Virtual receptionist in Duluth, MN-WI: cost vs in-house
Duluth is the least expensive place in Minnesota to hire a virtual receptionist. The median is $35,350 a year1, 5.8% below the Minnesota statewide median of $37,510 and 7.0% below the US median of $38,010. Nationally it ranks #317 of 521 areas. BLS counts about 550 people in this job here.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Duluth, MN-WI. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Duluth against Minnesota and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth, MN-WI | $26,730 | $35,350 | $47,000 | |
| Minnesota | $28,320 | $37,510 | $50,540 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
The middle half of virtual receptionists in Duluth earns $31,240–$40,700. The top tenth earns $47,000 or more, 1.8 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 $9,460 wide, against $12,930 across Minnesota and $11,170 nationally: employers in Duluth 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 | $26,730 | $2,228 | $12.85 | $34,490 |
| 25th percentile | $31,240 | $2,603 | $15.02 | $40,310 |
| Median | $35,350 | $2,946 | $17.00 | $45,613 |
| 75th percentile | $40,700 | $3,392 | $19.57 | $52,516 |
| 90th percentile | $47,000 | $3,917 | $22.60 | $60,645 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $4,110 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $5,350, or about $6,903 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 Duluth, and the Minnesota statewide median of $37,510 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Duluth
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 $10,263 to the $35,350 median and brings it to $45,613 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 Duluth
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 15 roles we track in Duluth; project coordinators have the highest, at $96,550.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR Assistant | +37.3% | 110 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +35.4% | 790 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +35.0% | 1,220 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +27.1% | 1,500 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 550 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #10 of the 15 roles we track in Duluth (-7.0%), between project coordinators (-5.6%) and accountants (-7.5%). The typical role here is at -5.2%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Virtual receptionists hold 5.9% of the jobs in these 15 roles in Duluth, 4.1% across Minnesota and 5.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Minnesota
Across the 9 areas of Minnesota with data for this job, the median runs from $35,350 in Duluth to $39,570 in the Northwest Minnesota nonmetro area, a gap of $4,220 a year. All 2 areas in Minnesota with more virtual receptionists than Duluth also pay more, among them Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI ($38,000) and the Northwest Minnesota nonmetro area ($39,570).
| Area | Median | vs Duluth | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mankato, MN | +7.4% | 190 | |
| Southwest Minnesota (Nonmetro) | +7.0% | 310 | |
| St. Cloud, MN | +5.3% | 380 | |
| Rochester, MN | +3.5% | 420 | |
| Southeast Minnesota (Nonmetro) | +2.3% | 540 | |
| Northeast Minnesota (Nonmetro) | +0.0% | 170 | |
| Duluth, MN-WI | this area | 550 |
Duluth against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Duluth is #291 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Minnesota, Winston-Salem and Dayton-Kettering pay just above Duluth and Gainesville and Houston-Pasadena just below. All four are within $10 a year of the median in Duluth. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Duluth | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Punta Gorda, FL | +5.0% | 550 | jobs | |
| Traverse City, MI | +4.4% | 540 | jobs | |
| Dayton-Kettering, OH | +0.0% | 2,140 | pay | |
| Winston-Salem, NC | +0.0% | 1,210 | pay | |
| Duluth, MN-WI | this area | 550 | ||
| Gainesville, FL | +0.0% | 810 | pay | |
| Houston-Pasadena, TX | +0.0% | 17,140 | pay | |
| Lynchburg, VA | -4.0% | 560 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Duluth, MN-WI?
About $45,613 a year at the median, or $3,801 a month: $35,350 in pay plus about $10,263 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for virtual receptionists in Duluth?
The median was $35,350 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $26,730, the 90th $47,000, and the middle half earned $31,240 to $40,700.
Is Duluth the cheapest area in Minnesota for virtual receptionists?
Yes. Its median of $35,350 is the lowest of 9 areas in Minnesota. The Northeast Minnesota nonmetro area is next at $35,360.
How many virtual receptionists work in Duluth?
BLS counts about 550 in the May 2025 survey. Only Minneapolis-St. Paul and the Northwest Minnesota nonmetro area have more in Minnesota.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a customer support specialist in Duluth?
No: $9,590 a year less at the median. The medians are $35,350 and $44,940.
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.