Virtual receptionist in Columbus, OH: cost vs in-house
Virtual receptionists earn more in Columbus than anywhere else in Ohio. Expect a median of $36,910 a year1, 2.8% above the Ohio statewide median of $35,920 and 2.9% below the US median of $38,010. Among US areas it comes in at #204 of 521. It is the largest market for the job in Ohio: about 5,960 people, 19% of the Ohio total.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Columbus, OH. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Columbus against Ohio and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | $27,560 | $36,910 | $48,890 | |
| Ohio | $26,070 | $35,920 | $46,840 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
Virtual receptionists at the 90th percentile earn $48,890, 1.8 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 1.7. The middle half of virtual receptionists in Columbus earns $30,610–$42,490. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $11,880 wide, wider than in Ohio as a whole ($9,610) and the US ($11,170), so what a virtual receptionist earns in Columbus depends more on the employer.
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 | $27,560 | $2,297 | $13.25 | $35,561 |
| 25th percentile | $30,610 | $2,551 | $14.72 | $39,497 |
| Median | $36,910 | $3,076 | $17.75 | $47,626 |
| 75th percentile | $42,490 | $3,541 | $20.43 | $54,826 |
| 90th percentile | $48,890 | $4,074 | $23.50 | $63,084 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $6,300 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $5,580, or about $7,200 once benefits are added. 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 Columbus, and the Ohio statewide median of $35,920 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Columbus
At the $36,910 median, a local hire costs about $47,626 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $10,716 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 Columbus
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 17 roles we track in Columbus; project coordinators have the highest, at $98,660.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +27.3% | 650 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +25.6% | 18,550 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +25.2% | 5,490 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +18.0% | 810 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 5,960 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #13 of the 17 roles we track in Columbus (-2.9%), between accountants (-2.4%) and project coordinators (-3.6%). The typical role here is at -0.7%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Virtual receptionists hold 5.5% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Columbus, 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. No other area in Ohio has as many virtual receptionists, and all 15 others pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Columbus | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | this area | 5,960 | |
| Toledo, OH | -0.5% | 1,900 | |
| Akron, OH | -0.7% | 2,120 | |
| Cleveland, OH | -1.6% | 5,700 | |
| Springfield, OH | -3.5% | 280 | |
| Lima, OH | -3.5% | 370 | |
| Dayton-Kettering, OH | -4.2% | 2,140 |
Columbus against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Columbus is #29 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, Harrisburg-Carlisle and Midland pay just above Columbus and Gainesville and Traverse City just below. All four are within $30 a year of the median in Columbus. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Columbus | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis-Carmel, IN | +0.4% | 5,830 | jobs | |
| Midland, MI | +0.1% | 240 | pay | |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | +0.0% | 1,970 | pay | |
| Columbus, OH | this area | 5,960 | ||
| Gainesville, GA | +0.0% | 590 | pay | |
| Traverse City, MI | -0.0% | 540 | pay | |
| Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC | -1.7% | 5,880 | jobs | |
| Pittsburgh, PA | -1.7% | 6,100 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Columbus, OH?
About $47,626 a year at the median, or $3,969 a month: $36,910 in pay plus about $10,716 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for virtual receptionists in Columbus?
The median was $36,910 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $27,560, the 90th $48,890, and the middle half earned $30,610 to $42,490.
Is Columbus the most expensive area in Ohio for virtual receptionists?
Yes. Its median of $36,910 is the highest of 16 areas in Ohio. Toledo comes next at $36,710.
How many virtual receptionists work in Columbus?
BLS counts about 5,960 in the May 2025 survey. That is 19% of the Ohio total of 30,850. No other area in Ohio has as many.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a data entry specialist in Columbus?
No: $6,650 a year less at the median. The medians are $36,910 and $43,560.
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.