Virtual receptionist in the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area: cost vs in-house
The Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area is a lower-cost market for virtual receptionists: the median of $35,200 a year1 is 4.4% below the Pennsylvania statewide median of $36,810, and 7.4% below the US median of $38,010. Among US areas it comes in at #328 of 521. BLS counts about 860 people in this job here, 2% of the Pennsylvania total.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area against Pennsylvania and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | $25,590 | $35,200 | $45,180 | |
| Pennsylvania | $24,820 | $36,810 | $48,310 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
Virtual receptionists at the 90th percentile earn $45,180, 1.8 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 1.7. The middle half of virtual receptionists in the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area earns $29,220–$37,720. The mean ($34,580) is no higher than the median, so few high earners skew the figures here. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $8,500 wide, against $12,230 across Pennsylvania and $11,170 nationally: employers in the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area 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 | $25,590 | $2,132 | $12.30 | $33,019 |
| 25th percentile | $29,220 | $2,435 | $14.05 | $37,703 |
| Median | $35,200 | $2,933 | $16.92 | $45,419 |
| 75th percentile | $37,720 | $3,143 | $18.13 | $48,671 |
| 90th percentile | $45,180 | $3,765 | $21.72 | $58,297 |
Local pay is bunched just above the median: the 75th percentile is only $2,520 over it, while the 25th sits $5,980 below. Moving an offer from the median to the 75th percentile costs about $3,252 more a year with benefits. 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 the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area, and the Pennsylvania statewide median of $36,810 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 the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area
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 $10,219 to the $35,200 median and brings it to $45,419 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 the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 17 roles we track in the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area; project coordinators have the highest, at $96,830.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +17.6% | 460 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +15.6% | 50 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +9.0% | 1,500 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +7.8% | 50 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 860 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #4 of the 17 roles we track in the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area (-7.4%), between administrative assistants (-6.6%) and data entry specialists (-8.2%). The typical role here is at -14.3%, so, measured against the US, virtual receptionists cost more in the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Virtual receptionists hold 8.9% of the jobs in these 17 roles in the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area, 6.6% across Pennsylvania and 5.7% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Pennsylvania
Across the 20 areas of Pennsylvania with data for this job, the median runs from $32,210 in Erie to $38,030 in Philadelphia-Camden, a gap of $5,820 a year. Of the 11 areas in Pennsylvania with more virtual receptionists than the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area, 2 pay less: the Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area ($35,190) and Erie, PA ($32,210).
| Area | Median | vs the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, PA | +1.3% | 1,620 | |
| Gettysburg, PA | +0.2% | 180 | |
| Central Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | +0.1% | 1,060 | |
| Northeastern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | this area | 860 | |
| Northwestern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | -0.0% | 900 | |
| Southwestern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | -0.3% | 710 | |
| State College, PA | -1.0% | 470 |
the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area is #202 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Pennsylvania, Fort Wayne and Cincinnati pay just above the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area and St. Joseph and Ames just below. All four are within $50 a year of the median in the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach, FL | +4.4% | 850 | jobs | |
| Flint, MI | +2.9% | 870 | jobs | |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | +2.2% | 880 | jobs | |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY | +0.1% | 5,560 | pay | |
| Fort Wayne, IN | +0.1% | 1,310 | pay | |
| Northeastern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | this area | 860 | ||
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | -0.0% | 320 | pay | |
| Ames, IA | -0.1% | 170 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Northeastern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro)?
About $45,419 a year at the median, or $3,785 a month: $35,200 in pay plus about $10,219 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do virtual receptionists earn in the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area?
The median was $35,200 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $25,590, the 90th $45,180, and the middle half earned $29,220 to $37,720.
Is the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of Pennsylvania for virtual receptionists?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $35,200 against $36,810 statewide. The next area up in Pennsylvania is the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area at $35,240, the next down the Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area at $35,190.
How many virtual receptionists work in the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 860 in the May 2025 survey. That is 2% of the Pennsylvania total of 37,830. 11 areas in Pennsylvania have more; the closest in size is Erie, with about 890.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a data entry specialist in the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area?
No: $2,760 a year less at the median. The medians are $35,200 and $37,960.
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.