Virtual receptionist in Allentown-Bethlehem, PA-NJ: cost vs in-house
Allentown-Bethlehem pays virtual receptionists more than Pennsylvania as a whole but less than the country. The median is $37,540 a year1: 2.0% above the Pennsylvania statewide median of $36,810 and 1.2% below the US median of $38,010. Nationally it ranks #159 of 521 areas. BLS counts about 2,610 people in this job here.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Allentown-Bethlehem against Pennsylvania and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown-Bethlehem, PA-NJ | $28,400 | $37,540 | $48,540 | |
| Pennsylvania | $24,820 | $36,810 | $48,310 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
The middle half of virtual receptionists in Allentown-Bethlehem earns $33,860–$44,190. The top tenth earns $48,540 or more, 1.7 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 1.7 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $10,330 wide, against $12,230 across Pennsylvania and $11,170 nationally: employers in Allentown-Bethlehem 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 | $28,400 | $2,367 | $13.65 | $36,645 |
| 25th percentile | $33,860 | $2,822 | $16.28 | $43,690 |
| Median | $37,540 | $3,128 | $18.05 | $48,439 |
| 75th percentile | $44,190 | $3,682 | $21.25 | $57,019 |
| 90th percentile | $48,540 | $4,045 | $23.34 | $62,632 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $6,650 over the median, the 25th only $3,680 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $8,581 a year in employer cost. 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 Allentown-Bethlehem, and the Pennsylvania statewide median of $36,810 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Allentown-Bethlehem
At the $37,540 median, a local hire costs about $48,439 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $10,899 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 Allentown-Bethlehem
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 17 roles we track in Allentown-Bethlehem; project coordinators have the highest, at $100,050.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Assistant | +25.4% | 4,130 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +23.0% | 1,960 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +17.6% | 5,140 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +3.6% | 210 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 2,610 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #6 of the 17 roles we track in Allentown-Bethlehem (-1.2%), between administrative assistants (-1.0%) and customer support specialists (-1.4%). The typical role here is at -3.0%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Virtual receptionists hold 8.1% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Allentown-Bethlehem, 6.6% across Pennsylvania and 5.7% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Pennsylvania
Across the 20 areas of Pennsylvania with data for this job, the median runs from $32,210 in Erie to $38,030 in Philadelphia-Camden, a gap of $5,820 a year. Of the 2 areas in Pennsylvania with more virtual receptionists than Allentown-Bethlehem, 1 pays less: Pittsburgh, PA ($36,300).
| Area | Median | vs Allentown-Bethlehem | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ | +1.3% | 22,210 | |
| Allentown-Bethlehem, PA-NJ | this area | 2,610 | |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | -1.7% | 1,970 | |
| Lancaster, PA | -2.1% | 1,730 | |
| Chambersburg, PA | -2.5% | 400 | |
| York-Hanover, PA | -3.0% | 1,160 | |
| Reading, PA | -3.1% | 1,160 |
Allentown-Bethlehem against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Allentown-Bethlehem is #61 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 Pennsylvania, Miami-Fort Lauderdale and Baltimore-Columbia pay just above Allentown-Bethlehem and Atlanta-Sandy Springs and Eugene-Springfield just below. All four are within $60 a year of the median in Allentown-Bethlehem. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Allentown-Bethlehem | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany-Schenectady, NY | +6.0% | 2,650 | jobs | |
| Baltimore-Columbia, MD | +0.2% | 8,660 | pay | |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL | +0.1% | 19,850 | pay | |
| Allentown-Bethlehem, PA-NJ | this area | 2,610 | ||
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs, GA | -0.0% | 15,710 | pay | |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | -0.1% | 1,250 | pay | |
| Provo-Orem, UT | -2.1% | 2,650 | jobs | |
| Baton Rouge, LA | -10.1% | 2,610 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Allentown-Bethlehem, PA-NJ?
About $48,439 a year at the median, or $4,037 a month: $37,540 in pay plus about $10,899 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for virtual receptionists in Allentown-Bethlehem?
The median was $37,540 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $28,400, the 90th $48,540, and the middle half earned $33,860 to $44,190.
Is Allentown-Bethlehem cheaper than the rest of Pennsylvania for virtual receptionists?
No, it costs more: a median of $37,540 against $36,810 statewide. The next area up in Pennsylvania is Philadelphia-Camden at $38,030, the next down Harrisburg-Carlisle at $36,920.
How many virtual receptionists work in Allentown-Bethlehem?
BLS counts about 2,610 in the May 2025 survey. Only Philadelphia-Camden and Pittsburgh have more in Pennsylvania.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a data entry specialist in Allentown-Bethlehem?
No: $1,340 a year less at the median. The medians are $37,540 and $38,880.
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.