Virtual receptionist in Alexandria, LA: cost vs in-house
Alexandria is a lower-cost market for virtual receptionists: the median of $31,500 a year1 is 3.8% below the Louisiana statewide median of $32,750, and 17.1% below the US median of $38,010. That is in the bottom quarter of US areas (#466 of 521). BLS counts about 400 people in this job here, 3% of the Louisiana total.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Alexandria, LA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Alexandria against Louisiana and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria, LA | $22,720 | $31,500 | $43,400 | |
| Louisiana | $21,420 | $32,750 | $44,410 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
Virtual receptionists at the 90th percentile earn $43,400, 1.9 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 1.7. The middle half of virtual receptionists in Alexandria earns $27,470–$36,680. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $9,210 wide, between the figure for Louisiana ($9,160) 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 | $22,720 | $1,893 | $10.92 | $29,316 |
| 25th percentile | $27,470 | $2,289 | $13.21 | $35,445 |
| Median | $31,500 | $2,625 | $15.14 | $40,645 |
| 75th percentile | $36,680 | $3,057 | $17.63 | $47,329 |
| 90th percentile | $43,400 | $3,617 | $20.87 | $56,000 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $4,030 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 75th and 90th percentiles in Alexandria, and the Louisiana statewide median of $32,750 falls between the median and the 75th percentile. An offer at the national rate would beat what three quarters of local virtual receptionists earn.
What a hire really costs in Alexandria
At the $31,500 median, a local hire costs about $40,645 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $9,145 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 Alexandria
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 14 roles we track in Alexandria; project coordinators have the highest, at $78,110.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeper | +37.4% | 590 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +17.7% | 770 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +13.9% | 950 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +9.4% | 150 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 400 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #4 of the 14 roles we track in Alexandria (-17.1%), between payroll specialists (-15.4%) and customer support specialists (-17.2%). The typical role here is at -23.3%, so, measured against the US, virtual receptionists cost more in Alexandria than the area's general pay level would suggest. Virtual receptionists hold 8.0% of the jobs in these 14 roles in Alexandria, 7.6% across Louisiana and 5.8% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Louisiana
Across the 13 areas of Louisiana with data for this job, the median runs from $29,520 in the Central Louisiana nonmetro area to $35,750 in New Orleans-Metairie, a gap of $6,230 a year. Of the 11 areas in Louisiana with more virtual receptionists than Alexandria, 6 pay less, the largest of them Lafayette, LA ($30,170), Monroe, LA ($31,250) and Houma-Bayou Cane, LA ($31,060).
| Area | Median | vs Alexandria | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | +1.3% | 1,140 | |
| Slidell-Mandeville, LA | +0.8% | 1,000 | |
| Lake Charles, LA | +0.4% | 570 | |
| Alexandria, LA | this area | 400 | |
| Monroe, LA | -0.8% | 600 | |
| Houma-Bayou Cane, LA | -1.4% | 590 | |
| Northeast Louisiana (Nonmetro) | -3.0% | 410 |
Alexandria against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Alexandria is #359 of 521 US areas for this job. It is a mid-sized market, and its pay is in the bottom quarter of US areas. Outside Louisiana, Lubbock and Auburn-Opelika pay just above Alexandria and Owensboro and Columbus just below. All four are within $300 a year of the median in Alexandria. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Alexandria | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chambersburg, PA | +16.2% | 400 | jobs | |
| Hot Springs, AR | +2.3% | 400 | jobs | |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | +0.3% | 330 | pay | |
| Lubbock, TX | +0.2% | 1,130 | pay | |
| Alexandria, LA | this area | 400 | ||
| Owensboro, KY | -0.6% | 310 | pay | |
| Columbus, GA-AL | -1.0% | 910 | pay | |
| Dothan, AL | -4.6% | 400 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Alexandria, LA?
About $40,645 a year at the median, or $3,387 a month: $31,500 in pay plus about $9,145 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do virtual receptionists earn in Alexandria?
Pay here is lower than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $31,500 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $22,720, the 90th $43,400, and the middle half earned $27,470 to $36,680.
Is Alexandria cheaper than the rest of Louisiana for virtual receptionists?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $31,500 against $32,750 statewide. The next area up in Louisiana is Lake Charles at $31,620, the next down Monroe at $31,250.
How many virtual receptionists work in Alexandria?
BLS counts about 400 in the May 2025 survey. That is 3% of the Louisiana total of 12,820. 11 areas in Louisiana have more; the closest in size is the Northeast Louisiana nonmetro area, with about 410.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a medical administrative assistant in Alexandria?
No: $2,960 a year less at the median. The medians are $31,500 and $34,460.
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.