Virtual receptionist in Lansing-East Lansing, MI: cost vs in-house
For this job Lansing-East Lansing sits right at the Michigan figure, with a median of $37,330 a year1. That is about level with the Michigan statewide median of $37,470, and 1.8% below the US median of $38,010. Among US areas it comes in at #182 of 521. BLS counts about 1,070 people in this job here, 4% of the Michigan total.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Lansing-East Lansing, MI. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Lansing-East Lansing against Michigan and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $29,250 | $37,330 | $49,170 | |
| Michigan | $29,480 | $37,470 | $48,280 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
The middle half of virtual receptionists in Lansing-East Lansing earns $31,880–$43,380. The top tenth earns $49,170 or more, 1.7 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 1.7 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $11,500 wide, wider than in Michigan as a whole ($8,310) and the US ($11,170), so what a virtual receptionist earns in Lansing-East Lansing depends more on the employer.
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 | $29,250 | $2,438 | $14.06 | $37,742 |
| 25th percentile | $31,880 | $2,657 | $15.33 | $41,135 |
| Median | $37,330 | $3,111 | $17.95 | $48,168 |
| 75th percentile | $43,380 | $3,615 | $20.86 | $55,974 |
| 90th percentile | $49,170 | $4,098 | $23.64 | $63,445 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $6,050 a year in pay and about $7,806 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $5,450 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 Lansing-East Lansing, and the Michigan statewide median of $37,470 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Lansing-East Lansing
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 $10,838 to the $37,330 median and brings it to $48,168 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 Lansing-East Lansing
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 17 roles we track in Lansing-East Lansing; project coordinators have the highest, at $97,050.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +20.8% | 60 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +18.5% | 3,790 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +13.4% | 160 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +12.2% | 1,140 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 1,070 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #8 of the 17 roles we track in Lansing-East Lansing (-1.8%), between customer support specialists (-1.2%) and e-commerce order specialists (-2.3%). The typical role here is at -2.3%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Virtual receptionists hold 5.0% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Lansing-East Lansing, 6.2% across Michigan and 5.7% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Michigan
Across the 19 areas of Michigan with data for this job, the median runs from $33,860 in Bay City to $39,190 in Ann Arbor, a gap of $5,330 a year. Of the 3 areas in Michigan with more virtual receptionists than Lansing-East Lansing, 1 pays less: Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI ($37,170).
| Area | Median | vs Lansing-East Lansing | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren, MI | +2.4% | 11,100 | |
| Battle Creek, MI | +0.4% | 280 | |
| Northern Michigan (Nonmetro) | +0.3% | 870 | |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | this area | 1,070 | |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI | -0.4% | 3,130 | |
| Midland, MI | -1.0% | 240 | |
| Traverse City, MI | -1.2% | 540 |
Lansing-East Lansing against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Lansing-East Lansing is #145 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Michigan, Corvallis and Elmira pay just above Lansing-East Lansing and Midland and Pueblo just below. All four are within $60 a year of the median in Lansing-East Lansing. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Lansing-East Lansing | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | +16.6% | 1,080 | jobs | |
| Olympia-Lacey, WA | +14.9% | 1,070 | jobs | |
| Elmira, NY | +0.1% | 200 | pay | |
| Corvallis, OR | +0.1% | 280 | pay | |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | this area | 1,070 | ||
| Midland, TX | -0.1% | 590 | pay | |
| Pueblo, CO | -0.2% | 260 | pay | |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | -23.1% | 1,070 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Lansing-East Lansing, MI?
About $48,168 a year at the median, or $4,014 a month: $37,330 in pay plus about $10,838 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do virtual receptionists earn in Lansing-East Lansing?
The median was $37,330 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $29,250, the 90th $49,170, and the middle half earned $31,880 to $43,380.
Is Lansing-East Lansing cheaper than the rest of Michigan for virtual receptionists?
About the same: a median of $37,330 against $37,470 statewide. The next area up in Michigan is the Northern Michigan nonmetro area at $37,440, the next down Grand Rapids-Wyoming at $37,170.
How many virtual receptionists work in Lansing-East Lansing?
BLS counts about 1,070 in the May 2025 survey. That is 4% of the Michigan total of 25,230. 3 areas in Michigan have more; the closest in size is Ann Arbor, with about 1,500.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a medical administrative assistant in Lansing-East Lansing?
No: $4,550 a year less at the median. The medians are $37,330 and $41,880.
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.