Virtual receptionist in Anchorage, AK: cost vs in-house
Of the 3 areas in Alaska with BLS pay data for this job, Anchorage has the lowest median: $44,630 a year1. That is about level with the Alaska statewide median of $44,720, and 17.4% above the US median of $38,010. Nationally that is #19 of 521 areas, in the top tenth. With about 890 virtual receptionists, 58% of the Alaska total, no area in Alaska employs more.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Anchorage, AK. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Anchorage against Alaska and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, AK | $32,130 | $44,630 | $57,030 | |
| Alaska | $32,810 | $44,720 | $57,360 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
The middle half of virtual receptionists in Anchorage earns $37,820–$49,460. The top tenth earns $57,030 or more, 1.8 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 1.7 times. The mean ($44,340) 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 $11,640 wide, between the figure for Alaska ($11,700) 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 | $32,130 | $2,678 | $15.45 | $41,458 |
| 25th percentile | $37,820 | $3,152 | $18.18 | $48,800 |
| Median | $44,630 | $3,719 | $21.46 | $57,587 |
| 75th percentile | $49,460 | $4,122 | $23.78 | $63,819 |
| 90th percentile | $57,030 | $4,752 | $27.42 | $73,587 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $6,810 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $4,830, or about $6,232 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 25th percentile and the median in Anchorage, and the Alaska statewide median of $44,720 falls between the median and the 75th percentile.
What a hire really costs in Anchorage
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 $12,957 to the $44,630 median and brings it to $57,587 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 Anchorage
Of the 17 roles we track in Anchorage, this one ranks #14 by median pay, between medical administrative assistants ($47,080) and customer support specialists ($44,560). Project Coordinator is the highest at $99,580.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Assistant | +7.9% | 2,560 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +5.5% | 1,680 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 890 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -0.2% | 1,600 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -8.8% | 110 |
Measured against the US median, this job is the best paid of the 17 roles we track in Anchorage (+17.4%); e-commerce order specialists come last (-14.6%). The typical role here is at -0.1%, so, measured against the US, virtual receptionists cost more in Anchorage than the area's general pay level would suggest. Virtual receptionists hold 5.0% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Anchorage, 4.8% across Alaska and 5.7% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Alaska
Across the 3 areas of Alaska with data for this job, the median runs from $44,630 in Anchorage to $47,260 in Fairbanks-College, a gap of $2,630 a year. No other area in Alaska has as many virtual receptionists, and none of the others pays less.
| Area | Median | vs Anchorage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairbanks-College, AK | +5.9% | 160 | |
| Alaska (Nonmetro) | +0.8% | 470 | |
| Anchorage, AK | this area | 890 |
Anchorage against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Anchorage is #186 of 521 US areas for this job. It is a mid-sized market, and its pay is in the top quarter of US areas. Outside Alaska, New York-Newark and Portland-South Portland pay just above Anchorage and Bridgeport-Stamford and Modesto just below. All four are within $140 a year of the median in Anchorage. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Anchorage | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland-South Portland, ME | +0.3% | 1,730 | pay | |
| New York-Newark, NY-NJ | +0.1% | 74,190 | pay | |
| Anchorage, AK | this area | 890 | ||
| Bridgeport-Stamford, CT | -0.0% | 4,780 | pay | |
| Modesto, CA | -0.0% | 890 | pay | |
| Bend, OR | -4.0% | 890 | jobs | |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | -22.7% | 890 | jobs | |
| Erie, PA | -27.8% | 890 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Anchorage, AK?
About $57,587 a year at the median, or $4,799 a month: $44,630 in pay plus about $12,957 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for virtual receptionists in Anchorage?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $44,630 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $32,130, the 90th $57,030, and the middle half earned $37,820 to $49,460.
Is Anchorage the cheapest area in Alaska for virtual receptionists?
Yes. Its median of $44,630 is the lowest of 3 areas in Alaska. The Alaska nonmetro area is next at $44,970.
How many virtual receptionists work in Anchorage?
BLS counts about 890 in the May 2025 survey. That is 58% of the Alaska total of 1,530. No other area in Alaska has as many.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a customer support specialist in Anchorage?
Yes: $70 a year more at the median. The medians are $44,630 and $44,560.
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.