Marketing Specialist salary in the East Central Illinois nonmetro area
The East Central Illinois nonmetro area is a lower-cost market for marketing specialists: the median of $71,380 a year1 is 9.8% below the Illinois statewide median of $79,120, and 9.4% below the US median of $78,760. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#110 of 516). About 410 marketing specialists work here, 1% of the Illinois total.
BLS occupation 13-1161, area East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the East Central Illinois nonmetro area against Illinois and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Central Illinois (Nonmetro) | $38,610 | $71,380 | $118,140 | |
| Illinois | $46,970 | $79,120 | $139,110 | |
| United States | $43,390 | $78,760 | $155,480 |
The middle half of marketing specialists in the East Central Illinois nonmetro area earns $49,880–$91,630. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $118,140, only 3.1 times the bottom tenth, against 3.6 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $41,750 wide, against $44,590 across Illinois and $49,960 nationally: employers in the East Central Illinois nonmetro area pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for a marketing specialist here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38,610 | $3,218 | $18.56 | $49,819 |
| 25th percentile | $49,880 | $4,157 | $23.98 | $64,361 |
| Median | $71,380 | $5,948 | $34.32 | $92,103 |
| 75th percentile | $91,630 | $7,636 | $44.05 | $118,232 |
| 90th percentile | $118,140 | $9,845 | $56.80 | $152,439 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $20,250 a year in pay and about $26,129 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $21,500 in pay. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $78,760 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in the East Central Illinois nonmetro area, and the Illinois statewide median of $79,120 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in the East Central Illinois nonmetro area
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, which adds about $20,723 to the $71,380 median and brings it to $92,103 a year. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for marketing specialists we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in the East Central Illinois nonmetro area
Of the 17 roles we track in the East Central Illinois nonmetro area, this one ranks #3 by median pay, between accountants ($71,970) and recruiters ($67,340). Project Coordinator is the highest at $86,680.
| Role | Median | vs marketing specialist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +21.4% | 260 | |
| Accountant | +0.8% | 820 | |
| Marketing Specialist | this role | 410 | |
| Recruiter | -5.7% | 500 | |
| Office Manager | -12.6% | 800 |
Measured against the US median, marketing specialists rank #10 of the 17 roles we track in the East Central Illinois nonmetro area (-9.4%), between virtual receptionists (-8.5%) and office managers (-10.2%). The typical role here is at -8.5%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Marketing specialists hold 3.6% of the jobs in these 17 roles in the East Central Illinois nonmetro area, 6.6% across Illinois and 5.7% nationally. The job is a smaller part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Illinois
Across the 11 areas of Illinois with data for this job, the median runs from $44,860 in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area to $80,400 in Chicago-Naperville, a gap of $35,540 a year. Of the 5 areas in Illinois with more marketing specialists than the East Central Illinois nonmetro area, 3 pay less: the West Central Illinois nonmetro area ($44,860), Rockford, IL ($61,810) and the Northwest Illinois nonmetro area ($62,180).
| Area | Median | vs the East Central Illinois nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN | +12.6% | 30,970 | |
| Peoria, IL | +10.3% | 1,080 | |
| East Central Illinois (Nonmetro) | this area | 410 | |
| Decatur, IL | -4.6% | 140 | |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | -7.8% | 380 | |
| Springfield, IL | -8.8% | 410 | |
| Northwest Illinois (Nonmetro) | -12.9% | 420 |
the East Central Illinois nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the East Central Illinois nonmetro area is #210 of 514 US areas for this job. It is a mid-sized market, and its pay is in the top quarter of US areas. Outside Illinois, Midland and Harrisburg-Carlisle pay just above the East Central Illinois nonmetro area and Cleveland and Hilton Head Island-Bluffton just below. All four are within $120 a year of the median in the East Central Illinois nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many marketing specialists, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the East Central Illinois nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | +4.6% | 410 | jobs | |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | +0.2% | 1,560 | pay | |
| Midland, MI | +0.2% | 200 | pay | |
| East Central Illinois (Nonmetro) | this area | 410 | ||
| Cleveland, OH | -0.0% | 5,440 | pay | |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton, SC | -0.1% | 450 | pay | |
| Flint, MI | -16.0% | 410 | jobs | |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | -26.4% | 410 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a marketing specialist in East Central Illinois (Nonmetro)?
About $92,103 a year at the median, or $7,675 a month: $71,380 in pay plus about $20,723 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do marketing specialists earn in the East Central Illinois nonmetro area?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $71,380 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $38,610, the 90th $118,140, and the middle half earned $49,880 to $91,630.
Is the East Central Illinois nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of Illinois for marketing specialists?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $71,380 against $79,120 statewide. The next area up in Illinois is Peoria at $78,700, the next down Decatur at $68,080.
How many marketing specialists work in the East Central Illinois nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 410 in the May 2025 survey. That is 1% of the Illinois total of 40,560. 6 areas in Illinois have more; the closest in size is Springfield, with about 410.
Does a marketing specialist cost more than a recruiter in the East Central Illinois nonmetro area?
Yes: $4,040 a year more at the median. The medians are $71,380 and $67,340.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-1161: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.