Virtual receptionist in Idaho Falls, ID: cost vs in-house
No other area in Idaho pays virtual receptionists less than Idaho Falls. The median is $34,800 a year1, 5.5% below the Idaho statewide median of $36,810 and 8.4% below the US median of $38,010. Among US areas it comes in at #353 of 521. About 720 virtual receptionists work here, 13% of the Idaho total.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Idaho Falls, ID. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Idaho Falls against Idaho and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho Falls, ID | $27,290 | $34,800 | $45,140 | |
| Idaho | $28,500 | $36,810 | $47,100 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
Virtual receptionists at the 90th percentile earn $45,140, 1.7 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 1.7. The middle half of virtual receptionists in Idaho Falls earns $30,720–$37,960. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $7,240 wide, against $10,310 across Idaho and $11,170 nationally: employers in Idaho Falls 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 | $27,290 | $2,274 | $13.12 | $35,213 |
| 25th percentile | $30,720 | $2,560 | $14.77 | $39,639 |
| Median | $34,800 | $2,900 | $16.73 | $44,903 |
| 75th percentile | $37,960 | $3,163 | $18.25 | $48,981 |
| 90th percentile | $45,140 | $3,762 | $21.70 | $58,245 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $3,160 a year in pay and about $4,077 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $4,080 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 75th and 90th percentiles in Idaho Falls, and the Idaho statewide median of $36,810 falls between the median and the 75th percentile. An offer at the national rate would beat what three quarters of local virtual receptionists earn.
What a hire really costs in Idaho Falls
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 $10,103 to the $34,800 median and brings it to $44,903 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 Idaho Falls
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 15 roles we track in Idaho Falls; project coordinators have the highest, at $102,250.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +27.5% | 600 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +20.8% | 70 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +15.1% | 1,710 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +14.7% | 740 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 720 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #5 of the 15 roles we track in Idaho Falls (-8.4%), between bookkeepers (-6.6%) and customer support specialists (-10.5%). The typical role here is at -14.5%, so, measured against the US, virtual receptionists cost more in Idaho Falls than the area's general pay level would suggest. Virtual receptionists hold 9.5% of the jobs in these 15 roles in Idaho Falls, 6.4% across Idaho and 5.8% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Idaho
Across the 8 areas of Idaho with data for this job, the median runs from $34,800 in Idaho Falls to $37,780 in Coeur d'Alene, a gap of $2,980 a year. The one area in Idaho with more virtual receptionists, Boise City, ID ($37,500), also pays more.
| Area | Median | vs Idaho Falls | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise City, ID | +7.8% | 2,280 | |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | +7.5% | 200 | |
| Northwestern Idaho (Nonmetro) | +5.5% | 360 | |
| Southeast-Central Idaho (Nonmetro) | +4.3% | 490 | |
| Twin Falls, ID | +4.2% | 360 | |
| Pocatello, ID | +0.2% | 280 | |
| Idaho Falls, ID | this area | 720 |
Idaho Falls against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Idaho Falls is #237 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Idaho, Sandusky and Rome pay just above Idaho Falls and Cape Girardeau and Rocky Mount just below. All four are within $80 a year of the median in Idaho Falls. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Idaho Falls | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vallejo, CA | +30.7% | 720 | jobs | |
| Charlottesville, VA | +6.7% | 720 | jobs | |
| Rome, GA | +0.1% | 270 | pay | |
| Sandusky, OH | +0.1% | 280 | pay | |
| Idaho Falls, ID | this area | 720 | ||
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | -0.1% | 330 | pay | |
| Rocky Mount, NC | -0.2% | 190 | pay | |
| Columbia, MO | -2.2% | 730 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Idaho Falls, ID?
About $44,903 a year at the median, or $3,742 a month: $34,800 in pay plus about $10,103 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for virtual receptionists in Idaho Falls?
The median was $34,800 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $27,290, the 90th $45,140, and the middle half earned $30,720 to $37,960.
Is Idaho Falls the cheapest area in Idaho for virtual receptionists?
Yes. Its median of $34,800 is the lowest of 8 areas in Idaho. Pocatello is next at $34,870.
How many virtual receptionists work in Idaho Falls?
BLS counts about 720 in the May 2025 survey. That is 13% of the Idaho total of 5,340. Only Boise City has more in Idaho.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than an administrative assistant in Idaho Falls?
No: $5,110 a year less at the median. The medians are $34,800 and $39,910.
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.