Virtual receptionist in Cleveland, OH: cost vs in-house
Cleveland pays virtual receptionists more than Ohio as a whole but less than the country. The median is $36,320 a year1: 1.1% above the Ohio statewide median of $35,920 and 4.4% below the US median of $38,010. Nationally it ranks #250 of 521 areas. BLS counts about 5,700 people in this job here, 18% of the Ohio total.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Cleveland, OH. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Cleveland against Ohio and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland, OH | $27,310 | $36,320 | $47,550 | |
| Ohio | $26,070 | $35,920 | $46,840 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
The middle half of virtual receptionists in Cleveland earns $29,940–$40,200. The top tenth earns $47,550 or more, 1.7 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 1.7 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $10,260 wide, between the figure for Ohio ($9,610) and the US figure ($11,170).
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 | $27,310 | $2,276 | $13.13 | $35,239 |
| 25th percentile | $29,940 | $2,495 | $14.39 | $38,632 |
| Median | $36,320 | $3,027 | $17.46 | $46,865 |
| 75th percentile | $40,200 | $3,350 | $19.33 | $51,871 |
| 90th percentile | $47,550 | $3,962 | $22.86 | $61,355 |
Local pay is bunched just above the median: the 75th percentile is only $3,880 over it, while the 25th sits $6,380 below. Moving an offer from the median to the 75th percentile costs about $5,006 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 Cleveland, and the Ohio statewide median of $35,920 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Cleveland
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 $10,545 to the $36,320 median and brings it to $46,865 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.
Other roles in Cleveland
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 17 roles we track in Cleveland; project coordinators have the highest, at $95,000.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Assistant | +27.0% | 10,450 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +26.8% | 15,900 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +26.4% | 7,120 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +12.9% | 900 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 5,700 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #11 of the 17 roles we track in Cleveland (-4.4%), between accountants (-4.4%) and recruiters (-6.6%). The typical role here is at -3.7%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Virtual receptionists hold 5.6% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Cleveland, 6.0% across Ohio and 5.7% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
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. The one area in Ohio with more virtual receptionists, Columbus, OH ($36,910), also pays more.
| Area | Median | vs Cleveland | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | +1.6% | 5,960 | |
| Toledo, OH | +1.1% | 1,900 | |
| Akron, OH | +1.0% | 2,120 | |
| Cleveland, OH | this area | 5,700 | |
| Springfield, OH | -1.9% | 280 | |
| Lima, OH | -2.0% | 370 | |
| Dayton-Kettering, OH | -2.6% | 2,140 |
Cleveland against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Cleveland is #32 of 521 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside Ohio, Palm Bay-Melbourne and Lake Havasu City-Kingman pay just above Cleveland and South Bend-Mishawaka and Charlotte-Concord just below. All four are within $50 a year of the median in Cleveland. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Cleveland | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora, CO | +20.3% | 5,480 | jobs | |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | +14.9% | 5,550 | jobs | |
| Indianapolis-Carmel, IN | +2.0% | 5,830 | jobs | |
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | +0.1% | 530 | pay | |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne, FL | +0.1% | 1,470 | pay | |
| Cleveland, OH | this area | 5,700 | ||
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | +0.0% | 880 | pay | |
| Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC | -0.1% | 5,880 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Cleveland, OH?
About $46,865 a year at the median, or $3,905 a month: $36,320 in pay plus about $10,545 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for virtual receptionists in Cleveland?
The median was $36,320 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $27,310, the 90th $47,550, and the middle half earned $29,940 to $40,200.
Is Cleveland cheaper than the rest of Ohio for virtual receptionists?
No, it costs more: a median of $36,320 against $35,920 statewide. The next area up in Ohio is Akron at $36,670, the next down Springfield at $35,630.
How many virtual receptionists work in Cleveland?
BLS counts about 5,700 in the May 2025 survey. That is 18% of the Ohio total of 30,850. Only Columbus has more in Ohio.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a data entry specialist in Cleveland?
No: $4,670 a year less at the median. The medians are $36,320 and $40,990.
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.