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Virtual receptionist in the Central East New York nonmetro area: cost vs in-house

The median virtual receptionist in the Central East New York nonmetro area earned $38,860 a year in May 20251. That is 2.2% above the US median of $38,010, even though it is 9.8% below the New York statewide median of $43,080. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#116 of 521). About 890 virtual receptionists work here, 1% of the New York total.

$3,238median pay per month in the Central East New York nonmetro area
$4,178employer cost per month with benefits
$18.68median pay per hour
890people in this job in the Central East New York nonmetro area

BLS occupation 43-4171, area Central East New York nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.

Pay in the Central East New York nonmetro area against New York and the US

Range10thMedian90th
Central East New York (Nonmetro)$32,860$38,860$49,750
New York$34,740$43,080$59,140
United States$28,760$38,010$49,950
10th to 90th percentilemiddle half (25th to 75th)median

The middle half of virtual receptionists in the Central East New York nonmetro area earns $34,840–$43,920. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $49,750, only 1.5 times the bottom tenth, against 1.7 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $9,080 wide, against $11,610 across New York and $11,170 nationally: employers in the Central East New York nonmetro area pay within a narrower band.

What to budget for a virtual receptionist here

Point in the local rangePer yearPer monthPer hourEmployer cost per year
10th percentile$32,860$2,738$15.80$42,400
25th percentile$34,840$2,903$16.75$44,955
Median$38,860$3,238$18.68$50,142
75th percentile$43,920$3,660$21.12$56,671
90th percentile$49,750$4,146$23.92$64,194

An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $5,060 a year in pay and about $6,529 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $4,020 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 25th percentile and the median in the Central East New York nonmetro area, and the New York statewide median of $43,080 falls between the median and the 75th percentile.

What a hire really costs in the Central East New York nonmetro area

Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, which adds about $11,282 to the $38,860 median and brings it to $50,142 a year. 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.

$50,142local hire, first year incl. benefits
$13,888remote hire, first year incl. fee
$36,254difference in year one
72%of the local cost saved

Other roles in the Central East New York nonmetro area

Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 17 roles we track in the Central East New York nonmetro area; project coordinators have the highest, at $102,610.

The 5 roles closest in pay. All 17 roles in Central East New York (Nonmetro)
RoleMedianvs virtual receptionistJobs
Customer Support Specialist
$46,410
+19.4%2,070
E-commerce Order Specialist
$46,110
+18.7%50
Medical Administrative Assistant
$44,180
+13.7%880
Data Entry Specialist
$40,970
+5.4%100
Virtual Receptionist
$38,860
this role890

Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #2 of the 17 roles we track in the Central East New York nonmetro area (+2.2%), between customer support specialists (+3.7%) and project coordinators (+0.3%). The typical role here is at -3.8%, so, measured against the US, virtual receptionists cost more in the Central East New York nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Virtual receptionists hold 6.6% of the jobs in these 17 roles in the Central East New York nonmetro area, 5.9% across New York and 5.7% nationally. That is close to the national mix.

Other areas in New York

Across the 16 areas of New York with data for this job, the median runs from $36,160 in Watertown-Fort Drum to $44,690 in New York-Newark, a gap of $8,530 a year. Of the 7 areas in New York with more virtual receptionists than the Central East New York nonmetro area, 2 pay less: Rochester, NY ($38,550) and the Southwest New York nonmetro area ($37,450).

AreaMedianvs the Central East New York nonmetro areaJobs
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie, NY
$39,410
+1.4%1,770
Ithaca, NY
$39,400
+1.4%300
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
$38,960
+0.3%3,930
Central East New York (Nonmetro)
$38,860
this area890
Rochester, NY
$38,550
-0.8%2,840
Southwest New York (Nonmetro)
$37,450
-3.6%1,010
Elmira, NY
$37,380
-3.8%200

the Central East New York nonmetro area against other US metro areas

By number of jobs, the Central East New York nonmetro area is #196 of 521 US areas for this job. It is a mid-sized market, and its pay is in the top quarter of US areas. Outside New York, Merced and Greeley pay just above the Central East New York nonmetro area and Dubuque and Hartford-West Hartford just below. All four are within $100 a year of the median in the Central East New York nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, two pay more.

Metro areaMedianvs the Central East New York nonmetro areaJobsClose in
Anchorage, AK
$44,630
+14.8%890jobs
Bend, OR
$42,840
+10.2%890jobs
Greeley, CO
$38,960
+0.3%370pay
Merced, CA
$38,890
+0.1%290pay
Central East New York (Nonmetro)
$38,860
this area890
Dubuque, IA
$38,830
-0.1%200pay
Hartford-West Hartford, CT
$38,780
-0.2%4,140pay
Erie, PA
$32,210
-17.1%890jobs

Questions

How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Central East New York (Nonmetro)?

About $50,142 a year at the median, or $4,178 a month: $38,860 in pay plus about $11,282 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.

What do virtual receptionists earn in the Central East New York nonmetro area?

Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $38,860 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $32,860, the 90th $49,750, and the middle half earned $34,840 to $43,920.

Is the Central East New York nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of New York for virtual receptionists?

Yes, it costs less: a median of $38,860 against $43,080 statewide. The next area up in New York is Buffalo-Cheektowaga at $38,960, the next down Rochester at $38,550.

How many virtual receptionists work in the Central East New York nonmetro area?

BLS counts about 890 in the May 2025 survey. That is 1% of the New York total of 65,010. 7 areas in New York have more; the closest in size is the Southwest New York nonmetro area, with about 1,010.

Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a data entry specialist in the Central East New York nonmetro area?

No: $2,110 a year less at the median. The medians are $38,860 and $40,970.

Sources

4 sources, with links
  1. BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-4171: bls.gov
  2. BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
  3. Stafka pricing: stafka.com
  4. Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com

How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.