Virtual receptionist in Fort Collins-Loveland, CO: cost vs in-house
The median virtual receptionist in Fort Collins-Loveland earned $40,700 a year in May 20251. That is 7.1% above the US median of $38,010, even though it is 3.1% below the Colorado statewide median of $42,010. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#72 of 521). About 960 virtual receptionists work here, 9% of the Colorado total.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Fort Collins-Loveland, CO. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Fort Collins-Loveland against Colorado and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $32,190 | $40,700 | $48,980 | |
| Colorado | $33,200 | $42,010 | $51,490 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
The middle half of virtual receptionists in Fort Collins-Loveland earns $35,980–$45,140. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $48,980, only 1.5 times the bottom tenth, against 1.7 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $9,160 wide, against $10,350 across Colorado and $11,170 nationally: employers in Fort Collins-Loveland 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 | $32,190 | $2,682 | $15.48 | $41,535 |
| 25th percentile | $35,980 | $2,998 | $17.30 | $46,426 |
| Median | $40,700 | $3,392 | $19.57 | $52,516 |
| 75th percentile | $45,140 | $3,762 | $21.70 | $58,245 |
| 90th percentile | $48,980 | $4,082 | $23.55 | $63,200 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $4,720 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $4,440, or about $5,729 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 25th percentile and the median in Fort Collins-Loveland, and the Colorado statewide median of $42,010 falls between the median and the 75th percentile.
What a hire really costs in Fort Collins-Loveland
At the $40,700 median, a local hire costs about $52,516 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $11,816 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 Fort Collins-Loveland
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 17 roles we track in Fort Collins-Loveland; project coordinators have the highest, at $101,310.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Assistant | +15.8% | 1,770 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +11.0% | 650 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +7.2% | 60 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +5.5% | 1,770 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 960 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #5 of the 17 roles we track in Fort Collins-Loveland (+7.1%), between e-commerce order specialists (+9.2%) and accountants (+6.8%). The typical role here is at +5.2%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Virtual receptionists hold 5.6% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Fort Collins-Loveland, 3.5% across Colorado and 5.7% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
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. Of the 3 areas in Colorado with more virtual receptionists than Fort Collins-Loveland, 1 pays less: Colorado Springs, CO ($38,190).
| Area | Median | vs Fort Collins-Loveland | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora, CO | +7.3% | 5,480 | |
| Northwest Colorado (Nonmetro) | +5.3% | 380 | |
| Boulder, CO | +5.2% | 980 | |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | this area | 960 | |
| Greeley, CO | -4.3% | 370 | |
| Eastern and Southern Colorado (Nonmetro) | -5.3% | 260 | |
| Colorado Springs, CO | -6.2% | 1,370 |
Fort Collins-Loveland against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Fort Collins-Loveland is #170 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 Colorado, Green Bay and Springfield pay just above Fort Collins-Loveland and La Crosse-Onalaska and Medford just below. All four are within $70 a year of the median in Fort Collins-Loveland. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Fort Collins-Loveland | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield, MA | +0.2% | 1,240 | pay | |
| Green Bay, WI | +0.1% | 1,330 | pay | |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | this area | 960 | ||
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | -0.1% | 780 | pay | |
| Medford, OR | -0.2% | 910 | pay | |
| Roanoke, VA | -15.9% | 980 | jobs | |
| Evansville, IN | -16.8% | 970 | jobs | |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | -20.8% | 950 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Fort Collins-Loveland, CO?
About $52,516 a year at the median, or $4,376 a month: $40,700 in pay plus about $11,816 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for virtual receptionists in Fort Collins-Loveland?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $40,700 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $32,190, the 90th $48,980, and the middle half earned $35,980 to $45,140.
Is Fort Collins-Loveland cheaper than the rest of Colorado for virtual receptionists?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $40,700 against $42,010 statewide. The next area up in Colorado is Boulder at $42,800, the next down Greeley at $38,960.
How many virtual receptionists work in Fort Collins-Loveland?
BLS counts about 960 in the May 2025 survey. That is 9% of the Colorado total of 11,020. 3 areas in Colorado have more; the closest in size is Boulder, with about 980.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a customer support specialist in Fort Collins-Loveland?
No: $2,220 a year less at the median. The medians are $40,700 and $42,920.
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.