Virtual receptionist in Fort Wayne, IN: cost vs in-house
Fort Wayne is a lower-cost market for virtual receptionists: the median of $35,220 a year1 is 2.6% below the Indiana statewide median of $36,160, and 7.3% below the US median of $38,010. Nationally it ranks #326 of 521 areas. BLS counts about 1,310 people in this job here, 8% of the Indiana total.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Fort Wayne, IN. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Fort Wayne against Indiana and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Wayne, IN | $23,790 | $35,220 | $46,840 | |
| Indiana | $24,410 | $36,160 | $47,310 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
Pay is more spread out here than nationally: the top tenth earns $46,840 or more, 2.0 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 Fort Wayne earns $29,520–$41,240. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $11,720 wide, between the figure for Indiana ($11,960) and the US figure ($11,170).
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 | $23,790 | $1,982 | $11.44 | $30,697 |
| 25th percentile | $29,520 | $2,460 | $14.19 | $38,090 |
| Median | $35,220 | $2,935 | $16.93 | $45,445 |
| 75th percentile | $41,240 | $3,437 | $19.83 | $53,213 |
| 90th percentile | $46,840 | $3,903 | $22.52 | $60,439 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $5,700 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $6,020, or about $7,768 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 Fort Wayne, and the Indiana statewide median of $36,160 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Fort Wayne
At the $35,220 median, a local hire costs about $45,445 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $10,225 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 Wayne
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 17 roles we track in Fort Wayne; project coordinators have the highest, at $92,590.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +27.9% | 1,760 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +27.3% | 1,340 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +24.8% | 120 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +12.1% | 120 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 1,310 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #9 of the 17 roles we track in Fort Wayne (-7.3%), between paralegals (-6.4%) and HR assistants (-7.5%). The typical role here is at -7.3%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Virtual receptionists hold 7.3% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Fort Wayne, 6.5% across Indiana and 5.7% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Indiana
Across the 15 areas of Indiana with data for this job, the median runs from $33,860 in Evansville to $37,050 in Indianapolis-Carmel, a gap of $3,190 a year. The one area in Indiana with more virtual receptionists, Indianapolis-Carmel, IN ($37,050), also pays more.
| Area | Median | vs Fort Wayne | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | +3.3% | 200 | |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | +3.1% | 880 | |
| Columbus, IN | +1.0% | 240 | |
| Fort Wayne, IN | this area | 1,310 | |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | -0.3% | 490 | |
| Kokomo, IN | -0.5% | 200 | |
| Muncie, IN | -0.5% | 330 |
Fort Wayne against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Fort Wayne is #113 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 Indiana, Cincinnati and Gettysburg pay just above Fort Wayne and St. Joseph and Ames just below. All four are within $60 a year of the median in Fort Wayne. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Fort Wayne | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green Bay, WI | +15.7% | 1,330 | jobs | |
| Salem, OR | +9.3% | 1,290 | jobs | |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | +0.6% | 1,300 | jobs | |
| Gettysburg, PA | +0.2% | 180 | pay | |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY | +0.1% | 5,560 | pay | |
| Fort Wayne, IN | this area | 1,310 | ||
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | -0.1% | 320 | pay | |
| Ames, IA | -0.1% | 170 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Fort Wayne, IN?
About $45,445 a year at the median, or $3,787 a month: $35,220 in pay plus about $10,225 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do virtual receptionists earn in Fort Wayne?
The median was $35,220 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $23,790, the 90th $46,840, and the middle half earned $29,520 to $41,240.
Is Fort Wayne cheaper than the rest of Indiana for virtual receptionists?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $35,220 against $36,160 statewide. The next area up in Indiana is Columbus at $35,560, the next down Lafayette-West Lafayette at $35,110.
How many virtual receptionists work in Fort Wayne?
BLS counts about 1,310 in the May 2025 survey. That is 8% of the Indiana total of 17,360. Only Indianapolis-Carmel has more in Indiana.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a data entry specialist in Fort Wayne?
No: $4,260 a year less at the median. The medians are $35,220 and $39,480.
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.