Cost of hiring a virtual receptionist in Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA
The median virtual receptionist in Los Angeles-Long Beach earned $43,280 a year in May 2025[1]. That is 13.9% above the US median of $38,010, even though it is 1.9% below the California statewide median of $44,100. Only 36 of 521 US areas pay more for this job. It is the largest market for the job in California: about 35,000 people, 42% of the California total.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Los Angeles-Long Beach against California and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA | $37,120 | $43,280 | $52,600 | |
| California | $36,410 | $44,100 | $58,800 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
The middle half of virtual receptionists in Los Angeles-Long Beach earns $39,410–$47,340. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $52,600, only 1.4 times the bottom tenth, against 1.7 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read.
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 | $37,120 | $3,093 | $17.85 | $53,029 |
| 25th percentile | $39,410 | $3,284 | $18.95 | $56,300 |
| Median | $43,280 | $3,607 | $20.81 | $61,829 |
| 75th percentile | $47,340 | $3,945 | $22.76 | $67,629 |
| 90th percentile | $52,600 | $4,383 | $25.29 | $75,143 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $4,060 a year in pay and about $5,800 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $3,870 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.
What a hire really costs in Los Angeles-Long Beach
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], which adds about $18,549 to the $43,280 median and brings it to $61,829 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 fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Other roles in Los Angeles-Long Beach
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 17 roles we track in Los Angeles-Long Beach; project coordinators have the highest, at $108,310.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +150.3% | 38,540 | |
| Accountant | +118.0% | 70,640 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +91.8% | 39,390 | |
| Executive Assistant | +91.4% | 20,850 | |
| Recruiter | +85.4% | 36,850 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +83.6% | 50,470 | |
| Office Manager | +79.1% | 54,340 | |
| Paralegal | +79.1% | 22,240 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +50.3% | 6,600 | |
| Bookkeeper | +35.4% | 53,910 | |
| HR Assistant | +33.1% | 3,890 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +23.7% | 58,800 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +18.8% | 40,380 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +12.8% | 66,590 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +8.7% | 5,900 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +7.6% | 5,740 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 35,000 |
Other areas in California
Across the 28 areas of California with data for this job, the median runs from $38,890 in Merced to $49,450 in San Francisco-Oakland, a gap of $10,560 a year.
| Area | Median | vs Los Angeles-Long Beach | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Coast Region of California (Nonmetro) | +1.0% | 420 | |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks, CA | +0.8% | 1,510 | |
| Salinas, CA | +0.0% | 620 | |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA | this area | 35,000 | |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | -1.3% | 920 | |
| Yuba City, CA | -3.2% | 200 | |
| Riverside-San Bernardino, CA | -3.4% | 6,880 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA?
About $61,829 a year at the median, or $5,152 a month: $43,280 in pay plus benefits and payroll taxes at the 30% share of total compensation in US private industry (June 2026). Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do virtual receptionists earn in Los Angeles-Long Beach?
The median was $43,280 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $37,120, the 90th $52,600, and the middle half earned $39,410 to $47,340.
Is Los Angeles-Long Beach cheaper than the rest of California for virtual receptionists?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $43,280 against $44,100 statewide. San Francisco-Oakland pays the most ($49,450) and Merced the least ($38,890).
How many virtual receptionists work in Los Angeles-Long Beach?
BLS counts about 35,000 in the May 2025 survey. That is 42% of the California total of 82,470.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than an e-commerce order specialist in Los Angeles-Long Beach?
No: $3,310 a year less at the median. The medians are $43,280 and $46,590.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-4171: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes434171.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-05.