Virtual receptionist in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC: cost vs in-house
Augusta-Richmond County is a lower-cost market for virtual receptionists: the median of $32,690 a year1 is 9.4% below the Georgia statewide median of $36,100, and 14.0% below the US median of $38,010. That is in the bottom quarter of US areas (#429 of 521). About 1,190 virtual receptionists work here.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Augusta-Richmond County against Georgia and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $22,750 | $32,690 | $44,260 | |
| Georgia (US state) | $24,920 | $36,100 | $47,190 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
Pay is more spread out here than nationally: the top tenth earns $44,260 or more, 1.9 times the bottom tenth, against 1.7 times across the US. Two offers for the same title can sit far apart. The middle half of virtual receptionists in Augusta-Richmond County earns $28,580–$37,140. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $8,560 wide, against $12,130 across Georgia and $11,170 nationally: employers in Augusta-Richmond 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 | $22,750 | $1,896 | $10.94 | $29,355 |
| 25th percentile | $28,580 | $2,382 | $13.74 | $36,877 |
| Median | $32,690 | $2,724 | $15.72 | $42,181 |
| 75th percentile | $37,140 | $3,095 | $17.86 | $47,923 |
| 90th percentile | $44,260 | $3,688 | $21.28 | $57,110 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $4,450 a year in pay and about $5,742 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $4,110 in pay. 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 Augusta-Richmond County, and the Georgia statewide median of $36,100 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 Augusta-Richmond County
At the $32,690 median, a local hire costs about $42,181 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $9,491 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 Augusta-Richmond County
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 17 roles we track in Augusta-Richmond County; project coordinators have the highest, at $101,280.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customer Support Specialist | +21.0% | 3,620 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +16.5% | 2,040 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +16.2% | 90 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +12.7% | 30 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 1,190 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #10 of the 17 roles we track in Augusta-Richmond County (-14.0%), between administrative assistants (-12.5%) and HR assistants (-15.3%). The typical role here is at -12.5%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Virtual receptionists hold 6.0% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Augusta-Richmond County, 5.1% across Georgia and 5.7% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
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. All 2 areas in Georgia with more virtual receptionists than Augusta-Richmond County also pay more, among them Atlanta-Sandy Springs, GA ($37,530) and Savannah, GA ($34,270).
| Area | Median | vs Augusta-Richmond County | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Savannah, GA | +4.8% | 1,290 | |
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | +4.0% | 220 | |
| Warner Robins, GA | +0.1% | 350 | |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | this area | 1,190 | |
| Hinesville, GA | -0.6% | 60 | |
| Columbus, GA-AL | -4.6% | 910 | |
| Valdosta, GA | -4.6% | 340 |
Augusta-Richmond County against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Augusta-Richmond County is #128 of 521 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, yet its pay sits in the bottom quarter of US areas. Outside Georgia, Cleveland and Waco pay just above Augusta-Richmond County and Jonesboro and Fayetteville just below. All four are within $200 a year of the median in Augusta-Richmond County. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Augusta-Richmond County | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | +21.4% | 1,180 | jobs | |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | +19.3% | 1,180 | jobs | |
| Waco, TX | +0.4% | 730 | pay | |
| Cleveland, TN | +0.2% | 160 | pay | |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | this area | 1,190 | ||
| Jonesboro, AR | -0.5% | 670 | pay | |
| Fayetteville, NC | -0.6% | 450 | pay | |
| Lafayette, LA | -7.7% | 1,180 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC?
About $42,181 a year at the median, or $3,515 a month: $32,690 in pay plus about $9,491 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do virtual receptionists earn in Augusta-Richmond County?
Pay here is lower than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $32,690 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $22,750, the 90th $44,260, and the middle half earned $28,580 to $37,140.
Is Augusta-Richmond County cheaper than the rest of Georgia for virtual receptionists?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $32,690 against $36,100 statewide. The next area up in Georgia is Warner Robins at $32,730, the next down Hinesville at $32,510.
How many virtual receptionists work in Augusta-Richmond County?
BLS counts about 1,190 in the May 2025 survey. Only Atlanta-Sandy Springs and Savannah have more in Georgia.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than an e-commerce order specialist in Augusta-Richmond County?
No: $4,150 a year less at the median. The medians are $32,690 and $36,840.
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.