Cost of hiring a virtual receptionist in Boston-Cambridge, MA-NH
Boston-Cambridge pays virtual receptionists close to the Massachusetts norm. The median is $43,930 a year[1], about level with the Massachusetts statewide median of $43,870 and 15.6% above the US median of $38,010. Only 25 of 521 US areas pay more for this job. With about 14,320 virtual receptionists, no area in Massachusetts employs more.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Boston-Cambridge against Massachusetts and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge, MA-NH | $34,870 | $43,930 | $55,750 | |
| Massachusetts | $35,790 | $43,870 | $54,270 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
Virtual receptionists at the 90th percentile earn $55,750, 1.6 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 1.7. The middle half of virtual receptionists in Boston-Cambridge earns $38,240–$48,100.
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 | $34,870 | $2,906 | $16.76 | $49,814 |
| 25th percentile | $38,240 | $3,187 | $18.38 | $54,629 |
| Median | $43,930 | $3,661 | $21.12 | $62,757 |
| 75th percentile | $48,100 | $4,008 | $23.12 | $68,714 |
| 90th percentile | $55,750 | $4,646 | $26.80 | $79,643 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $4,170 a year in pay and about $5,957 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $5,690 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.
What a hire really costs in Boston-Cambridge
At the $43,930 median, a local hire costs about $62,757 a year: benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], about $18,827 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 fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Other roles in Boston-Cambridge
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 17 roles we track in Boston-Cambridge; project coordinators have the highest, at $114,990.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +161.8% | 18,840 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +133.1% | 32,310 | |
| Accountant | +128.0% | 37,150 | |
| Recruiter | +105.5% | 21,770 | |
| Executive Assistant | +94.1% | 11,290 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +89.9% | 25,310 | |
| Paralegal | +81.8% | 6,300 | |
| Office Manager | +77.5% | 25,630 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +52.4% | 2,500 | |
| Bookkeeper | +38.8% | 21,170 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +35.1% | 28,540 | |
| HR Assistant | +30.8% | 1,150 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +25.4% | 1,100 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +17.5% | 16,330 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +13.6% | 37,780 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +8.4% | 1,460 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 14,320 |
Other areas in Massachusetts
Across the 7 areas of Massachusetts with data for this job, the median runs from $40,770 in Springfield to $45,820 in Barnstable Town, a gap of $5,050 a year.
| Area | Median | vs Boston-Cambridge | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town, MA | +4.3% | 670 | |
| Massachusetts (Nonmetro) | +2.3% | 200 | |
| Boston-Cambridge, MA-NH | this area | 14,320 | |
| Pittsfield, MA | -4.6% | 360 | |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | -4.9% | 410 | |
| Worcester, MA | -5.0% | 1,940 | |
| Springfield, MA | -7.2% | 1,240 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Boston-Cambridge, MA-NH?
About $62,757 a year at the median, or $5,230 a month: $43,930 in pay plus benefits and payroll taxes at the 30% share of total compensation in US private industry (June 2026). Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do virtual receptionists earn in Boston-Cambridge?
The median was $43,930 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $34,870, the 90th $55,750, and the middle half earned $38,240 to $48,100.
Is Boston-Cambridge cheaper than the rest of Massachusetts for virtual receptionists?
About the same: a median of $43,930 against $43,870 statewide. Barnstable Town pays the most ($45,820) and Springfield the least ($40,770).
How many virtual receptionists work in Boston-Cambridge?
BLS counts about 14,320 in the May 2025 survey.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a data entry specialist in Boston-Cambridge?
No: $3,710 a year less at the median. The medians are $43,930 and $47,640.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-4171: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes434171.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-06.