Virtual receptionist in Kansas City, MO-KS: cost vs in-house
Kansas City is the most expensive place in Missouri to hire a virtual receptionist. The median is $37,210 a year1, 4.1% above the Missouri statewide median of $35,740 and 2.1% below the US median of $38,010. Nationally it ranks #188 of 521 areas. BLS counts about 6,750 people in this job here.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Kansas City, MO-KS. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Kansas City against Missouri and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $29,450 | $37,210 | $47,960 | |
| Missouri | $29,230 | $35,740 | $46,660 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
Virtual receptionists at the 90th percentile earn $47,960, 1.6 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 1.7. The middle half of virtual receptionists in Kansas City earns $34,160–$43,610. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $9,450 wide, between the figure for Missouri ($7,990) 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 | $29,450 | $2,454 | $14.16 | $38,000 |
| 25th percentile | $34,160 | $2,847 | $16.42 | $44,077 |
| Median | $37,210 | $3,101 | $17.89 | $48,013 |
| 75th percentile | $43,610 | $3,634 | $20.97 | $56,271 |
| 90th percentile | $47,960 | $3,997 | $23.06 | $61,884 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $6,400 over the median, the 25th only $3,050 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $8,258 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 median and the 75th percentile in Kansas City, and the Missouri statewide median of $35,740 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Kansas City
At the $37,210 median, a local hire costs about $48,013 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $10,803 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 Kansas City
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 17 roles we track in Kansas City; project coordinators have the highest, at $101,050.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Assistant | +25.8% | 15,930 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +21.4% | 4,680 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +19.2% | 22,240 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +4.6% | 920 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 6,750 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #10 of the 17 roles we track in Kansas City (-2.1%), between medical administrative assistants (-1.7%) and payroll specialists (-2.9%). The typical role here is at -1.7%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Virtual receptionists hold 5.7% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Kansas City, 6.8% across Missouri and 5.7% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Missouri
Across the 12 areas of Missouri with data for this job, the median runs from $33,280 in the Southeast Missouri nonmetro area to $37,210 in Kansas City, a gap of $3,930 a year. The one area in Missouri with more virtual receptionists, St. Louis, MO-IL ($36,470), pays less: a bigger pool at a lower median.
| Area | Median | vs Kansas City | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO-KS | this area | 6,750 | |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | -2.0% | 8,700 | |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | -5.4% | 320 | |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | -6.6% | 330 | |
| Springfield, MO | -7.0% | 1,470 | |
| Jefferson City, MO | -7.3% | 410 | |
| Joplin, MO-KS | -7.7% | 510 |
Kansas City against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Kansas City is #26 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 Missouri, Harrisonburg and Charleston-North Charleston pay just above Kansas City and St. Cloud and Grand Rapids-Wyoming just below. All four are within $40 a year of the median in Kansas City. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Kansas City | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego-Chula Vista, CA | +19.3% | 6,690 | jobs | |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | +15.3% | 7,200 | jobs | |
| Riverside-San Bernardino, CA | +12.3% | 6,880 | jobs | |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | +0.0% | 2,160 | pay | |
| Harrisonburg, VA | +0.0% | 390 | pay | |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | this area | 6,750 | ||
| St. Cloud, MN | +0.0% | 380 | pay | |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI | -0.1% | 3,130 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Kansas City, MO-KS?
About $48,013 a year at the median, or $4,001 a month: $37,210 in pay plus about $10,803 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do virtual receptionists earn in Kansas City?
The median was $37,210 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $29,450, the 90th $47,960, and the middle half earned $34,160 to $43,610.
Is Kansas City the most expensive area in Missouri for virtual receptionists?
Yes. Its median of $37,210 is the highest of 12 areas in Missouri. St. Louis comes next at $36,470.
How many virtual receptionists work in Kansas City?
BLS counts about 6,750 in the May 2025 survey. Only St. Louis has more in Missouri.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a data entry specialist in Kansas City?
No: $1,700 a year less at the median. The medians are $37,210 and $38,910.
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.