Project Coordinator salary in Columbia, MO
Columbia is a lower-cost market for project coordinators: the median of $80,870 a year1 is 14.6% below the Missouri statewide median of $94,660, and 21.0% below the US median of $102,320. That is in the bottom quarter of US areas (#425 of 518). BLS counts about 580 people in this job here, 3% of the Missouri total.
BLS occupation 13-1082, area Columbia, MO. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Columbia against Missouri and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia, MO | $51,500 | $80,870 | $129,560 | |
| Missouri | $56,660 | $94,660 | $157,650 | |
| United States | $61,580 | $102,320 | $167,970 |
Project coordinators at the 90th percentile earn $129,560, 2.5 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.7. The middle half of project coordinators in Columbia earns $62,420–$100,900. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $38,480 wide, against $53,710 across Missouri and $54,660 nationally: employers in Columbia pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for a project coordinator here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $51,500 | $4,292 | $24.76 | $66,452 |
| 25th percentile | $62,420 | $5,202 | $30.01 | $80,542 |
| Median | $80,870 | $6,739 | $38.88 | $104,348 |
| 75th percentile | $100,900 | $8,408 | $48.51 | $130,194 |
| 90th percentile | $129,560 | $10,797 | $62.29 | $167,174 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $20,030 a year in pay and about $25,845 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $18,450 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 $102,320 falls between the 75th and 90th percentiles in Columbia, and the Missouri statewide median of $94,660 falls between the median and the 75th percentile. An offer at the national rate would beat what three quarters of local project coordinators earn.
What a hire really costs in Columbia
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 $23,478 to the $80,870 median and brings it to $104,348 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 project coordinators 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 Columbia
Project coordinators have the highest median of the 16 roles we track in Columbia; virtual receptionists have the lowest, at $34,020.
| Role | Median | vs project coordinator | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | this role | 580 | |
| Accountant | -9.6% | 930 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -20.0% | 600 | |
| Recruiter | -21.7% | 640 | |
| Office Manager | -23.7% | 930 |
Measured against the US median, project coordinators rank #14 of the 16 roles we track in Columbia (-21.0%), between executive assistants (-19.7%) and paralegals (-21.5%). The typical role here is at -16.5%, so, measured against the US, project coordinators cost less in Columbia than the area's general pay level would suggest. Project coordinators hold 5.7% of the jobs in these 16 roles in Columbia, 7.7% across Missouri and 6.8% nationally. The job is a smaller part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Missouri
Across the 12 areas of Missouri with data for this job, the median runs from $74,080 in the Central Missouri nonmetro area to $101,050 in Kansas City, a gap of $26,970 a year. Of the 3 areas in Missouri with more project coordinators than Columbia, 1 pays less: Springfield, MO ($78,060).
| Area | Median | vs Columbia | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO-KS | +25.0% | 8,380 | |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | +24.3% | 10,450 | |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | +10.9% | 210 | |
| Columbia, MO | this area | 580 | |
| Jefferson City, MO | -1.1% | 500 | |
| Southeast Missouri (Nonmetro) | -1.8% | 460 | |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | -3.4% | 200 |
Columbia against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Columbia is #190 of 517 US areas for this job. It is a mid-sized market, and its pay is in the bottom quarter of US areas. Outside Missouri, Morgantown and Mankato pay just above Columbia and Cleveland and Lafayette just below. All four are within $150 a year of the median in Columbia. Of the three markets with about as many project coordinators, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Columbia | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Logan, UT-ID | +24.1% | 560 | jobs | |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | +23.6% | 590 | jobs | |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | +9.6% | 570 | jobs | |
| Mankato, MN | +0.1% | 220 | pay | |
| Morgantown, WV | +0.0% | 340 | pay | |
| Columbia, MO | this area | 580 | ||
| Cleveland, TN | -0.2% | 130 | pay | |
| Lafayette, LA | -0.2% | 660 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a project coordinator in Columbia, MO?
About $104,348 a year at the median, or $8,696 a month: $80,870 in pay plus about $23,478 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do project coordinators earn in Columbia?
Pay here is lower than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $80,870 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $51,500, the 90th $129,560, and the middle half earned $62,420 to $100,900.
Is Columbia cheaper than the rest of Missouri for project coordinators?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $80,870 against $94,660 statewide. The next area up in Missouri is St. Joseph at $89,670, the next down Jefferson City at $79,980.
How many project coordinators work in Columbia?
BLS counts about 580 in the May 2025 survey. That is 3% of the Missouri total of 21,460. 3 areas in Missouri have more; the closest in size is Springfield, with about 1,230.
Does a project coordinator cost more than an accountant in Columbia?
Yes: $7,800 a year more at the median. The medians are $80,870 and $73,070.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-1082: 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.