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Virtual Receptionist salary and cost of hiring in Iowa

The median virtual receptionist in Iowa earned $37,330 a year in May 2025[1], 1.8% below the US median of $38,010. That puts Iowa at #27 of 51 states for this job.

$3,111median pay per month in Iowa
$4,444employer cost per month with benefits
$17.95median pay per hour
4,660people in this job in Iowa

BLS occupation 43-4171. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.

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Salary range

Range10thMedian90th
Iowa$26,740$37,330$47,610
United States$28,760$38,010$49,950
10th to 90th percentilemiddle half (25th to 75th)median

The middle half of virtual receptionists in Iowa earns $32,080–$42,560; the top tenth earns $47,610 or more, 1.8 times the bottom tenth.

What a hire really costs

Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2]. At the Iowa median that makes about $53,329 a year before recruiting, equipment and office space. 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 fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].

$53,329local hire, first year incl. benefits
-remote hire, first year incl. fee
-difference in year one
-of the local cost saved

Pay by metro area in Iowa

AreaMedian75th percentileJobs
Dubuque, IA
$38,830
$42,340200
Iowa City, IA
$38,740
$43,360300
Sioux City, IA-NE-SD
$38,380
$44,630330
Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area
$38,250
$43,140300
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
$37,910
$43,5601,260
Cedar Rapids, IA
$37,690
$41,600500
Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area
$36,900
$42,840450
Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area
$36,330
$43,660500
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL
$36,170
$40,160790
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
$35,590
$38,570240
Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area
$35,580
$41,490120
Ames, IA
$35,170
$42,240170

Dubuque, IA pays the most ($38,830) and Ames, IA the least ($35,170): $3,660 a year apart for the same job.

What a virtual receptionist does

A virtual receptionist answers calls, chats and web enquiries for the business, books appointments and routes messages, so no lead or client is left waiting.

Neighbours in the ranking

StateMedianvs Iowa
Illinois
$37,400
+0.2%
Montana
$37,360
+0.1%
Iowa
$37,330
+0.0%
Virginia
$37,060
-0.7%
Nevada
$37,050
-0.8%

Questions

How much does a virtual receptionist earn in Iowa?

The median was $37,330 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $32,080 to $42,560.

What does it cost to employ a virtual receptionist in Iowa?

About $53,329 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).

Where in Iowa do virtual receptionists earn the most?

Dubuque, IA, with a median of $38,830 a year.

Other roles in Iowa

Hire virtual receptionists remotely

Sources

  1. BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-4171: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes434171.htm
  2. BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
  3. Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
  4. Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/

How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-05.