Virtual receptionist in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA: cost vs in-house
Des Moines-West Des Moines pays virtual receptionists close to the national norm. The median is $37,910 a year1, 1.6% above the Iowa statewide median of $37,330 and about level with the US median of $38,010. Nationally it ranks #144 of 521 areas. With about 1,260 virtual receptionists, 27% of the Iowa total, no area in Iowa employs more.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Des Moines-West Des Moines against Iowa and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $25,880 | $37,910 | $48,720 | |
| Iowa | $26,740 | $37,330 | $47,610 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
The middle half of virtual receptionists in Des Moines-West Des Moines earns $31,630–$43,560. The top tenth earns $48,720 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 $11,930 wide, wider than in Iowa as a whole ($10,480) and the US ($11,170), so what a virtual receptionist earns in Des Moines-West Des Moines 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 | $25,880 | $2,157 | $12.44 | $33,394 |
| 25th percentile | $31,630 | $2,636 | $15.21 | $40,813 |
| Median | $37,910 | $3,159 | $18.23 | $48,916 |
| 75th percentile | $43,560 | $3,630 | $20.94 | $56,206 |
| 90th percentile | $48,720 | $4,060 | $23.42 | $62,865 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $6,280 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $5,650, or about $7,290 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 Des Moines-West Des Moines, and the Iowa statewide median of $37,330 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Des Moines-West Des Moines
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 $11,006 to the $37,910 median and brings it to $48,916 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 Des Moines-West Des Moines
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 17 roles we track in Des Moines-West Des Moines; project coordinators have the highest, at $101,150.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Assistant | +25.3% | 3,110 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +13.5% | 140 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +12.3% | 460 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +11.2% | 2,350 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 1,260 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #8 of the 17 roles we track in Des Moines-West Des Moines (-0.3%), between bookkeepers (-0.1%) and project coordinators (-1.1%). The typical role here is at -1.1%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Virtual receptionists hold 2.8% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Des Moines-West Des Moines, 3.4% across Iowa and 5.7% nationally. The job is a smaller part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Iowa
Across the 12 areas of Iowa with data for this job, the median runs from $35,170 in Ames to $38,830 in Dubuque, a gap of $3,660 a year. No other area in Iowa has as many virtual receptionists, and 7 of the other 11 pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Des Moines-West Des Moines | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City, IA | +2.2% | 300 | |
| Sioux City, IA-NE | +1.2% | 330 | |
| Northeast Iowa (Nonmetro) | +0.9% | 300 | |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | this area | 1,260 | |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | -0.6% | 500 | |
| Northwest Iowa (Nonmetro) | -2.7% | 450 | |
| Southeast Iowa (Nonmetro) | -4.2% | 500 |
Des Moines-West Des Moines against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Des Moines-West Des Moines is #120 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 Iowa, Mankato and Rapid City pay just above Des Moines-West Des Moines and Norwich-New London and Billings just below. All four are within $100 a year of the median in Des Moines-West Des Moines. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Des Moines-West Des Moines | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City, SD | +0.2% | 1,240 | pay | |
| Mankato, MN | +0.1% | 190 | pay | |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | this area | 1,260 | ||
| Norwich-New London, CT | -0.1% | 1,010 | pay | |
| Billings, MT | -0.3% | 250 | pay | |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | -1.1% | 1,250 | jobs | |
| Lincoln, NE | -2.3% | 1,260 | jobs | |
| Corpus Christi, TX | -16.1% | 1,270 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
About $48,916 a year at the median, or $4,076 a month: $37,910 in pay plus about $11,006 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for virtual receptionists in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
The median was $37,910 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $25,880, the 90th $48,720, and the middle half earned $31,630 to $43,560.
Is Des Moines-West Des Moines cheaper than the rest of Iowa for virtual receptionists?
No, it costs more: a median of $37,910 against $37,330 statewide. The next area up in Iowa is the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area at $38,250, the next down Cedar Rapids at $37,690.
How many virtual receptionists work in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
BLS counts about 1,260 in the May 2025 survey. That is 27% of the Iowa total of 4,660. No other area in Iowa has as many.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a medical administrative assistant in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
No: $4,250 a year less at the median. The medians are $37,910 and $42,160.
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.