Cost of hiring in Worcester, MA
Customer Support Specialist is the largest of these 17 jobs in Worcester, with about 4,740 people1. Medians run from $41,720 a year for virtual receptionists to $100,290 for project coordinators.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in Worcester
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing Specialist | +14.7% | 2,030 | |
| Paralegal | +12.9% | 480 | |
| Accountant | +12.4% | 3,090 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +11.4% | 150 | |
| Bookkeeper | +11.2% | 2,780 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +10.6% | 2,180 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +10.3% | 3,550 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | +9.8% | 1,940 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +6.2% | 4,740 | |
| Office Manager | +5.2% | 3,380 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +3.7% | 100 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +3.1% | 260 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +3.0% | 2,860 | |
| Recruiter | +1.8% | 2,050 | |
| HR Assistant | -1.5% | 120 | |
| Executive Assistant | -1.6% | 1,310 | |
| Project Coordinator | -2.0% | 1,400 |
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 $47,540 median for customer support specialists, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $61,342 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
Worcester against the US
Worcester pays above the US median for 14 of the 17 roles, most of all for marketing specialists (+14.7%) and paralegals (+12.9%), and below it for 3, furthest for project coordinators (-2.0%). The middle gap across all 17 is +6.2%: for most of these roles, hiring costs more here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for marketing specialists, #10 of 516 areas by median pay; its lowest is for HR assistants, #138 of 384.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, Worcester has more medical administrative assistants (8.8% of these jobs here, against 6.1% nationally) and executive assistants (4.0% against 2.9%), and fewer data entry specialists (0.5% against 0.8%) and paralegals (1.5% against 2.5%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA is nearest, at +6.3%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | +6.3% | 17 | 9,830 |
| Worcester, MA | +6.2% (this area) | 17 | 32,420 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | +5.9% | 17 | 66,240 |
| Salem, OR | +5.7% | 17 | 18,700 |
| Modesto, CA | +5.5% | 17 | 14,480 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | +5.5% | 15 | 4,040 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in Worcester span $44,650–$135,890, the widest band (3.0×); virtual receptionists the narrowest, $35,460–$51,440. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 14 of 17 roles, sales development representatives most ($37,980–$148,840 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, recruiters and project coordinators: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($86,750 against a $77,380 median for sales development representatives).
Worcester against Massachusetts
Against Massachusetts as a whole, Worcester pays less for every one of the 17 roles with a statewide figure. It comes closest for data entry specialists (-3.2%) and is furthest below for e-commerce order specialists (-13.0%). It has the lowest median in Massachusetts for HR assistants, e-commerce order specialists and medical administrative assistants.
Other areas in Massachusetts
By jobs in these roles, Worcester is #2 of 7 areas in Massachusetts. The table shows the other 6.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge, MA-NH | 302,950 | 17 |
| Springfield, MA | 17,070 | 17 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | 8,510 | 14 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | 5,890 | 14 |
| Pittsfield, MA | 5,230 | 15 |
| Massachusetts (Nonmetro) | 3,430 | 14 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in Worcester?
Of the 17 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $100,290 a year, about $129,406 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $41,720.
Is hiring in Worcester cheaper than the US median?
For 3 of the 17 roles, yes, most of all project coordinators (-2.0%). 14 pay more than the US median, led by marketing specialists (+14.7%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.