Virtual receptionist in Lancaster, PA: cost vs in-house
Lancaster pays virtual receptionists close to the Pennsylvania norm. The median is $36,770 a year1, about level with the Pennsylvania statewide median of $36,810 and 3.3% below the US median of $38,010. Nationally it ranks #216 of 521 areas. BLS counts about 1,730 people in this job here, 5% of the Pennsylvania total.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Lancaster, PA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Lancaster against Pennsylvania and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster, PA | $25,830 | $36,770 | $47,130 | |
| Pennsylvania | $24,820 | $36,810 | $48,310 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
The middle half of virtual receptionists in Lancaster earns $31,600–$42,600. The top tenth earns $47,130 or more, 1.8 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 $11,000 wide, against $12,230 across Pennsylvania and $11,170 nationally: employers in Lancaster 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 | $25,830 | $2,152 | $12.42 | $33,329 |
| 25th percentile | $31,600 | $2,633 | $15.19 | $40,774 |
| Median | $36,770 | $3,064 | $17.68 | $47,445 |
| 75th percentile | $42,600 | $3,550 | $20.48 | $54,968 |
| 90th percentile | $47,130 | $3,928 | $22.66 | $60,813 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $5,170 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $5,830, or about $7,523 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 Lancaster, and the Pennsylvania statewide median of $36,810 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Lancaster
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 $10,675 to the $36,770 median and brings it to $47,445 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 Lancaster
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 17 roles we track in Lancaster; project coordinators have the highest, at $95,820.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Assistant | +25.8% | 2,960 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +23.6% | 980 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +20.5% | 3,440 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +5.1% | 140 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 1,730 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #6 of the 17 roles we track in Lancaster (-3.3%), between administrative assistants (-2.7%) and bookkeepers (-4.9%). The typical role here is at -5.9%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Virtual receptionists hold 8.0% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Lancaster, 6.6% across Pennsylvania and 5.7% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Pennsylvania
Across the 20 areas of Pennsylvania with data for this job, the median runs from $32,210 in Erie to $38,030 in Philadelphia-Camden, a gap of $5,820 a year. Of the 4 areas in Pennsylvania with more virtual receptionists than Lancaster, 1 pays less: Pittsburgh, PA ($36,300).
| Area | Median | vs Lancaster | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ | +3.4% | 22,210 | |
| Allentown-Bethlehem, PA-NJ | +2.1% | 2,610 | |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | +0.4% | 1,970 | |
| Lancaster, PA | this area | 1,730 | |
| Chambersburg, PA | -0.5% | 400 | |
| York-Hanover, PA | -1.0% | 1,160 | |
| Reading, PA | -1.0% | 1,160 |
Lancaster against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Lancaster is #90 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 Pennsylvania, Utica-Rome and Ogden pay just above Lancaster and Provo-Orem and Jacksonville just below. All four are within $40 a year of the median in Lancaster. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Lancaster | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland-South Portland, ME | +21.8% | 1,730 | jobs | |
| Reno, NV | +4.1% | 1,700 | jobs | |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | +1.7% | 1,700 | jobs | |
| Ogden, UT | +0.1% | 2,050 | pay | |
| Utica-Rome, NY | +0.1% | 710 | pay | |
| Lancaster, PA | this area | 1,730 | ||
| Provo-Orem, UT | +0.0% | 2,650 | pay | |
| Jacksonville, FL | -0.0% | 4,380 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Lancaster, PA?
About $47,445 a year at the median, or $3,954 a month: $36,770 in pay plus about $10,675 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for virtual receptionists in Lancaster?
The median was $36,770 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $25,830, the 90th $47,130, and the middle half earned $31,600 to $42,600.
Is Lancaster cheaper than the rest of Pennsylvania for virtual receptionists?
About the same: a median of $36,770 against $36,810 statewide. The next area up in Pennsylvania is Harrisburg-Carlisle at $36,920, the next down Chambersburg at $36,590.
How many virtual receptionists work in Lancaster?
BLS counts about 1,730 in the May 2025 survey. That is 5% of the Pennsylvania total of 37,830. 4 areas in Pennsylvania have more; the closest in size is Harrisburg-Carlisle, with about 1,970.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a data entry specialist in Lancaster?
No: $1,890 a year less at the median. The medians are $36,770 and $38,660.
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.