Virtual receptionist in Monroe, LA: cost vs in-house
Monroe is a lower-cost market for virtual receptionists: the median of $31,250 a year1 is 4.6% below the Louisiana statewide median of $32,750, and 17.8% below the US median of $38,010. Only 50 of 521 US areas pay less for this job. BLS counts about 600 people in this job here, 5% of the Louisiana total.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Monroe, LA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Monroe against Louisiana and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe, LA | $22,600 | $31,250 | $40,820 | |
| Louisiana | $21,420 | $32,750 | $44,410 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
The middle half of virtual receptionists in Monroe earns $27,590–$36,000. The top tenth earns $40,820 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 $8,410 wide, against $9,160 across Louisiana and $11,170 nationally: employers in Monroe 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 | $22,600 | $1,883 | $10.87 | $29,161 |
| 25th percentile | $27,590 | $2,299 | $13.26 | $35,600 |
| Median | $31,250 | $2,604 | $15.02 | $40,323 |
| 75th percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17.31 | $46,452 |
| 90th percentile | $40,820 | $3,402 | $19.62 | $52,671 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $3,660 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $4,750, or about $6,129 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 75th and 90th percentiles in Monroe, and the Louisiana statewide median of $32,750 falls between the median and the 75th percentile. An offer at the national rate would beat what three quarters of local virtual receptionists earn.
What a hire really costs in Monroe
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 $9,073 to the $31,250 median and brings it to $40,323 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 Monroe
Of the 16 roles we track in Monroe, this one ranks #15 by median pay, between customer support specialists ($34,520) and e-commerce order specialists ($29,070). Project Coordinator is the highest at $78,990.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +15.0% | 110 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +13.9% | 50 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +10.5% | 1,110 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 600 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -7.0% | 40 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #5 of the 16 roles we track in Monroe (-17.8%), between bookkeepers (-17.2%) and administrative assistants (-21.5%). The typical role here is at -22.8%, so, measured against the US, virtual receptionists cost more in Monroe than the area's general pay level would suggest. Virtual receptionists hold 8.3% of the jobs in these 16 roles in Monroe, 7.5% across Louisiana and 5.8% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Louisiana
Across the 13 areas of Louisiana with data for this job, the median runs from $29,520 in the Central Louisiana nonmetro area to $35,750 in New Orleans-Metairie, a gap of $6,230 a year. Of the 5 areas in Louisiana with more virtual receptionists than Monroe, 1 pays less: Lafayette, LA ($30,170).
| Area | Median | vs Monroe | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slidell-Mandeville, LA | +1.6% | 1,000 | |
| Lake Charles, LA | +1.2% | 570 | |
| Alexandria, LA | +0.8% | 400 | |
| Monroe, LA | this area | 600 | |
| Houma-Bayou Cane, LA | -0.6% | 590 | |
| Northeast Louisiana (Nonmetro) | -2.3% | 410 | |
| Lafayette, LA | -3.5% | 1,180 |
Monroe against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Monroe is #275 of 521 US areas for this job. It is a mid-sized market, and its pay is in the bottom quarter of US areas. Outside Louisiana, Owensboro and Lubbock pay just above Monroe and Columbus and Morristown just below. All four are within $300 a year of the median in Monroe. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Monroe | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Binghamton, NY | +18.4% | 600 | jobs | |
| Morgantown, WV | +6.1% | 600 | jobs | |
| Longview, TX | +3.5% | 610 | jobs | |
| Lubbock, TX | +1.0% | 1,130 | pay | |
| Owensboro, KY | +0.2% | 310 | pay | |
| Monroe, LA | this area | 600 | ||
| Columbus, GA-AL | -0.2% | 910 | pay | |
| Morristown, TN | -0.2% | 150 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Monroe, LA?
About $40,323 a year at the median, or $3,360 a month: $31,250 in pay plus about $9,073 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do virtual receptionists earn in Monroe?
Pay here is lower than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $31,250 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $22,600, the 90th $40,820, and the middle half earned $27,590 to $36,000.
Is Monroe cheaper than the rest of Louisiana for virtual receptionists?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $31,250 against $32,750 statewide. The next area up in Louisiana is Alexandria at $31,500, the next down Houma-Bayou Cane at $31,060.
How many virtual receptionists work in Monroe?
BLS counts about 600 in the May 2025 survey. That is 5% of the Louisiana total of 12,820. 5 areas in Louisiana have more; the closest in size is Slidell-Mandeville, with about 1,000.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than an e-commerce order specialist in Monroe?
Yes: $2,180 a year more at the median. The medians are $31,250 and $29,070.
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.