Virtual receptionist in Ithaca, NY: cost vs in-house
The median virtual receptionist in Ithaca earned $39,400 a year in May 20251. That is 3.7% above the US median of $38,010, even though it is 8.5% below the New York statewide median of $43,080. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#100 of 521). BLS counts about 300 people in this job here.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Ithaca, NY. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Ithaca against New York and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ithaca, NY | $33,480 | $39,400 | $51,740 | |
| New York | $34,740 | $43,080 | $59,140 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
The middle half of virtual receptionists in Ithaca earns $37,150–$46,120. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $51,740, only 1.5 times the bottom tenth, against 1.7 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $8,970 wide, against $11,610 across New York and $11,170 nationally: employers in Ithaca 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 | $33,480 | $2,790 | $16.10 | $43,200 |
| 25th percentile | $37,150 | $3,096 | $17.86 | $47,935 |
| Median | $39,400 | $3,283 | $18.94 | $50,839 |
| 75th percentile | $46,120 | $3,843 | $22.17 | $59,510 |
| 90th percentile | $51,740 | $4,312 | $24.88 | $66,761 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $6,720 over the median, the 25th only $2,250 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $8,671 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 Ithaca, and the New York statewide median of $43,080 falls between the median and the 75th percentile.
What a hire really costs in Ithaca
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 $11,439 to the $39,400 median and brings it to $50,839 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 Ithaca
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 14 roles we track in Ithaca; project coordinators have the highest, at $96,870.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeper | +31.0% | 490 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +29.5% | 40 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +21.8% | 900 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +15.2% | 650 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 300 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #2 of the 14 roles we track in Ithaca (+3.7%), between office managers (+6.0%) and HR assistants (+3.0%). The typical role here is at +0.1%, so, measured against the US, virtual receptionists cost more in Ithaca than the area's general pay level would suggest. Virtual receptionists hold 6.1% of the jobs in these 14 roles in Ithaca, 6.3% across New York and 6.2% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in New York
Across the 16 areas of New York with data for this job, the median runs from $36,160 in Watertown-Fort Drum to $44,690 in New York-Newark, a gap of $8,530 a year. Of the 13 areas in New York with more virtual receptionists than Ithaca, 6 pay less, the largest of them Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY ($38,960), Rochester, NY ($38,550) and the Southwest New York nonmetro area ($37,450).
| Area | Median | vs Ithaca | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingston, NY | +0.4% | 440 | |
| Glens Falls, NY | +0.1% | 350 | |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie, NY | +0.0% | 1,770 | |
| Ithaca, NY | this area | 300 | |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | -1.1% | 3,930 | |
| Central East New York (Nonmetro) | -1.4% | 890 | |
| Rochester, NY | -2.2% | 2,840 |
Ithaca against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Ithaca is #422 of 521 US areas for this job. The market is small, but its pay is in the top quarter of US areas. Outside New York, Grants Pass and Visalia pay just above Ithaca and Lewiston-Auburn and Phoenix-Mesa just below. All four are within $120 a year of the median in Ithaca. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Ithaca | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visalia, CA | +0.3% | 530 | pay | |
| Grants Pass, OR | +0.2% | 200 | pay | |
| Ithaca, NY | this area | 300 | ||
| Lewiston-Auburn, ME | -0.1% | 250 | pay | |
| Phoenix-Mesa, AZ | -0.2% | 16,850 | pay | |
| Iowa City, IA | -1.7% | 300 | jobs | |
| Burlington, NC | -8.0% | 300 | jobs | |
| Johnson City, TN | -20.9% | 300 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Ithaca, NY?
About $50,839 a year at the median, or $4,237 a month: $39,400 in pay plus about $11,439 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do virtual receptionists earn in Ithaca?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $39,400 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $33,480, the 90th $51,740, and the middle half earned $37,150 to $46,120.
Is Ithaca cheaper than the rest of New York for virtual receptionists?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $39,400 against $43,080 statewide. The next area up in New York is Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie at $39,410, the next down Buffalo-Cheektowaga at $38,960.
How many virtual receptionists work in Ithaca?
BLS counts about 300 in the May 2025 survey. 13 areas in New York have more; the closest in size is Glens Falls, with about 350.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a customer support specialist in Ithaca?
No: $5,990 a year less at the median. The medians are $39,400 and $45,390.
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.