Virtual receptionist in Longview-Kelso, WA: cost vs in-house
The median virtual receptionist in Longview-Kelso earned $40,790 a year in May 20251. That is 7.3% above the US median of $38,010, even though it is 8.8% below the Washington statewide median of $44,710. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#69 of 521). BLS counts about 300 people in this job here, 1% of the Washington total.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Longview-Kelso, WA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Longview-Kelso against Washington and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $35,670 | $40,790 | $54,660 | |
| Washington | $36,730 | $44,710 | $57,840 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
The middle half of virtual receptionists in Longview-Kelso earns $37,760–$46,600. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $54,660, only 1.5 times the bottom tenth, against 1.7 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $8,840 wide, against $10,130 across Washington and $11,170 nationally: employers in Longview-Kelso 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 | $35,670 | $2,972 | $17.15 | $46,026 |
| 25th percentile | $37,760 | $3,147 | $18.15 | $48,723 |
| Median | $40,790 | $3,399 | $19.61 | $52,632 |
| 75th percentile | $46,600 | $3,883 | $22.40 | $60,129 |
| 90th percentile | $54,660 | $4,555 | $26.28 | $70,529 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $5,810 over the median, the 25th only $3,030 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $7,497 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 25th percentile and the median in Longview-Kelso, and the Washington statewide median of $44,710 falls between the median and the 75th percentile.
What a hire really costs in Longview-Kelso
At the $40,790 median, a local hire costs about $52,632 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $11,842 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 Longview-Kelso
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 13 roles we track in Longview-Kelso; project coordinators have the highest, at $101,440.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +44.2% | 50 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +41.2% | 430 | |
| Bookkeeper | +38.8% | 490 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +21.3% | 380 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 300 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #8 of the 13 roles we track in Longview-Kelso (+7.3%), between customer support specialists (+10.5%) and sales development representatives (+3.3%). The typical role here is at +10.5%, so, measured against the US, virtual receptionists cost less in Longview-Kelso than the area's general pay level would suggest. Virtual receptionists hold 9.5% of the jobs in these 13 roles in Longview-Kelso, 8.1% across Washington and 6.0% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Washington
Across the 13 areas of Washington with data for this job, the median runs from $39,630 in Walla Walla to $45,820 in Seattle-Tacoma, a gap of $6,190 a year. All 11 areas in Washington with more virtual receptionists than Longview-Kelso also pay more, among them Seattle-Tacoma, WA ($45,820) and Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA ($41,800).
| Area | Median | vs Longview-Kelso | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Washington (Nonmetro) | +4.2% | 1,070 | |
| Eastern Washington (Nonmetro) | +3.2% | 710 | |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | +2.5% | 2,370 | |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | +1.5% | 440 | |
| Yakima, WA | +0.5% | 890 | |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | this area | 300 | |
| Walla Walla, WA | -2.8% | 170 |
Longview-Kelso against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Longview-Kelso is #424 of 521 US areas for this job. The market is small, but its pay is in the top quarter of US areas. Outside Washington, Carson City and Waterbury-Shelton pay just above Longview-Kelso and Springfield and Green Bay just below. All four are within $260 a year of the median in Longview-Kelso. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Longview-Kelso | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | +0.6% | 1,550 | pay | |
| Carson City, NV | +0.4% | 280 | pay | |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | this area | 300 | ||
| Springfield, MA | -0.0% | 1,240 | pay | |
| Green Bay, WI | -0.1% | 1,330 | pay | |
| Ithaca, NY | -3.4% | 300 | jobs | |
| Iowa City, IA | -5.0% | 300 | jobs | |
| Burlington, NC | -11.2% | 300 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Longview-Kelso, WA?
About $52,632 a year at the median, or $4,386 a month: $40,790 in pay plus about $11,842 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do virtual receptionists earn in Longview-Kelso?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $40,790 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $35,670, the 90th $54,660, and the middle half earned $37,760 to $46,600.
Is Longview-Kelso cheaper than the rest of Washington for virtual receptionists?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $40,790 against $44,710 statewide. The next area up in Washington is Yakima at $40,990, the next down Walla Walla at $39,630.
How many virtual receptionists work in Longview-Kelso?
BLS counts about 300 in the May 2025 survey. That is 1% of the Washington total of 26,500. 11 areas in Washington have more; the closest in size is Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, with about 440.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a customer support specialist in Longview-Kelso?
No: $8,670 a year less at the median. The medians are $40,790 and $49,460.
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.