Virtual receptionist in Albuquerque, NM: cost vs in-house
For this job Albuquerque sits right at the New Mexico figure, with a median of $35,360 a year1. That is about level with the New Mexico statewide median of $35,140, and 7.0% below the US median of $38,010. Among US areas it comes in at #313 of 521. It is the largest market for the job in New Mexico: about 3,010 people, 53% of the New Mexico total.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Albuquerque, NM. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Albuquerque against New Mexico and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NM | $26,420 | $35,360 | $44,970 | |
| New Mexico | $26,970 | $35,140 | $44,210 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
Virtual receptionists at the 90th percentile earn $44,970, 1.7 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 1.7. The middle half of virtual receptionists in Albuquerque earns $29,910–$38,680. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $8,770 wide, between the figure for New Mexico ($8,330) and the US figure ($11,170).
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 | $26,420 | $2,202 | $12.70 | $34,090 |
| 25th percentile | $29,910 | $2,492 | $14.38 | $38,594 |
| Median | $35,360 | $2,947 | $17.00 | $45,626 |
| 75th percentile | $38,680 | $3,223 | $18.60 | $49,910 |
| 90th percentile | $44,970 | $3,748 | $21.62 | $58,026 |
Local pay is bunched just above the median: the 75th percentile is only $3,320 over it, while the 25th sits $5,450 below. Moving an offer from the median to the 75th percentile costs about $4,284 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 Albuquerque, and the New Mexico statewide median of $35,140 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Albuquerque
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 $10,266 to the $35,360 median and brings it to $45,626 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 Albuquerque
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 17 roles we track in Albuquerque; project coordinators have the highest, at $106,730.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +33.8% | 2,480 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +32.8% | 11,020 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +18.2% | 10,270 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +8.8% | 240 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 3,010 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #14 of the 17 roles we track in Albuquerque (-7.0%), between office managers (-6.7%) and e-commerce order specialists (-16.7%). The typical role here is at -4.5%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Virtual receptionists hold 6.3% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Albuquerque, 5.9% across New Mexico and 5.7% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in New Mexico
Across the 6 areas of New Mexico with data for this job, the median runs from $33,090 in the Eastern New Mexico nonmetro area to $37,040 in Santa Fe, a gap of $3,950 a year. No other area in New Mexico has as many virtual receptionists, and 3 of the other 5 pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Albuquerque | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe, NM | +4.8% | 400 | |
| Farmington, NM | +0.2% | 250 | |
| Albuquerque, NM | this area | 3,010 | |
| Northern New Mexico (Nonmetro) | -1.2% | 360 | |
| Las Cruces, NM | -5.9% | 620 | |
| Eastern New Mexico (Nonmetro) | -6.4% | 900 |
Albuquerque against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Albuquerque is #54 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 New Mexico, Lawrence and Lakeland-Winter Haven pay just above Albuquerque and Dayton-Kettering and Winston-Salem just below. All four are within $70 a year of the median in Albuquerque. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Albuquerque | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI | +5.1% | 3,130 | jobs | |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | +1.1% | 2,930 | jobs | |
| Birmingham, AL | +0.7% | 3,030 | jobs | |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | +0.2% | 1,300 | pay | |
| Lawrence, KS | +0.1% | 260 | pay | |
| Albuquerque, NM | this area | 3,010 | ||
| Dayton-Kettering, OH | +0.0% | 2,140 | pay | |
| Winston-Salem, NC | +0.0% | 1,210 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Albuquerque, NM?
About $45,626 a year at the median, or $3,802 a month: $35,360 in pay plus about $10,266 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for virtual receptionists in Albuquerque?
The median was $35,360 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $26,420, the 90th $44,970, and the middle half earned $29,910 to $38,680.
Is Albuquerque cheaper than the rest of New Mexico for virtual receptionists?
About the same: a median of $35,360 against $35,140 statewide. The next area up in New Mexico is Farmington at $35,440, the next down the Northern New Mexico nonmetro area at $34,930.
How many virtual receptionists work in Albuquerque?
BLS counts about 3,010 in the May 2025 survey. That is 53% of the New Mexico total of 5,650. No other area in New Mexico has as many.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than an e-commerce order specialist in Albuquerque?
No: $3,110 a year less at the median. The medians are $35,360 and $38,470.
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.