Virtual receptionist in Appleton, WI: cost vs in-house
The median virtual receptionist in Appleton earned $40,300 a year in May 20251. That is 6.0% above the US median of $38,010, even though it is 2.1% below the Wisconsin statewide median of $41,150. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#78 of 521). About 1,170 virtual receptionists work here, 5% of the Wisconsin total.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Appleton, WI. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Appleton against Wisconsin and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton, WI | $28,210 | $40,300 | $47,990 | |
| Wisconsin | $29,530 | $41,150 | $50,030 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
Virtual receptionists at the 90th percentile earn $47,990, 1.7 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 1.7. The middle half of virtual receptionists in Appleton earns $35,280–$45,900. The mean ($40,150) 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 $10,620 wide, between the figure for Wisconsin ($10,570) 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 | $28,210 | $2,351 | $13.56 | $36,400 |
| 25th percentile | $35,280 | $2,940 | $16.96 | $45,523 |
| Median | $40,300 | $3,358 | $19.38 | $52,000 |
| 75th percentile | $45,900 | $3,825 | $22.07 | $59,226 |
| 90th percentile | $47,990 | $3,999 | $23.07 | $61,923 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $5,020 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $5,600, or about $7,226 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 Appleton, and the Wisconsin statewide median of $41,150 falls between the median and the 75th percentile.
What a hire really costs in Appleton
At the $40,300 median, a local hire costs about $52,000 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $11,700 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 Appleton
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 17 roles we track in Appleton; project coordinators have the highest, at $98,290.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +17.9% | 140 | |
| HR Assistant | +16.9% | 60 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +13.5% | 2,540 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +1.5% | 90 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 1,170 |
Measured against the US median, this job is the best paid of the 17 roles we track in Appleton (+6.0%); marketing specialists come last (-17.3%). The typical role here is at -1.1%, so, measured against the US, virtual receptionists cost more in Appleton than the area's general pay level would suggest. Virtual receptionists hold 9.7% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Appleton, 9.1% across Wisconsin and 5.7% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Wisconsin
Across the 17 areas of Wisconsin with data for this job, the median runs from $38,630 in Janesville-Beloit to $45,430 in Sheboygan, a gap of $6,800 a year. Of the 5 areas in Wisconsin with more virtual receptionists than Appleton, 2 pay less: the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area ($40,260) and the South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area ($38,890).
| Area | Median | vs Appleton | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Bay, WI | +1.1% | 1,330 | |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | +0.8% | 780 | |
| Fond du Lac, WI | +0.2% | 470 | |
| Appleton, WI | this area | 1,170 | |
| Northeastern Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | -0.1% | 2,160 | |
| Wausau, WI | -1.6% | 790 | |
| Western Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | -1.9% | 950 |
Appleton against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Appleton is #133 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 Wisconsin, Bozeman and Trenton-Princeton pay just above Appleton and Chico and Minot just below. All four are within $250 a year of the median in Appleton. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Appleton | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | +0.6% | 1,980 | pay | |
| Bozeman, MT | +0.2% | 190 | pay | |
| Appleton, WI | this area | 1,170 | ||
| Chico, CA | -0.6% | 370 | pay | |
| Minot, ND | -0.6% | 160 | pay | |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | -1.5% | 1,180 | jobs | |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | -3.2% | 1,180 | jobs | |
| Lafayette, LA | -25.1% | 1,180 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Appleton, WI?
About $52,000 a year at the median, or $4,333 a month: $40,300 in pay plus about $11,700 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for virtual receptionists in Appleton?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $40,300 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $28,210, the 90th $47,990, and the middle half earned $35,280 to $45,900.
Is Appleton cheaper than the rest of Wisconsin for virtual receptionists?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $40,300 against $41,150 statewide. The next area up in Wisconsin is Fond du Lac at $40,390, the next down the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area at $40,260.
How many virtual receptionists work in Appleton?
BLS counts about 1,170 in the May 2025 survey. That is 5% of the Wisconsin total of 25,580. 5 areas in Wisconsin have more; the closest in size is Green Bay, with about 1,330.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a data entry specialist in Appleton?
No: $590 a year less at the median. The medians are $40,300 and $40,890.
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.