Virtual receptionist in Athens-Clarke County, GA: cost vs in-house
Hiring a virtual receptionist costs less in Athens-Clarke County than in Georgia or the country as a whole. The median is $34,290 a year1: 5.0% below the Georgia statewide median of $36,100 and 9.8% below the US median of $38,010. Nationally it ranks #376 of 521 areas. About 690 virtual receptionists work here, 3% of the Georgia total.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Athens-Clarke County, GA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Athens-Clarke County against Georgia and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | $23,160 | $34,290 | $43,800 | |
| Georgia (US state) | $24,920 | $36,100 | $47,190 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
Virtual receptionists at the 90th percentile earn $43,800, 1.9 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 1.7. The middle half of virtual receptionists in Athens-Clarke County earns $28,870–$38,630. The mean ($34,030) 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 only $9,760 wide, against $12,130 across Georgia and $11,170 nationally: employers in Athens-Clarke County 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 | $23,160 | $1,930 | $11.13 | $29,884 |
| 25th percentile | $28,870 | $2,406 | $13.88 | $37,252 |
| Median | $34,290 | $2,858 | $16.49 | $44,245 |
| 75th percentile | $38,630 | $3,219 | $18.57 | $49,845 |
| 90th percentile | $43,800 | $3,650 | $21.06 | $56,516 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $5,420 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $4,340, or about $5,600 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 median and the 75th percentile in Athens-Clarke County, and the Georgia statewide median of $36,100 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Athens-Clarke County
At the $34,290 median, a local hire costs about $44,245 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $9,955 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 Athens-Clarke County
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 15 roles we track in Athens-Clarke County; project coordinators have the highest, at $82,430.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR Assistant | +27.8% | 40 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +10.2% | 980 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +5.9% | 1,180 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +5.3% | 910 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 690 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #5 of the 15 roles we track in Athens-Clarke County (-9.8%), between accountants (-9.3%) and HR assistants (-13.4%). The typical role here is at -16.4%, so, measured against the US, virtual receptionists cost more in Athens-Clarke County than the area's general pay level would suggest. Virtual receptionists hold 8.8% of the jobs in these 15 roles in Athens-Clarke County, 5.1% across Georgia and 5.8% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Georgia
Across the 18 areas of Georgia with data for this job, the median runs from $30,110 in the Middle Georgia nonmetro area to $37,530 in Atlanta-Sandy Springs, a gap of $7,420 a year. Of the 6 areas in Georgia with more virtual receptionists than Athens-Clarke County, 4 pay less, the largest of them Savannah, GA ($34,270), Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC ($32,690) and Columbus, GA-AL ($31,200).
| Area | Median | vs Athens-Clarke County | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rome, GA | +1.6% | 270 | |
| Dalton, GA | +0.8% | 340 | |
| Albany, GA | +0.1% | 310 | |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | this area | 690 | |
| Savannah, GA | -0.1% | 1,290 | |
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | -0.9% | 220 | |
| Warner Robins, GA | -4.5% | 350 |
Athens-Clarke County against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Athens-Clarke County is #246 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Georgia, Joplin and Jackson pay just above Athens-Clarke County and Sherman-Denison and Wilmington just below. All four are within $60 a year of the median in Athens-Clarke County. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Athens-Clarke County | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | +30.9% | 690 | jobs | |
| Fargo, ND-MN | +12.3% | 700 | jobs | |
| Spartanburg, SC | +1.8% | 690 | jobs | |
| Jackson, MS | +0.2% | 1,770 | pay | |
| Joplin, MO-KS | +0.2% | 510 | pay | |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | this area | 690 | ||
| Sherman-Denison, TX | -0.1% | 320 | pay | |
| Wilmington, NC | -0.1% | 1,210 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Athens-Clarke County, GA?
About $44,245 a year at the median, or $3,687 a month: $34,290 in pay plus about $9,955 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for virtual receptionists in Athens-Clarke County?
The median was $34,290 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $23,160, the 90th $43,800, and the middle half earned $28,870 to $38,630.
Is Athens-Clarke County cheaper than the rest of Georgia for virtual receptionists?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $34,290 against $36,100 statewide. The next area up in Georgia is Albany at $34,340, the next down Savannah at $34,270.
How many virtual receptionists work in Athens-Clarke County?
BLS counts about 690 in the May 2025 survey. That is 3% of the Georgia total of 26,080. 6 areas in Georgia have more; the closest in size is the South Georgia nonmetro area, with about 800.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than an administrative assistant in Athens-Clarke County?
No: $1,820 a year less at the median. The medians are $34,290 and $36,110.
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.