Virtual receptionist in Eau Claire, WI: cost vs in-house
Eau Claire pays virtual receptionists close to the Wisconsin norm. The median is $41,310 a year1, about level with the Wisconsin statewide median of $41,150 and 8.7% above the US median of $38,010. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#64 of 521). About 990 virtual receptionists work here, 4% of the Wisconsin total.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Eau Claire, WI. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Eau Claire against Wisconsin and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eau Claire, WI | $29,180 | $41,310 | $48,650 | |
| Wisconsin | $29,530 | $41,150 | $50,030 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
The middle half of virtual receptionists in Eau Claire earns $36,220–$45,550. The top tenth earns $48,650 or more, 1.7 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 1.7 times. The mean ($40,400) is no higher than the median, so few high earners skew the figures here. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $9,330 wide, against $10,570 across Wisconsin and $11,170 nationally: employers in Eau Claire 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 | $29,180 | $2,432 | $14.03 | $37,652 |
| 25th percentile | $36,220 | $3,018 | $17.41 | $46,735 |
| Median | $41,310 | $3,442 | $19.86 | $53,303 |
| 75th percentile | $45,550 | $3,796 | $21.90 | $58,774 |
| 90th percentile | $48,650 | $4,054 | $23.39 | $62,774 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $4,240 a year in pay and about $5,471 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $5,090 in pay. 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 25th percentile and the median in Eau Claire, and the Wisconsin statewide median of $41,150 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Eau Claire
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 $11,993 to the $41,310 median and brings it to $53,303 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 Eau Claire
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 16 roles we track in Eau Claire; project coordinators have the highest, at $95,840.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +16.1% | 350 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +13.7% | 720 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +11.2% | 1,340 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +0.4% | 40 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 990 |
Measured against the US median, this job is the best paid of the 16 roles we track in Eau Claire (+8.7%); paralegals come last (-22.0%). The typical role here is at -3.2%, so, measured against the US, virtual receptionists cost more in Eau Claire than the area's general pay level would suggest. Virtual receptionists hold 12.8% of the jobs in these 16 roles in Eau Claire, 9.1% across Wisconsin and 5.8% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Wisconsin
Across the 17 areas of Wisconsin with data for this job, the median runs from $38,630 in Janesville-Beloit to $45,430 in Sheboygan, a gap of $6,800 a year. Of the 6 areas in Wisconsin with more virtual receptionists than Eau Claire, 4 pay less, the largest of them the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area ($40,260), the South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area ($38,890) and Green Bay, WI ($40,760).
| Area | Median | vs Eau Claire | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | +3.9% | 7,200 | |
| Kenosha, WI | +3.8% | 750 | |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | +0.9% | 780 | |
| Eau Claire, WI | this area | 990 | |
| Green Bay, WI | -1.3% | 1,330 | |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | -1.6% | 780 | |
| Fond du Lac, WI | -2.2% | 470 |
Eau Claire against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Eau Claire is #162 of 521 US areas for this job. It is a mid-sized market, and its pay is in the top quarter of US areas. Outside Wisconsin, Wenatchee-East Wenatchee and El Centro pay just above Eau Claire and Washington-Arlington and Waterbury-Shelton just below. All four are within $260 a year of the median in Eau Claire. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Eau Claire | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Centro, CA | +0.3% | 160 | pay | |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | +0.2% | 440 | pay | |
| Eau Claire, WI | this area | 990 | ||
| Washington-Arlington, DC-VA | -0.2% | 17,920 | pay | |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | -0.6% | 1,550 | pay | |
| Rockford, IL | -9.3% | 1,000 | jobs | |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | -17.4% | 990 | jobs | |
| Slidell-Mandeville, LA | -23.1% | 1,000 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Eau Claire, WI?
About $53,303 a year at the median, or $4,442 a month: $41,310 in pay plus about $11,993 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for virtual receptionists in Eau Claire?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $41,310 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $29,180, the 90th $48,650, and the middle half earned $36,220 to $45,550.
Is Eau Claire cheaper than the rest of Wisconsin for virtual receptionists?
About the same: a median of $41,310 against $41,150 statewide. The next area up in Wisconsin is Oshkosh-Neenah at $41,700, the next down Green Bay at $40,760.
How many virtual receptionists work in Eau Claire?
BLS counts about 990 in the May 2025 survey. That is 4% of the Wisconsin total of 25,580. 6 areas in Wisconsin have more; the closest in size is Appleton, with about 1,170.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a data entry specialist in Eau Claire?
No: $170 a year less at the median. The medians are $41,310 and $41,480.
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.