Virtual receptionist in Albany, GA: cost vs in-house
Albany is a lower-cost market for virtual receptionists: the median of $34,340 a year1 is 4.9% below the Georgia statewide median of $36,100, and 9.7% below the US median of $38,010. Among US areas it comes in at #374 of 521. BLS counts about 310 people in this job here, 1% of the Georgia total.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Albany, GA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Albany against Georgia and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany, GA | $25,140 | $34,340 | $43,380 | |
| Georgia (US state) | $24,920 | $36,100 | $47,190 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
The middle half of virtual receptionists in Albany earns $29,650–$39,520. The top tenth earns $43,380 or more, 1.7 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 1.7 times. The mean ($34,270) 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 $9,870 wide, against $12,130 across Georgia and $11,170 nationally: employers in Albany 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 | $25,140 | $2,095 | $12.09 | $32,439 |
| 25th percentile | $29,650 | $2,471 | $14.25 | $38,258 |
| Median | $34,340 | $2,862 | $16.51 | $44,310 |
| 75th percentile | $39,520 | $3,293 | $19.00 | $50,994 |
| 90th percentile | $43,380 | $3,615 | $20.86 | $55,974 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $4,690 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $5,180, or about $6,684 once benefits are added. 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 Albany, and the Georgia statewide median of $36,100 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Albany
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 $9,970 to the $34,340 median and brings it to $44,310 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 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 Albany
Of the 15 roles we track in Albany, this one ranks #14 by median pay, between administrative assistants ($37,830) and customer support specialists ($33,190). Project Coordinator is the highest at $98,850.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Entry Specialist | +11.7% | 40 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +11.4% | 560 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +10.2% | 550 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 310 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -3.3% | 1,480 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #4 of the 15 roles we track in Albany (-9.7%), between data entry specialists (-7.2%) and payroll specialists (-10.5%). The typical role here is at -15.6%, so, measured against the US, virtual receptionists cost more in Albany than the area's general pay level would suggest. Virtual receptionists hold 5.5% of the jobs in these 15 roles in Albany, 5.1% across Georgia and 5.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Georgia
Across the 18 areas of Georgia with data for this job, the median runs from $30,110 in the Middle Georgia nonmetro area to $37,530 in Atlanta-Sandy Springs, a gap of $7,420 a year. Of the 14 areas in Georgia with more virtual receptionists than Albany, 9 pay less, the largest of them Savannah, GA ($34,270), Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC ($32,690) and Columbus, GA-AL ($31,200).
| Area | Median | vs Albany | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Georgia (Nonmetro) | +4.3% | 800 | |
| Rome, GA | +1.4% | 270 | |
| Dalton, GA | +0.7% | 340 | |
| Albany, GA | this area | 310 | |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | -0.1% | 690 | |
| Savannah, GA | -0.2% | 1,290 | |
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | -1.0% | 220 |
Albany against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Albany is #414 of 521 US areas for this job. The market is small, and its pay sits near the middle of the US range. Outside Georgia, Joplin and Jackson pay just above Albany and Sherman-Denison and Wilmington just below. All four are within $80 a year of the median in Albany. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Albany | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kankakee, IL | +3.7% | 310 | jobs | |
| Jackson, MS | +0.0% | 1,770 | pay | |
| Joplin, MO-KS | +0.0% | 510 | pay | |
| Albany, GA | this area | 310 | ||
| Sherman-Denison, TX | -0.2% | 320 | pay | |
| Wilmington, NC | -0.2% | 1,210 | pay | |
| Williamsport, PA | -1.6% | 310 | jobs | |
| Owensboro, KY | -8.9% | 310 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Albany, GA?
About $44,310 a year at the median, or $3,692 a month: $34,340 in pay plus about $9,970 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do virtual receptionists earn in Albany?
The median was $34,340 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $25,140, the 90th $43,380, and the middle half earned $29,650 to $39,520.
Is Albany cheaper than the rest of Georgia for virtual receptionists?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $34,340 against $36,100 statewide. The next area up in Georgia is Dalton at $34,570, the next down Athens-Clarke County at $34,290.
How many virtual receptionists work in Albany?
BLS counts about 310 in the May 2025 survey. That is 1% of the Georgia total of 26,080. 14 areas in Georgia have more; the closest in size is Valdosta, with about 340.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a customer support specialist in Albany?
Yes: $1,150 a year more at the median. The medians are $34,340 and $33,190.
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.