Virtual receptionist in Akron, OH: cost vs in-house
For this job Akron sits between the state and national figures, with a median of $36,670 a year1. That is 2.1% above the Ohio statewide median of $35,920, and 3.5% below the US median of $38,010. Among US areas it comes in at #225 of 521. About 2,120 virtual receptionists work here, 7% of the Ohio total.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Akron, OH. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Akron against Ohio and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akron, OH | $27,180 | $36,670 | $47,510 | |
| Ohio | $26,070 | $35,920 | $46,840 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
The middle half of virtual receptionists in Akron earns $30,540–$39,290. The top tenth earns $47,510 or more, 1.7 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 1.7 times. The mean ($36,670) is no higher than the median, so few high earners skew the figures here. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $8,750 wide, against $9,610 across Ohio and $11,170 nationally: employers in Akron pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for a virtual receptionist here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $27,180 | $2,265 | $13.07 | $35,071 |
| 25th percentile | $30,540 | $2,545 | $14.68 | $39,406 |
| Median | $36,670 | $3,056 | $17.63 | $47,316 |
| 75th percentile | $39,290 | $3,274 | $18.89 | $50,697 |
| 90th percentile | $47,510 | $3,959 | $22.84 | $61,303 |
Local pay is bunched just above the median: the 75th percentile is only $2,620 over it, while the 25th sits $6,130 below. Moving an offer from the median to the 75th percentile costs about $3,381 more a year with benefits. 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 $38,010 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Akron, and the Ohio statewide median of $35,920 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Akron
At the $36,670 median, a local hire costs about $47,316 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $10,646 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 virtual receptionists 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 Akron
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 17 roles we track in Akron; project coordinators have the highest, at $93,190.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Assistant | +25.8% | 3,360 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +23.9% | 5,780 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +13.8% | 1,800 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +1.9% | 310 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 2,120 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #6 of the 17 roles we track in Akron (-3.5%), between administrative assistants (-2.9%) and payroll specialists (-3.9%). The typical role here is at -6.1%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Virtual receptionists hold 6.8% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Akron, 6.0% across Ohio and 5.7% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Ohio
Across the 16 areas of Ohio with data for this job, the median runs from $33,170 in Mansfield to $36,910 in Columbus, a gap of $3,740 a year. Of the 4 areas in Ohio with more virtual receptionists than Akron, 3 pay less: Cleveland, OH ($36,320), Cincinnati, OH-KY ($35,250) and Dayton-Kettering, OH ($35,360).
| Area | Median | vs Akron | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | +0.7% | 5,960 | |
| Toledo, OH | +0.1% | 1,900 | |
| Akron, OH | this area | 2,120 | |
| Cleveland, OH | -1.0% | 5,700 | |
| Springfield, OH | -2.8% | 280 | |
| Lima, OH | -2.9% | 370 | |
| Dayton-Kettering, OH | -3.6% | 2,140 |
Akron against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Akron is #76 of 521 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside Ohio, Port St. Lucie and Austin-Round Rock pay just above Akron and Tampa-St. Petersburg and Missoula just below. All four are within $60 a year of the median in Akron. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Akron | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | +1.5% | 2,160 | jobs | |
| Ogden, UT | +0.4% | 2,050 | jobs | |
| Austin-Round Rock, TX | +0.1% | 7,480 | pay | |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | +0.0% | 1,160 | pay | |
| Akron, OH | this area | 2,120 | ||
| Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL | -0.1% | 10,290 | pay | |
| Missoula, MT | -0.2% | 170 | pay | |
| Memphis, TN-MS | -5.8% | 2,100 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Akron, OH?
About $47,316 a year at the median, or $3,943 a month: $36,670 in pay plus about $10,646 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for virtual receptionists in Akron?
The median was $36,670 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $27,180, the 90th $47,510, and the middle half earned $30,540 to $39,290.
Is Akron cheaper than the rest of Ohio for virtual receptionists?
No, it costs more: a median of $36,670 against $35,920 statewide. The next area up in Ohio is Toledo at $36,710, the next down Cleveland at $36,320.
How many virtual receptionists work in Akron?
BLS counts about 2,120 in the May 2025 survey. That is 7% of the Ohio total of 30,850. 4 areas in Ohio have more; the closest in size is Dayton-Kettering, with about 2,140.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a data entry specialist in Akron?
No: $700 a year less at the median. The medians are $36,670 and $37,370.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-4171: 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.