Virtual receptionist in Kenosha, WI: cost vs in-house
Kenosha is a higher-paying market for virtual receptionists: the median of $42,900 a year1 is 4.3% above the Wisconsin statewide median of $41,150, and 12.9% above the US median of $38,010. Only 40 of 521 US areas pay more for this job. BLS counts about 750 people in this job here, 3% of the Wisconsin total.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Kenosha, WI. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Kenosha against Wisconsin and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenosha, WI | $30,210 | $42,900 | $48,370 | |
| Wisconsin | $29,530 | $41,150 | $50,030 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
Virtual receptionists at the 90th percentile earn $48,370, 1.6 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 1.7. The middle half of virtual receptionists in Kenosha earns $36,680–$47,340. The mean ($41,250) is no higher than the median, so few high earners skew the figures here. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $10,660 wide, between the figure for Wisconsin ($10,570) 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 | $30,210 | $2,518 | $14.52 | $38,981 |
| 25th percentile | $36,680 | $3,057 | $17.63 | $47,329 |
| Median | $42,900 | $3,575 | $20.62 | $55,355 |
| 75th percentile | $47,340 | $3,945 | $22.76 | $61,084 |
| 90th percentile | $48,370 | $4,031 | $23.25 | $62,413 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $4,440 a year in pay and about $5,729 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $6,220 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 25th percentile and the median in Kenosha, and the Wisconsin statewide median of $41,150 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Kenosha
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 $12,455 to the $42,900 median and brings it to $55,355 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 Kenosha
Of the 16 roles we track in Kenosha, this one ranks #15 by median pay, between medical administrative assistants ($47,610) and data entry specialists ($35,430). Project Coordinator is the highest at $93,850.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Assistant | +13.8% | 650 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +12.7% | 1,000 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +11.0% | 140 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 750 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -17.4% | 40 |
Measured against the US median, this job is the best paid of the 16 roles we track in Kenosha (+12.9%); recruiters come last (-15.6%). The typical role here is at -3.8%, so, measured against the US, virtual receptionists cost more in Kenosha than the area's general pay level would suggest. Virtual receptionists hold 12.1% of the jobs in these 16 roles in Kenosha, 9.1% across Wisconsin and 5.8% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Wisconsin
Across the 17 areas of Wisconsin with data for this job, the median runs from $38,630 in Janesville-Beloit to $45,430 in Sheboygan, a gap of $6,800 a year. Of the 11 areas in Wisconsin with more virtual receptionists than Kenosha, 9 pay less, the largest of them the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area ($40,260), the South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area ($38,890) and Green Bay, WI ($40,760).
| Area | Median | vs Kenosha | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, WI | +1.6% | 3,170 | |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | +1.2% | 750 | |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | +0.0% | 7,200 | |
| Kenosha, WI | this area | 750 | |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | -2.8% | 780 | |
| Eau Claire, WI | -3.7% | 990 | |
| Green Bay, WI | -5.0% | 1,330 |
Kenosha against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Kenosha is #228 of 521 US areas for this job. It is a mid-sized market, and its pay is in the top quarter of US areas. Outside Wisconsin, Olympia-Lacey and Los Angeles-Long Beach pay just above Kenosha and New Haven and Bend just below. All four are within $380 a year of the median in Kenosha. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Kenosha | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA | +0.9% | 35,000 | pay | |
| Olympia-Lacey, WA | +0.0% | 1,070 | pay | |
| Kenosha, WI | this area | 750 | ||
| New Haven, CT | -0.0% | 2,680 | pay | |
| Bend, OR | -0.1% | 890 | pay | |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | -14.0% | 760 | jobs | |
| Asheville, NC | -16.1% | 750 | jobs | |
| Montgomery, AL | -28.3% | 750 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Kenosha, WI?
About $55,355 a year at the median, or $4,613 a month: $42,900 in pay plus about $12,455 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do virtual receptionists earn in Kenosha?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $42,900 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $30,210, the 90th $48,370, and the middle half earned $36,680 to $47,340.
Is Kenosha cheaper than the rest of Wisconsin for virtual receptionists?
No, it costs more: a median of $42,900 against $41,150 statewide. The next area up in Wisconsin is Milwaukee-Waukesha at $42,920, the next down Oshkosh-Neenah at $41,700.
How many virtual receptionists work in Kenosha?
BLS counts about 750 in the May 2025 survey. That is 3% of the Wisconsin total of 25,580. 11 areas in Wisconsin have more; the closest in size is Oshkosh-Neenah, with about 780.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a data entry specialist in Kenosha?
Yes: $7,470 a year more at the median. The medians are $42,900 and $35,430.
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.