Virtual receptionist in Canton-Massillon, OH: cost vs in-house
Canton-Massillon is a lower-cost market for virtual receptionists: the median of $34,640 a year1 is 3.6% below the Ohio statewide median of $35,920, and 8.9% below the US median of $38,010. Among US areas it comes in at #360 of 521. About 1,030 virtual receptionists work here, 3% of the Ohio total.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Canton-Massillon, OH. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Canton-Massillon against Ohio and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $24,500 | $34,640 | $45,520 | |
| Ohio | $26,070 | $35,920 | $46,840 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
The middle half of virtual receptionists in Canton-Massillon earns $28,760–$38,150. The top tenth earns $45,520 or more, 1.9 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 1.7 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $9,390 wide, against $9,610 across Ohio and $11,170 nationally: employers in Canton-Massillon 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 | $24,500 | $2,042 | $11.78 | $31,613 |
| 25th percentile | $28,760 | $2,397 | $13.83 | $37,110 |
| Median | $34,640 | $2,887 | $16.65 | $44,697 |
| 75th percentile | $38,150 | $3,179 | $18.34 | $49,226 |
| 90th percentile | $45,520 | $3,793 | $21.88 | $58,735 |
Local pay is bunched just above the median: the 75th percentile is only $3,510 over it, while the 25th sits $5,880 below. Moving an offer from the median to the 75th percentile costs about $4,529 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 Canton-Massillon, and the Ohio statewide median of $35,920 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Canton-Massillon
At the $34,640 median, a local hire costs about $44,697 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $10,057 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 Canton-Massillon
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 17 roles we track in Canton-Massillon; project coordinators have the highest, at $82,530.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR Assistant | +27.1% | 70 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +26.8% | 1,560 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +22.2% | 770 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +4.8% | 140 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 1,030 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #7 of the 17 roles we track in Canton-Massillon (-8.9%), between paralegals (-8.2%) and bookkeepers (-9.2%). The typical role here is at -11.8%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Virtual receptionists hold 7.7% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Canton-Massillon, 6.0% across Ohio and 5.7% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Ohio
Across the 16 areas of Ohio with data for this job, the median runs from $33,170 in Mansfield to $36,910 in Columbus, a gap of $3,740 a year. All 8 areas in Ohio with more virtual receptionists than Canton-Massillon also pay more, among them Columbus, OH ($36,910) and Cleveland, OH ($36,320).
| Area | Median | vs Canton-Massillon | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Ohio (Nonmetro) | +0.7% | 760 | |
| Sandusky, OH | +0.5% | 280 | |
| West Northwestern Ohio (Nonmetro) | +0.1% | 1,270 | |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | this area | 1,030 | |
| North Northeastern Ohio (Nonmetro) | +0.0% | 1,400 | |
| Southern Ohio (Nonmetro) | -1.2% | 1,000 | |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | -1.4% | 990 |
Canton-Massillon against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Canton-Massillon is #152 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Ohio, Weirton-Steubenville and Goldsboro pay just above Canton-Massillon and Springfield and Dalton just below. All four are within $70 a year of the median in Canton-Massillon. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Canton-Massillon | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | +27.8% | 1,020 | jobs | |
| Norwich-New London, CT | +9.3% | 1,010 | jobs | |
| Goldsboro, NC | +0.2% | 150 | pay | |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | +0.1% | 280 | pay | |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | this area | 1,030 | ||
| Springfield, MO | -0.1% | 1,470 | pay | |
| Dalton, GA | -0.2% | 340 | pay | |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY | -7.9% | 1,050 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Canton-Massillon, OH?
About $44,697 a year at the median, or $3,725 a month: $34,640 in pay plus about $10,057 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for virtual receptionists in Canton-Massillon?
The median was $34,640 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $24,500, the 90th $45,520, and the middle half earned $28,760 to $38,150.
Is Canton-Massillon cheaper than the rest of Ohio for virtual receptionists?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $34,640 against $35,920 statewide. The next area up in Ohio is the West Northwestern Ohio nonmetro area at $34,670, the next down the North Northeastern Ohio nonmetro area at $34,640.
How many virtual receptionists work in Canton-Massillon?
BLS counts about 1,030 in the May 2025 survey. That is 3% of the Ohio total of 30,850. 8 areas in Ohio have more; the closest in size is the West Northwestern Ohio nonmetro area, with about 1,270.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a data entry specialist in Canton-Massillon?
No: $1,660 a year less at the median. The medians are $34,640 and $36,300.
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.