLS counts about 26,040 people in these 17 roles in Winston-Salem1. Project Coordinator has the highest median ($79,560 a year), Virtual Receptionist the lowest ($35,360), and Medical Administrative Assistant is the largest job, with about 3,980 people.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in Winston-Salem
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +1.0% | 3,980 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -4.0% | 2,250 | |
| Bookkeeper | -4.6% | 2,880 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -5.1% | 130 | |
| Accountant | -5.7% | 2,030 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -6.5% | 190 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -6.9% | 1,300 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -7.0% | 1,210 | |
| Recruiter | -9.7% | 1,370 | |
| Office Manager | -10.3% | 1,880 | |
| HR Assistant | -11.0% | 170 | |
| Executive Assistant | -11.4% | 510 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -14.2% | 220 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -14.2% | 3,770 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -16.8% | 1,790 | |
| Paralegal | -19.4% | 830 | |
| Project Coordinator | -22.2% | 1,530 |
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 $46,370 median for medical administrative assistants, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $59,832 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
Winston-Salem against the US
Winston-Salem pays below the US median for 16 of the 17 roles, furthest for project coordinators (-22.2%). For medical administrative assistants it is within 1% of the US figure. The middle gap across all 17 is -9.7%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for marketing specialists, #86 of 516 areas by median pay; its lowest is for project coordinators, #450 of 518.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, Winston-Salem has more medical administrative assistants (15.3% of these jobs here, against 6.1% nationally) and paralegals (3.2% against 2.5%), and fewer executive assistants (2.0% against 2.9%) and office managers (7.2% against 9.1%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Chambersburg, PA is nearest, at -9.7%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass, FL | -9.7% | 16 | 19,150 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | -9.7% | 17 | 11,080 |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | -9.7% | 16 | 4,010 |
| Chambersburg, PA | -9.7% | 15 | 4,340 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | -9.7% (this area) | 17 | 26,040 |
| Farmington, NM | -9.8% | 14 | 4,200 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in Winston-Salem span $37,310–$128,300, the widest band (3.4×); medical administrative assistants the narrowest, $36,560–$54,680. 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 sales development representatives, project coordinators, accountants and 4 more roles: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($71,350 against a $58,240 median for sales development representatives).
Winston-Salem against North Carolina
Against North Carolina as a whole, Winston-Salem pays more only for medical administrative assistants (+4.9%), and less for 12, most of all project coordinators (-21.1%). Its best rank within North Carolina is #3 of 18 areas, for medical administrative assistants.
Other areas in North Carolina
By jobs in these roles, Winston-Salem is #5 of 18 areas in North Carolina. The table shows the areas closest to it in size, from Charlotte-Concord to Hickory-Lenoir.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC | 150,280 | 17 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 87,470 | 17 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 37,280 | 17 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | 37,170 | 17 |
| Eastern North Carolina (Nonmetro) | 21,670 | 17 |
| Western North Carolina (Nonmetro) | 21,250 | 17 |
| Wilmington, NC | 19,910 | 17 |
| Asheville, NC | 18,810 | 17 |
| Central North Carolina (Nonmetro) | 17,340 | 17 |
| Hickory-Lenoir, NC | 12,690 | 17 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in Winston-Salem?
Of the 17 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $79,560 a year, about $102,658 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $35,360.
Is hiring in Winston-Salem cheaper than the US median?
Mostly: no role pays more than the US median, and 16 of 17 pay less.
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.