Virtual receptionist in Jackson, MI: cost vs in-house
Jackson is a lower-cost market for virtual receptionists: the median of $36,130 a year1 is 3.6% below the Michigan statewide median of $37,470, and 4.9% below the US median of $38,010. Among US areas it comes in at #267 of 521. BLS counts about 280 virtual receptionists here, 1% of the Michigan total: a small pool for a local search.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Jackson, MI. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Jackson against Michigan and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson, MI | $27,880 | $36,130 | $47,620 | |
| Michigan | $29,480 | $37,470 | $48,280 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
Virtual receptionists at the 90th percentile earn $47,620, 1.7 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 1.7. The middle half of virtual receptionists in Jackson earns $30,570–$39,820. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $9,250 wide, between the figure for Michigan ($8,310) 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 | $27,880 | $2,323 | $13.40 | $35,974 |
| 25th percentile | $30,570 | $2,548 | $14.70 | $39,445 |
| Median | $36,130 | $3,011 | $17.37 | $46,619 |
| 75th percentile | $39,820 | $3,318 | $19.14 | $51,381 |
| 90th percentile | $47,620 | $3,968 | $22.89 | $61,445 |
Local pay is bunched just above the median: the 75th percentile is only $3,690 over it, while the 25th sits $5,560 below. Moving an offer from the median to the 75th percentile costs about $4,761 more a year with benefits. 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 median and the 75th percentile in Jackson, and the Michigan statewide median of $37,470 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Jackson
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 $10,489 to the $36,130 median and brings it to $46,619 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 Jackson
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 15 roles we track in Jackson; project coordinators have the highest, at $100,280.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Assistant | +30.1% | 530 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +27.2% | 30 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +16.9% | 830 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +10.0% | 300 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 280 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #6 of the 15 roles we track in Jackson (-4.9%), between bookkeepers (-3.9%) and office managers (-5.7%). The typical role here is at -5.7%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Virtual receptionists hold 6.0% of the jobs in these 15 roles in Jackson, 6.3% across Michigan and 5.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Michigan
Across the 19 areas of Michigan with data for this job, the median runs from $33,860 in Bay City to $39,190 in Ann Arbor, a gap of $5,330 a year. Of the 14 areas in Michigan with more virtual receptionists than Jackson, 3 pay less: the Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetro area ($35,810), Saginaw, MI ($35,730) and Niles, MI ($34,850).
| Area | Median | vs Jackson | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid Michigan (Nonmetro) | +1.6% | 840 | |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | +0.9% | 320 | |
| Flint, MI | +0.3% | 870 | |
| Jackson, MI | this area | 280 | |
| Southern Michigan (Nonmetro) | +0.0% | 640 | |
| Upper Peninsula of Michigan (Nonmetro) | -0.9% | 560 | |
| Saginaw, MI | -1.1% | 520 |
Jackson against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Jackson is #440 of 521 US areas for this job. The market is small, and its pay sits near the middle of the US range. Outside Michigan, Watertown-Fort Drum and Davenport-Moline pay just above Jackson and St. George and Winchester just below. All four are within $40 a year of the median in Jackson. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Jackson | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carson City, NV | +13.3% | 280 | jobs | |
| Albany, OR | +8.8% | 280 | jobs | |
| Casper, WY | +4.5% | 280 | jobs | |
| Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | +0.1% | 790 | pay | |
| Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | +0.1% | 230 | pay | |
| Jackson, MI | this area | 280 | ||
| St. George, UT | -0.1% | 810 | pay | |
| Winchester, VA-WV | -0.1% | 380 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Jackson, MI?
About $46,619 a year at the median, or $3,885 a month: $36,130 in pay plus about $10,489 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do virtual receptionists earn in Jackson?
The median was $36,130 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $27,880, the 90th $47,620, and the middle half earned $30,570 to $39,820.
Is Jackson cheaper than the rest of Michigan for virtual receptionists?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $36,130 against $37,470 statewide. The next area up in Michigan is Flint at $36,230, the next down the Southern Michigan nonmetro area at $36,130.
How many virtual receptionists work in Jackson?
BLS counts about 280 in the May 2025 survey. That is 1% of the Michigan total of 25,230. 15 areas in Michigan have more; the closest in size is Battle Creek, with about 280.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a medical administrative assistant in Jackson?
No: $3,610 a year less at the median. The medians are $36,130 and $39,740.
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 2026-11-13.