Virtual receptionist in Jackson, MS: cost vs in-house
Jackson is the most expensive place in Mississippi to hire a virtual receptionist. The median is $34,350 a year1, 10.2% above the Mississippi statewide median of $31,160 and 9.6% below the US median of $38,010. Nationally it ranks #372 of 521 areas. It is the largest market for the job in Mississippi: about 1,770 people, 26% of the Mississippi total.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Jackson, MS. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Jackson against Mississippi and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson, MS | $24,030 | $34,350 | $48,870 | |
| Mississippi | $22,310 | $31,160 | $42,990 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
Pay is more spread out here than nationally: the top tenth earns $48,870 or more, 2.0 times the bottom tenth, against 1.7 times across the US. Two offers for the same title can sit far apart. The middle half of virtual receptionists in Jackson earns $29,380–$38,180. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $8,800 wide, against $9,640 across Mississippi and $11,170 nationally: employers in Jackson 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 | $24,030 | $2,002 | $11.55 | $31,006 |
| 25th percentile | $29,380 | $2,448 | $14.12 | $37,910 |
| Median | $34,350 | $2,862 | $16.51 | $44,323 |
| 75th percentile | $38,180 | $3,182 | $18.36 | $49,265 |
| 90th percentile | $48,870 | $4,072 | $23.50 | $63,058 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $4,970 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $3,830, or about $4,942 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 median and the 75th percentile in Jackson, and the Mississippi statewide median of $31,160 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Jackson
At the $34,350 median, a local hire costs about $44,323 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $9,973 here. 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 17 roles we track in Jackson; project coordinators have the highest, at $78,150.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Assistant | +11.9% | 3,730 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +10.2% | 4,270 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +8.8% | 90 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +7.4% | 1,450 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 1,770 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #3 of the 17 roles we track in Jackson (-9.6%), between data entry specialists (-9.6%) and HR assistants (-9.9%). The typical role here is at -17.4%, so, measured against the US, virtual receptionists cost more in Jackson than the area's general pay level would suggest. Virtual receptionists hold 6.9% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Jackson and 5.7% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Mississippi
Across the 7 areas of Mississippi with data for this job, the median runs from $28,760 in the Lower West Mississippi nonmetro area to $34,350 in Jackson, a gap of $5,590 a year. No other area in Mississippi has as many virtual receptionists, and all 6 others pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Jackson | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson, MS | this area | 1,770 | |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | -6.2% | 950 | |
| Upper East Mississippi (Nonmetro) | -10.9% | 1,270 | |
| West Delta Mississippi (Nonmetro) | -11.8% | 520 | |
| Hattiesburg, MS | -13.1% | 480 | |
| Lower East Mississippi (Nonmetro) | -14.3% | 680 | |
| Lower West Mississippi (Nonmetro) | -16.3% | 400 |
Jackson against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Jackson is #88 of 521 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside Mississippi, Ocala and Homosassa Springs pay just above Jackson and Joplin and Albany just below. All four are within $30 a year of the median in Jackson. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Jackson | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie, NY | +14.7% | 1,770 | jobs | |
| Lancaster, PA | +7.0% | 1,730 | jobs | |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | +0.1% | 260 | pay | |
| Ocala, FL | +0.1% | 890 | pay | |
| Jackson, MS | this area | 1,770 | ||
| Joplin, MO-KS | +0.0% | 510 | pay | |
| Albany, GA | -0.0% | 310 | pay | |
| McAllen-Edinburg, TX | -16.9% | 1,780 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Jackson, MS?
About $44,323 a year at the median, or $3,694 a month: $34,350 in pay plus about $9,973 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for virtual receptionists in Jackson?
The median was $34,350 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $24,030, the 90th $48,870, and the middle half earned $29,380 to $38,180.
Is Jackson the most expensive area in Mississippi for virtual receptionists?
Yes. Its median of $34,350 is the highest of 7 areas in Mississippi. Gulfport-Biloxi comes next at $32,220.
How many virtual receptionists work in Jackson?
BLS counts about 1,770 in the May 2025 survey. That is 26% of the Mississippi total of 6,920. No other area in Mississippi has as many.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a medical administrative assistant in Jackson?
No: $2,530 a year less at the median. The medians are $34,350 and $36,880.
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.