Virtual receptionist in Denver-Aurora, CO: cost vs in-house
Virtual receptionists earn more in Denver-Aurora than anywhere else in Colorado. Expect a median of $43,680 a year1, 4.0% above the Colorado statewide median of $42,010 and 14.9% above the US median of $38,010. Nationally that is #29 of 521 areas, in the top tenth. It is the largest market for the job in Colorado: about 5,480 people, 50% of the Colorado total.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Denver-Aurora against Colorado and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora, CO | $35,090 | $43,680 | $54,900 | |
| Colorado | $33,200 | $42,010 | $51,490 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
The middle half of virtual receptionists in Denver-Aurora earns $38,310–$47,810. The top tenth earns $54,900 or more, 1.6 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 $9,500 wide, against $10,350 across Colorado and $11,170 nationally: employers in Denver-Aurora 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 | $35,090 | $2,924 | $16.87 | $45,277 |
| 25th percentile | $38,310 | $3,192 | $18.42 | $49,432 |
| Median | $43,680 | $3,640 | $21.00 | $56,361 |
| 75th percentile | $47,810 | $3,984 | $22.99 | $61,690 |
| 90th percentile | $54,900 | $4,575 | $26.39 | $70,839 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $5,370 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $4,130, or about $5,329 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 10th and 25th percentiles in Denver-Aurora, and the Colorado statewide median of $42,010 falls between the 25th percentile and the median. An offer at the national rate would be lower than what three quarters of local virtual receptionists earn.
What a hire really costs in Denver-Aurora
At the $43,680 median, a local hire costs about $56,361 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $12,681 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 Denver-Aurora
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 17 roles we track in Denver-Aurora; project coordinators have the highest, at $116,740.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Assistant | +13.9% | 15,350 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +11.2% | 23,560 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +9.5% | 5,980 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +2.8% | 680 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 5,480 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #5 of the 17 roles we track in Denver-Aurora (+14.9%), between sales development representatives (+15.2%) and project coordinators (+14.1%). The typical role here is at +11.2%, so, measured against the US, virtual receptionists cost more in Denver-Aurora than the area's general pay level would suggest. Virtual receptionists hold 2.9% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Denver-Aurora, 3.5% across Colorado and 5.7% nationally. The job is a smaller part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Colorado
Across the 10 areas of Colorado with data for this job, the median runs from $37,250 in Grand Junction to $43,680 in Denver-Aurora, a gap of $6,430 a year. No other area in Colorado has as many virtual receptionists, and all 9 others pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Denver-Aurora | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora, CO | this area | 5,480 | |
| Northwest Colorado (Nonmetro) | -1.9% | 380 | |
| Boulder, CO | -2.0% | 980 | |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | -6.8% | 960 | |
| Greeley, CO | -10.8% | 370 | |
| Eastern and Southern Colorado (Nonmetro) | -11.7% | 260 | |
| Colorado Springs, CO | -12.6% | 1,370 |
Denver-Aurora against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Denver-Aurora is #35 of 521 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job and one of the better-paying ones. Outside Colorado, Kahului-Wailuku and Boston-Cambridge pay just above Denver-Aurora and Portland-Vancouver and Oxnard-Thousand Oaks just below. All four are within $250 a year of the median in Denver-Aurora. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Denver-Aurora | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge, MA-NH | +0.6% | 14,320 | pay | |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | +0.1% | 470 | pay | |
| Denver-Aurora, CO | this area | 5,480 | ||
| Portland-Vancouver, OR-WA | -0.1% | 8,340 | pay | |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks, CA | -0.2% | 1,510 | pay | |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | -4.5% | 5,550 | jobs | |
| Cleveland, OH | -16.8% | 5,700 | jobs | |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY | -19.3% | 5,560 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Denver-Aurora, CO?
About $56,361 a year at the median, or $4,697 a month: $43,680 in pay plus about $12,681 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do virtual receptionists earn in Denver-Aurora?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $43,680 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $35,090, the 90th $54,900, and the middle half earned $38,310 to $47,810.
Is Denver-Aurora the most expensive area in Colorado for virtual receptionists?
Yes. Its median of $43,680 is the highest of 10 areas in Colorado. The Northwest Colorado nonmetro area comes next at $42,840.
How many virtual receptionists work in Denver-Aurora?
BLS counts about 5,480 in the May 2025 survey. That is 50% of the Colorado total of 11,020. No other area in Colorado has as many.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a data entry specialist in Denver-Aurora?
No: $1,230 a year less at the median. The medians are $43,680 and $44,910.
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.