Virtual receptionist in Burlington, NC: cost vs in-house
For this job Burlington sits between the state and national figures, with a median of $36,230 a year1. That is 2.2% above the North Carolina statewide median of $35,440, and 4.7% below the US median of $38,010. Nationally it ranks #258 of 521 areas. BLS counts about 300 people in this job here, 1% of the North Carolina total.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Burlington, NC. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Burlington against North Carolina and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington, NC | $24,450 | $36,230 | $41,260 | |
| North Carolina | $23,270 | $35,440 | $46,210 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
Virtual receptionists at the 90th percentile earn $41,260, 1.7 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 1.7. The middle half of virtual receptionists in Burlington earns $29,130–$39,820. The mean ($34,950) 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 $10,690 wide, against $10,930 across North Carolina and $11,170 nationally: employers in Burlington 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 | $24,450 | $2,038 | $11.75 | $31,548 |
| 25th percentile | $29,130 | $2,428 | $14.00 | $37,587 |
| Median | $36,230 | $3,019 | $17.42 | $46,748 |
| 75th percentile | $39,820 | $3,318 | $19.14 | $51,381 |
| 90th percentile | $41,260 | $3,438 | $19.84 | $53,239 |
Local pay is bunched just above the median: the 75th percentile is only $3,590 over it, while the 25th sits $7,100 below. Moving an offer from the median to the 75th percentile costs about $4,632 more a year with benefits. 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 Burlington, and the North Carolina statewide median of $35,440 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Burlington
At the $36,230 median, a local hire costs about $46,748 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $10,518 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 Burlington
Of the 15 roles we track in Burlington, this one ranks #14 by median pay, between customer support specialists ($41,040) and data entry specialists ($35,860). Project Coordinator is the highest at $83,370.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Assistant | +23.2% | 730 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +22.0% | 620 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +13.3% | 1,290 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 300 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -1.0% | 40 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #4 of the 15 roles we track in Burlington (-4.7%), between accountants (-4.0%) and payroll specialists (-4.8%). The typical role here is at -8.3%, so, measured against the US, virtual receptionists cost more in Burlington than the area's general pay level would suggest. Virtual receptionists hold 5.0% of the jobs in these 15 roles in Burlington, 3.9% across North Carolina and 5.8% nationally. The job is a smaller part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in North Carolina
Across the 18 areas of North Carolina with data for this job, the median runs from $30,600 in Jacksonville to $36,550 in Raleigh-Cary, a gap of $5,950 a year. Of the 13 areas in North Carolina with more virtual receptionists than Burlington, 11 pay less, the largest of them Greensboro-High Point, NC ($34,070), Wilmington, NC ($34,260) and Winston-Salem, NC ($35,360).
| Area | Median | vs Burlington | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | +0.9% | 3,690 | |
| Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC | +0.2% | 5,880 | |
| Burlington, NC | this area | 300 | |
| Asheville, NC | -0.6% | 750 | |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | -0.7% | 880 | |
| Winston-Salem, NC | -2.4% | 1,210 | |
| Western North Carolina (Nonmetro) | -3.8% | 1,120 |
Burlington against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Burlington is #420 of 521 US areas for this job. The market is small, and its pay sits near the middle of the US range. Outside North Carolina, Twin Falls and Orlando-Kissimmee pay just above Burlington and Flint and Salisbury just below. All four are within $60 a year of the median in Burlington. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Burlington | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ithaca, NY | +8.7% | 300 | jobs | |
| Iowa City, IA | +6.9% | 300 | jobs | |
| Orlando-Kissimmee, FL | +0.2% | 7,550 | pay | |
| Twin Falls, ID | +0.1% | 360 | pay | |
| Burlington, NC | this area | 300 | ||
| Flint, MI | +0.0% | 870 | pay | |
| Salisbury, MD | -0.1% | 330 | pay | |
| Johnson City, TN | -13.9% | 300 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Burlington, NC?
About $46,748 a year at the median, or $3,896 a month: $36,230 in pay plus about $10,518 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do virtual receptionists earn in Burlington?
The median was $36,230 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $24,450, the 90th $41,260, and the middle half earned $29,130 to $39,820.
Is Burlington cheaper than the rest of North Carolina for virtual receptionists?
No, it costs more: a median of $36,230 against $35,440 statewide. The next area up in North Carolina is Charlotte-Concord at $36,300, the next down Asheville at $36,000.
How many virtual receptionists work in Burlington?
BLS counts about 300 in the May 2025 survey. That is 1% of the North Carolina total of 20,080. 13 areas in North Carolina have more; the closest in size is Greenville, with about 360.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a data entry specialist in Burlington?
Yes: $370 a year more at the median. The medians are $36,230 and $35,860.
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.