Virtual receptionist in the Kansas nonmetro area: cost vs in-house
Hiring a virtual receptionist costs less in the Kansas nonmetro area than in Kansas or the country as a whole. The median is $34,820 a year1: 3.4% below the Kansas statewide median of $36,050 and 8.4% below the US median of $38,010. Nationally it ranks #352 of 521 areas. About 1,700 virtual receptionists work here, 23% of the Kansas total.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Kansas nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the Kansas nonmetro area against Kansas and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas (Nonmetro) | $27,390 | $34,820 | $43,670 | |
| Kansas | $27,390 | $36,050 | $45,690 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
The middle half of virtual receptionists in the Kansas nonmetro area earns $30,690–$38,050. The top tenth earns $43,670 or more, 1.6 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 1.7 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $7,360 wide, against $8,310 across Kansas and $11,170 nationally: employers in the Kansas nonmetro area 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 | $27,390 | $2,282 | $13.17 | $35,342 |
| 25th percentile | $30,690 | $2,558 | $14.75 | $39,600 |
| Median | $34,820 | $2,902 | $16.74 | $44,929 |
| 75th percentile | $38,050 | $3,171 | $18.29 | $49,097 |
| 90th percentile | $43,670 | $3,639 | $21.00 | $56,348 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $3,230 a year in pay and about $4,168 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $4,130 in pay. 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 the Kansas nonmetro area, and the Kansas statewide median of $36,050 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in the Kansas nonmetro area
At the $34,820 median, a local hire costs about $44,929 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $10,109 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 the Kansas nonmetro area
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 17 roles we track in the Kansas nonmetro area; project coordinators have the highest, at $97,010.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Entry Specialist | +16.3% | 220 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +10.0% | 9,830 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +9.6% | 1,430 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +5.7% | 4,890 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 1,700 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #5 of the 17 roles we track in the Kansas nonmetro area (-8.4%), between payroll specialists (-8.1%) and accountants (-10.9%). The typical role here is at -13.1%, so, measured against the US, virtual receptionists cost more in the Kansas nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Virtual receptionists hold 4.9% of the jobs in these 17 roles in the Kansas nonmetro area, 4.6% across Kansas and 5.7% nationally. The job is a smaller part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Kansas
Across the 5 areas of Kansas with data for this job, the median runs from $32,130 in Manhattan to $35,780 in Topeka, a gap of $3,650 a year. The one area in Kansas with more virtual receptionists, Wichita, KS ($35,540), also pays more.
| Area | Median | vs the Kansas nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka, KS | +2.8% | 480 | |
| Wichita, KS | +2.1% | 1,900 | |
| Lawrence, KS | +1.7% | 260 | |
| Kansas (Nonmetro) | this area | 1,700 | |
| Manhattan, KS | -7.7% | 390 |
the Kansas nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the Kansas nonmetro area is #94 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 Kansas, Sandusky and Rome pay just above the Kansas nonmetro area and Idaho Falls and Cape Girardeau just below. All four are within $70 a year of the median in the Kansas nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the Kansas nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reno, NV | +10.0% | 1,700 | jobs | |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | +7.4% | 1,700 | jobs | |
| Lancaster, PA | +5.6% | 1,730 | jobs | |
| Rome, GA | +0.0% | 270 | pay | |
| Sandusky, OH | +0.0% | 280 | pay | |
| Kansas (Nonmetro) | this area | 1,700 | ||
| Idaho Falls, ID | -0.1% | 720 | pay | |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | -0.2% | 330 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Kansas (Nonmetro)?
About $44,929 a year at the median, or $3,744 a month: $34,820 in pay plus about $10,109 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do virtual receptionists earn in the Kansas nonmetro area?
The median was $34,820 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $27,390, the 90th $43,670, and the middle half earned $30,690 to $38,050.
Is the Kansas nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of Kansas for virtual receptionists?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $34,820 against $36,050 statewide. The next area up in Kansas is Lawrence at $35,410, the next down Manhattan at $32,130.
How many virtual receptionists work in the Kansas nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 1,700 in the May 2025 survey. That is 23% of the Kansas total of 7,290. Only Wichita has more in Kansas.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a customer support specialist in the Kansas nonmetro area?
No: $2,000 a year less at the median. The medians are $34,820 and $36,820.
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.