Virtual receptionist in Honolulu, HI: cost vs in-house
Honolulu is the least expensive place in Hawaii to hire a virtual receptionist. The median is $39,960 a year1, 3.9% below the Hawaii statewide median of $41,600 and 5.1% above the US median of $38,010. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#82 of 521). With about 2,410 virtual receptionists, 69% of the Hawaii total, no area in Hawaii employs more.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Urban Honolulu, HI. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Honolulu against Hawaii and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu, HI | $34,000 | $39,960 | $55,310 | |
| Hawaii | $35,050 | $41,600 | $55,310 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
The middle half of virtual receptionists in Honolulu earns $36,750–$47,400. The top tenth earns $55,310 or more, 1.6 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 1.7 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $10,650 wide, between the figure for Hawaii ($10,070) 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 | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16.35 | $43,871 |
| 25th percentile | $36,750 | $3,062 | $17.67 | $47,419 |
| Median | $39,960 | $3,330 | $19.21 | $51,561 |
| 75th percentile | $47,400 | $3,950 | $22.79 | $61,161 |
| 90th percentile | $55,310 | $4,609 | $26.59 | $71,368 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $7,440 over the median, the 25th only $3,210 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $9,600 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 25th percentile and the median in Honolulu, and the Hawaii statewide median of $41,600 falls between the median and the 75th percentile.
What a hire really costs in Honolulu
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 $11,601 to the $39,960 median and brings it to $51,561 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 Honolulu
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 17 roles we track in Honolulu; executive assistants have the highest, at $80,600.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeper | +20.2% | 3,590 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +19.2% | 160 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +17.0% | 170 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +11.7% | 6,260 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 2,410 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #5 of the 17 roles we track in Honolulu (+5.1%), between administrative assistants (+5.2%) and payroll specialists (+4.4%). The typical role here is at -0.3%, so, measured against the US, virtual receptionists cost more in Honolulu than the area's general pay level would suggest. Virtual receptionists hold 6.1% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Honolulu, 6.5% across Hawaii and 5.7% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Hawaii
Across the 3 areas of Hawaii with data for this job, the median runs from $39,960 in Honolulu to $43,710 in Kahului-Wailuku, a gap of $3,750 a year. No other area in Hawaii has as many virtual receptionists, and none of the others pays less.
| Area | Median | vs Honolulu | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | +9.4% | 470 | |
| Hawaii-Kauai (Nonmetro) | +7.3% | 620 | |
| Honolulu, HI | this area | 2,410 |
Honolulu against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Honolulu is #66 of 521 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job and one of the better-paying ones. Outside Hawaii, Minot and Chico pay just above Honolulu and Syracuse and Flagstaff just below. All four are within $130 a year of the median in Honolulu. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Honolulu | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | +4.6% | 2,370 | jobs | |
| Chico, CA | +0.3% | 370 | pay | |
| Minot, ND | +0.3% | 160 | pay | |
| Honolulu, HI | this area | 2,410 | ||
| Syracuse, NY | -0.2% | 2,340 | pay | |
| Flagstaff, AZ | -0.3% | 670 | pay | |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | -3.5% | 2,430 | jobs | |
| North Port-Bradenton, FL | -6.3% | 2,370 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Honolulu, HI?
About $51,561 a year at the median, or $4,297 a month: $39,960 in pay plus about $11,601 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do virtual receptionists earn in Honolulu?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $39,960 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $34,000, the 90th $55,310, and the middle half earned $36,750 to $47,400.
Is Honolulu the cheapest area in Hawaii for virtual receptionists?
Yes. Its median of $39,960 is the lowest of 3 areas in Hawaii. The Hawaii-Kauai nonmetro area is next at $42,870.
How many virtual receptionists work in Honolulu?
BLS counts about 2,410 in the May 2025 survey. That is 69% of the Hawaii total of 3,510. No other area in Hawaii has as many.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a customer support specialist in Honolulu?
No: $4,670 a year less at the median. The medians are $39,960 and $44,630.
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.