Virtual receptionist in the Northeastern South Carolina nonmetro area: cost vs in-house
The Northeastern South Carolina nonmetro area is a lower-cost market for virtual receptionists: the median of $34,460 a year1 is 3.0% below the South Carolina statewide median of $35,510, and 9.3% below the US median of $38,010. Among US areas it comes in at #368 of 521. About 300 virtual receptionists work here, 3% of the South Carolina total.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Northeastern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the Northeastern South Carolina nonmetro area against South Carolina and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern South Carolina (Nonmetro) | $24,200 | $34,460 | $43,950 | |
| South Carolina | $22,710 | $35,510 | $46,750 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
The middle half of virtual receptionists in the Northeastern South Carolina nonmetro area earns $28,880–$37,140. The top tenth earns $43,950 or more, 1.8 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 1.7 times. The mean ($33,940) 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 $8,260 wide, against $11,210 across South Carolina and $11,170 nationally: employers in the Northeastern South Carolina 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 | $24,200 | $2,017 | $11.63 | $31,226 |
| 25th percentile | $28,880 | $2,407 | $13.88 | $37,265 |
| Median | $34,460 | $2,872 | $16.57 | $44,465 |
| 75th percentile | $37,140 | $3,095 | $17.86 | $47,923 |
| 90th percentile | $43,950 | $3,662 | $21.13 | $56,710 |
Local pay is bunched just above the median: the 75th percentile is only $2,680 over it, while the 25th sits $5,580 below. Moving an offer from the median to the 75th percentile costs about $3,458 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 South Carolina nonmetro area, and the South Carolina statewide median of $35,510 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 South Carolina 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 $10,005 to the $34,460 median and brings it to $44,465 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 South Carolina nonmetro area
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 16 roles we track in the Northeastern South Carolina nonmetro area; project coordinators have the highest, at $82,840.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Entry Specialist | +11.0% | 50 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +8.7% | 470 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +4.4% | 50 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +3.1% | 1,110 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 300 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #2 of the 16 roles we track in the Northeastern South Carolina nonmetro area (-9.3%), between data entry specialists (-7.5%) and bookkeepers (-11.7%). The typical role here is at -18.7%, so, measured against the US, virtual receptionists cost more in the Northeastern South Carolina nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Virtual receptionists hold 5.0% of the jobs in these 16 roles in the Northeastern South Carolina nonmetro area, 4.5% across South Carolina and 5.8% nationally. The job is a smaller part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in South Carolina
Across the 11 areas of South Carolina with data for this job, the median runs from $31,060 in Sumter to $37,220 in Charleston-North Charleston, a gap of $6,160 a year. Of the 8 areas in South Carolina with more virtual receptionists than the Northeastern South Carolina nonmetro area, 3 pay less: Myrtle Beach-Conway, SC ($34,130), the Northwestern South Carolina nonmetro area ($33,470) and Florence, SC ($33,130).
| Area | Median | vs the Northeastern South Carolina nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton, SC | +3.0% | 650 | |
| Greenville-Anderson, SC | +3.0% | 2,030 | |
| Spartanburg, SC | +1.3% | 690 | |
| Northeastern South Carolina (Nonmetro) | this area | 300 | |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway, SC | -1.0% | 890 | |
| Northwestern South Carolina (Nonmetro) | -2.9% | 440 | |
| Florence, SC | -3.9% | 380 |
the Northeastern South Carolina nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the Northeastern South Carolina nonmetro area is #428 of 521 US areas for this job. The market is small, and its pay sits near the middle of the US range. Outside South Carolina, Killeen-Temple and Jefferson City pay just above the Northeastern South Carolina nonmetro area and Homosassa Springs and Ocala just below. All four are within $80 a year of the median in the Northeastern South Carolina nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the Northeastern South Carolina nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ithaca, NY | +14.3% | 300 | jobs | |
| Iowa City, IA | +12.4% | 300 | jobs | |
| Burlington, NC | +5.1% | 300 | jobs | |
| Jefferson City, MO | +0.1% | 410 | pay | |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | +0.1% | 890 | pay | |
| Northeastern South Carolina (Nonmetro) | this area | 300 | ||
| Homosassa Springs, FL | -0.2% | 260 | pay | |
| Ocala, FL | -0.2% | 890 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Northeastern South Carolina (Nonmetro)?
About $44,465 a year at the median, or $3,705 a month: $34,460 in pay plus about $10,005 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do virtual receptionists earn in the Northeastern South Carolina nonmetro area?
The median was $34,460 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $24,200, the 90th $43,950, and the middle half earned $28,880 to $37,140.
Is the Northeastern South Carolina nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of South Carolina for virtual receptionists?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $34,460 against $35,510 statewide. The next area up in South Carolina is Spartanburg at $34,920, the next down Myrtle Beach-Conway at $34,130.
How many virtual receptionists work in the Northeastern South Carolina nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 300 in the May 2025 survey. That is 3% of the South Carolina total of 11,280. 8 areas in South Carolina have more; the closest in size is Florence, with about 380.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a customer support specialist in the Northeastern South Carolina nonmetro area?
No: $1,080 a year less at the median. The medians are $34,460 and $35,540.
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.