Virtual receptionist in Iowa City, IA: cost vs in-house
Budget above the national rate here. The median virtual receptionist in Iowa City earned $38,740 a year in May 20251, 3.8% above the Iowa statewide median of $37,330 and 1.9% above the US median of $38,010. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#119 of 521). BLS counts about 300 people in this job here, 6% of the Iowa total.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Iowa City, IA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Iowa City against Iowa and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City, IA | $28,820 | $38,740 | $49,050 | |
| Iowa | $26,740 | $37,330 | $47,610 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
The middle half of virtual receptionists in Iowa City earns $33,110–$43,360. The top tenth earns $49,050 or more, 1.7 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 1.7 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $10,250 wide, against $10,480 across Iowa and $11,170 nationally: employers in Iowa City 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 | $28,820 | $2,402 | $13.86 | $37,187 |
| 25th percentile | $33,110 | $2,759 | $15.92 | $42,723 |
| Median | $38,740 | $3,228 | $18.62 | $49,987 |
| 75th percentile | $43,360 | $3,613 | $20.85 | $55,948 |
| 90th percentile | $49,050 | $4,088 | $23.58 | $63,290 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $5,630 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $4,620, or about $5,961 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 Iowa City, and the Iowa statewide median of $37,330 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Iowa City
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 $11,247 to the $38,740 median and brings it to $49,987 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 Iowa City
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 16 roles we track in Iowa City; project coordinators have the highest, at $96,820.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeper | +27.1% | 660 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +17.2% | 630 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +9.3% | 1,190 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +3.9% | 40 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 300 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #4 of the 16 roles we track in Iowa City (+1.9%), between paralegals (+5.6%) and data entry specialists (-2.6%). The typical role here is at -4.5%, so, measured against the US, virtual receptionists cost more in Iowa City than the area's general pay level would suggest. Virtual receptionists hold 3.7% of the jobs in these 16 roles in Iowa City, 3.4% across Iowa and 5.8% nationally. The job is a smaller part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Iowa
Across the 12 areas of Iowa with data for this job, the median runs from $35,170 in Ames to $38,830 in Dubuque, a gap of $3,660 a year. All 6 areas in Iowa with more virtual receptionists than Iowa City pay less, among them Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ($37,910) and Davenport-Moline, IA-IL ($36,170).
| Area | Median | vs Iowa City | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubuque, IA | +0.2% | 200 | |
| Iowa City, IA | this area | 300 | |
| Sioux City, IA-NE | -0.9% | 330 | |
| Northeast Iowa (Nonmetro) | -1.3% | 300 | |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | -2.1% | 1,260 | |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | -2.7% | 500 | |
| Northwest Iowa (Nonmetro) | -4.7% | 450 |
Iowa City against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Iowa City is #421 of 521 US areas for this job. The market is small, but its pay is in the top quarter of US areas. Outside Iowa, Hartford-West Hartford and Merced pay just above Iowa City and Omaha and Bismarck just below. All four are within $150 a year of the median in Iowa City. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Iowa City | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ithaca, NY | +1.7% | 300 | jobs | |
| Merced, CA | +0.4% | 290 | pay | |
| Hartford-West Hartford, CT | +0.1% | 4,140 | pay | |
| Iowa City, IA | this area | 300 | ||
| Omaha, NE-IA | +0.0% | 3,330 | pay | |
| Bismarck, ND | -0.1% | 440 | pay | |
| Burlington, NC | -6.5% | 300 | jobs | |
| Johnson City, TN | -19.5% | 300 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Iowa City, IA?
About $49,987 a year at the median, or $4,166 a month: $38,740 in pay plus about $11,247 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for virtual receptionists in Iowa City?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $38,740 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $28,820, the 90th $49,050, and the middle half earned $33,110 to $43,360.
Is Iowa City cheaper than the rest of Iowa for virtual receptionists?
No, it costs more: a median of $38,740 against $37,330 statewide. The next area up in Iowa is Dubuque at $38,830, the next down Sioux City at $38,380.
How many virtual receptionists work in Iowa City?
BLS counts about 300 in the May 2025 survey. That is 6% of the Iowa total of 4,660. 6 areas in Iowa have more; the closest in size is Sioux City, with about 330.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a data entry specialist in Iowa City?
No: $1,520 a year less at the median. The medians are $38,740 and $40,260.
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.