Cost of hiring a virtual receptionist in New York-Newark, NY-NJ
No other area in New York pays virtual receptionists more than New York-Newark: the median is $44,690 a year[1]. That is 3.7% above the New York statewide median of $43,080, and 17.6% above the US median of $38,010. Only 17 of 521 US areas pay more for this job. It is the largest market for the job in New York: about 74,190 people.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in New York-Newark against New York and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark, NY-NJ | $35,060 | $44,690 | $59,720 | |
| New York | $34,740 | $43,080 | $59,140 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
The middle half of virtual receptionists in New York-Newark earns $37,860–$49,320. The top tenth earns $59,720 or more, 1.7 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 1.7 times.
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 | $35,060 | $2,922 | $16.86 | $50,086 |
| 25th percentile | $37,860 | $3,155 | $18.20 | $54,086 |
| Median | $44,690 | $3,724 | $21.49 | $63,843 |
| 75th percentile | $49,320 | $4,110 | $23.71 | $70,457 |
| 90th percentile | $59,720 | $4,977 | $28.71 | $85,314 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $4,630 a year in pay and about $6,614 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $6,830 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 New York-Newark
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], which adds about $19,153 to the $44,690 median and brings it to $63,843 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 New York-Newark
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 17 roles we track in New York-Newark; project coordinators have the highest, at $126,660.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +183.4% | 68,910 | |
| Accountant | +136.4% | 111,930 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +124.9% | 79,290 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +109.8% | 91,680 | |
| Recruiter | +100.9% | 52,370 | |
| Executive Assistant | +87.6% | 76,950 | |
| Office Manager | +80.7% | 95,180 | |
| Paralegal | +68.6% | 33,850 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +42.1% | 7,770 | |
| Bookkeeper | +35.7% | 77,010 | |
| HR Assistant | +27.2% | 7,640 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +15.1% | 122,680 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +11.0% | 125,570 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +10.2% | 52,640 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +7.0% | 4,120 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +1.5% | 10,110 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 74,190 |
Other areas in New York
Across the 16 areas of New York with data for this job, the median runs from $36,160 in Watertown-Fort Drum to $44,690 in New York-Newark, a gap of $8,530 a year.
| Area | Median | vs New York-Newark | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark, NY-NJ | this area | 74,190 | |
| Syracuse, NY | -10.7% | 2,340 | |
| Albany-Schenectady, NY | -11.0% | 2,650 | |
| Capital/Northern New York (Nonmetro) | -11.5% | 760 | |
| Kingston, NY | -11.5% | 440 | |
| Glens Falls, NY | -11.7% | 350 | |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie, NY | -11.8% | 1,770 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in New York-Newark, NY-NJ?
About $63,843 a year at the median, or $5,320 a month: $44,690 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 New York-Newark?
The median was $44,690 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $35,060, the 90th $59,720, and the middle half earned $37,860 to $49,320.
Is New York-Newark the most expensive area in New York for virtual receptionists?
Yes. Its median of $44,690 is the highest of 16 areas in New York. Syracuse comes next at $39,900.
How many virtual receptionists work in New York-Newark?
BLS counts about 74,190 in the May 2025 survey.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a data entry specialist in New York-Newark?
No: $660 a year less at the median. The medians are $44,690 and $45,350.
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.