Marketing Specialist salary in the North Coast Region of California nonmetro area
The North Coast Region of California nonmetro area is a lower-cost market for marketing specialists: the median of $68,410 a year1 is 27.8% below the California statewide median of $94,700, and 13.1% below the US median of $78,760. Among US areas it comes in at #142 of 516. The market is small, about 280 people, so expect few local candidates at a time.
BLS occupation 13-1161, area North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the North Coast Region of California nonmetro area against California and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Coast Region of California (Nonmetro) | $40,600 | $68,410 | $132,410 | |
| California | $48,440 | $94,700 | $181,600 | |
| United States | $43,390 | $78,760 | $155,480 |
The middle half of marketing specialists in the North Coast Region of California nonmetro area earns $49,590–$98,470. The top tenth earns $132,410 or more, 3.3 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 3.6 times. The mean ($79,270) is 16% over the median, so a group of high earners pulls the average up; price a typical hire from the median. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $48,880 wide, against $69,340 across California and $49,960 nationally: employers in the North Coast Region of California 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 | $40,600 | $3,383 | $19.52 | $52,387 |
| 25th percentile | $49,590 | $4,132 | $23.84 | $63,987 |
| Median | $68,410 | $5,701 | $32.89 | $88,271 |
| 75th percentile | $98,470 | $8,206 | $47.34 | $127,058 |
| 90th percentile | $132,410 | $11,034 | $63.66 | $170,852 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $30,060 over the median, the 25th only $18,820 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $38,787 a year in employer cost. 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 North Coast Region of California nonmetro area, and the California statewide median of $94,700 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in the North Coast Region of California nonmetro area
At the $68,410 median, a local hire costs about $88,271 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $19,861 here. 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 North Coast Region of California nonmetro area
Of the 16 roles we track in the North Coast Region of California nonmetro area, this one ranks #6 by median pay, between office managers ($73,370) and payroll specialists ($64,130). Project Coordinator is the highest at $91,210.
| Role | Median | vs marketing specialist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Assistant | +8.2% | 240 | |
| Office Manager | +7.3% | 910 | |
| Marketing Specialist | this role | 280 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -6.3% | 130 | |
| Paralegal | -8.7% | 120 |
Measured against the US median, marketing specialists rank #15 of the 16 roles we track in the North Coast Region of California nonmetro area (-13.1%), between project coordinators (-10.9%) and sales development representatives (-27.5%). The typical role here is at +5.9%, so, measured against the US, marketing specialists cost less in the North Coast Region of California nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Marketing specialists hold 3.5% of the jobs in these 16 roles in the North Coast Region of California nonmetro area, 7.2% across California and 5.7% nationally. The job is a smaller part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in California
Across the 28 areas of California with data for this job, the median runs from $60,540 in El Centro to $141,960 in San Jose-Sunnyvale, a gap of $81,420 a year. Of the 20 areas in California with more marketing specialists than the North Coast Region of California nonmetro area, 3 pay less: Fresno, CA ($62,880), San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA ($66,660) and Visalia, CA ($66,330).
| Area | Median | vs the North Coast Region of California nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salinas, CA | +3.0% | 540 | |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | +2.2% | 740 | |
| Riverside-San Bernardino, CA | +2.1% | 5,280 | |
| North Coast Region of California (Nonmetro) | this area | 280 | |
| Redding, CA | -0.4% | 220 | |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | -2.6% | 520 | |
| Visalia, CA | -3.0% | 340 |
the North Coast Region of California nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the North Coast Region of California nonmetro area is #306 of 514 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside California, Columbia and Mount Vernon-Anacortes pay just above the North Coast Region of California nonmetro area and Columbus and Decatur just below. All four are within $330 a year of the median in the North Coast Region of California nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many marketing specialists, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs the North Coast Region of California nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | +0.4% | 200 | pay | |
| Columbia, SC | +0.3% | 1,800 | pay | |
| North Coast Region of California (Nonmetro) | this area | 280 | ||
| Columbus, GA-AL | -0.5% | 470 | pay | |
| Decatur, IL | -0.5% | 140 | pay | |
| Bloomington, IN | -9.2% | 280 | jobs | |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | -12.8% | 280 | jobs | |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | -38.3% | 280 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a marketing specialist in North Coast Region of California (Nonmetro)?
About $88,271 a year at the median, or $7,356 a month: $68,410 in pay plus about $19,861 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do marketing specialists earn in the North Coast Region of California nonmetro area?
The median was $68,410 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $40,600, the 90th $132,410, and the middle half earned $49,590 to $98,470.
Is the North Coast Region of California nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of California for marketing specialists?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $68,410 against $94,700 statewide. The next area up in California is Riverside-San Bernardino at $69,840, the next down Redding at $68,140.
How many marketing specialists work in the North Coast Region of California nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 280 in the May 2025 survey. 20 areas in California have more; the closest in size is Chico, with about 320.
Does a marketing specialist cost more than a payroll specialist in the North Coast Region of California nonmetro area?
Yes: $4,280 a year more at the median. The medians are $68,410 and $64,130.
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 2026-11-13.