Virtual receptionist in Erie, PA: cost vs in-house
Erie is the least expensive place in Pennsylvania to hire a virtual receptionist. The median is $32,210 a year1, 12.5% below the Pennsylvania statewide median of $36,810 and 15.3% below the US median of $38,010. That is in the bottom quarter of US areas (#439 of 521). About 890 virtual receptionists work here, 2% of the Pennsylvania total.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Erie, PA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Erie against Pennsylvania and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erie, PA | $22,080 | $32,210 | $42,830 | |
| Pennsylvania | $24,820 | $36,810 | $48,310 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
Pay is more spread out here than nationally: the top tenth earns $42,830 or more, 1.9 times the bottom tenth, against 1.7 times across the US. Two offers for the same title can sit far apart. The middle half of virtual receptionists in Erie earns $28,380–$38,070. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $9,690 wide, against $12,230 across Pennsylvania and $11,170 nationally: employers in Erie 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 | $22,080 | $1,840 | $10.62 | $28,490 |
| 25th percentile | $28,380 | $2,365 | $13.64 | $36,619 |
| Median | $32,210 | $2,684 | $15.49 | $41,561 |
| 75th percentile | $38,070 | $3,172 | $18.30 | $49,123 |
| 90th percentile | $42,830 | $3,569 | $20.59 | $55,265 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $5,860 over the median, the 25th only $3,830 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $7,561 a year in employer cost. 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 Erie, and the Pennsylvania statewide median of $36,810 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Erie
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 $9,351 to the $32,210 median and brings it to $41,561 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 Erie
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 17 roles we track in Erie; project coordinators have the highest, at $93,590.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +31.0% | 570 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +29.9% | 1,240 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +29.5% | 1,610 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +14.4% | 50 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 890 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #12 of the 17 roles we track in Erie (-15.3%), between office managers (-14.5%) and accountants (-16.3%). The typical role here is at -10.9%, so, measured against the US, virtual receptionists cost less in Erie than the area's general pay level would suggest. Virtual receptionists hold 9.1% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Erie, 6.6% across Pennsylvania and 5.7% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Pennsylvania
Across the 20 areas of Pennsylvania with data for this job, the median runs from $32,210 in Erie to $38,030 in Philadelphia-Camden, a gap of $5,820 a year. All 10 areas in Pennsylvania with more virtual receptionists than Erie also pay more, among them Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ ($38,030) and Pittsburgh, PA ($36,300).
| Area | Median | vs Erie | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | +9.3% | 900 | |
| Southwestern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | +9.0% | 710 | |
| State College, PA | +8.2% | 470 | |
| Williamsport, PA | +4.9% | 310 | |
| Johnstown, PA | +3.4% | 250 | |
| Altoona, PA | +0.1% | 370 | |
| Erie, PA | this area | 890 |
Erie against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Erie is #188 of 521 US areas for this job. It is a mid-sized market, and its pay is in the bottom quarter of US areas. Outside Pennsylvania, Gulfport-Biloxi and Pinehurst-Southern Pines pay just above Erie and Hot Springs and Hammond just below. All four are within $120 a year of the median in Erie. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Erie | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, AK | +38.6% | 890 | jobs | |
| Bend, OR | +33.0% | 890 | jobs | |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | +7.1% | 890 | jobs | |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | +0.4% | 200 | pay | |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | +0.0% | 950 | pay | |
| Erie, PA | this area | 890 | ||
| Hot Springs, AR | +0.0% | 400 | pay | |
| Hammond, LA | -0.2% | 280 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Erie, PA?
About $41,561 a year at the median, or $3,463 a month: $32,210 in pay plus about $9,351 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for virtual receptionists in Erie?
Pay here is lower than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $32,210 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $22,080, the 90th $42,830, and the middle half earned $28,380 to $38,070.
Is Erie the cheapest area in Pennsylvania for virtual receptionists?
Yes. Its median of $32,210 is the lowest of 20 areas in Pennsylvania. Altoona is next at $32,240.
How many virtual receptionists work in Erie?
BLS counts about 890 in the May 2025 survey. That is 2% of the Pennsylvania total of 37,830. 10 areas in Pennsylvania have more; the closest in size is the Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area, with about 900.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a data entry specialist in Erie?
No: $4,630 a year less at the median. The medians are $32,210 and $36,840.
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.