Virtual receptionist in Odessa, TX: cost vs in-house
For this job Odessa sits between the state and national figures, with a median of $36,200 a year1. That is 2.8% above the Texas statewide median of $35,210, and 4.8% below the US median of $38,010. Among US areas it comes in at #261 of 521. BLS counts about 380 people in this job here.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Odessa, TX. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Odessa against Texas and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Odessa, TX | $26,240 | $36,200 | $45,980 | |
| Texas | $24,700 | $35,210 | $47,380 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
The middle half of virtual receptionists in Odessa earns $30,320–$39,530. The top tenth earns $45,980 or more, 1.8 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 1.7 times. The mean ($35,880) 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 $9,210 wide, against $11,050 across Texas and $11,170 nationally: employers in Odessa 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 | $26,240 | $2,187 | $12.62 | $33,858 |
| 25th percentile | $30,320 | $2,527 | $14.58 | $39,123 |
| Median | $36,200 | $3,017 | $17.40 | $46,710 |
| 75th percentile | $39,530 | $3,294 | $19.00 | $51,006 |
| 90th percentile | $45,980 | $3,832 | $22.11 | $59,329 |
Local pay is bunched just above the median: the 75th percentile is only $3,330 over it, while the 25th sits $5,880 below. Moving an offer from the median to the 75th percentile costs about $4,297 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 median and the 75th percentile in Odessa, and the Texas statewide median of $35,210 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Odessa
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 $10,510 to the $36,200 median and brings it to $46,710 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 Odessa
Of the 16 roles we track in Odessa, this one ranks #15 by median pay, between customer support specialists ($39,270) and data entry specialists ($35,270). Project Coordinator is the highest at $98,590.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Assistant | +24.5% | 920 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +11.1% | 280 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +8.5% | 1,150 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 380 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -2.6% | 50 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #7 of the 16 roles we track in Odessa (-4.8%), between accountants (-4.1%) and paralegals (-4.8%). The typical role here is at -5.0%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Virtual receptionists hold 5.5% of the jobs in these 16 roles in Odessa, 5.0% across Texas and 5.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Texas
Across the 32 areas of Texas with data for this job, the median runs from $28,530 in McAllen-Edinburg to $37,280 in Midland, a gap of $8,750 a year. Of the 25 areas in Texas with more virtual receptionists than Odessa, 21 pay less, the largest of them Houston-Pasadena, TX ($35,350), El Paso, TX ($29,460) and McAllen-Edinburg, TX ($28,530).
| Area | Median | vs Odessa | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth, TX | +2.4% | 21,380 | |
| Austin-Round Rock, TX | +1.4% | 7,480 | |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | +1.0% | 7,950 | |
| Odessa, TX | this area | 380 | |
| Houston-Pasadena, TX | -2.3% | 17,140 | |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | -4.7% | 890 | |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | -5.3% | 320 |
Odessa against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Odessa is #371 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Texas, Salisbury and Flint pay just above Odessa and Staunton-Stuarts Draft and Davenport-Moline just below. All four are within $30 a year of the median in Odessa. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Odessa | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Cloud, MN | +2.8% | 380 | jobs | |
| Flint, MI | +0.1% | 870 | pay | |
| Salisbury, MD | +0.0% | 330 | pay | |
| Odessa, TX | this area | 380 | ||
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | +0.0% | 300 | pay | |
| Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | -0.1% | 790 | pay | |
| Winchester, VA-WV | -0.3% | 380 | jobs | |
| Florence, SC | -8.5% | 380 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Odessa, TX?
About $46,710 a year at the median, or $3,892 a month: $36,200 in pay plus about $10,510 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do virtual receptionists earn in Odessa?
The median was $36,200 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $26,240, the 90th $45,980, and the middle half earned $30,320 to $39,530.
Is Odessa cheaper than the rest of Texas for virtual receptionists?
No, it costs more: a median of $36,200 against $35,210 statewide. The next area up in Texas is San Antonio-New Braunfels at $36,550, the next down Houston-Pasadena at $35,350.
How many virtual receptionists work in Odessa?
BLS counts about 380 in the May 2025 survey. 25 areas in Texas have more; the closest in size is Wichita Falls, with about 420.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a data entry specialist in Odessa?
Yes: $930 a year more at the median. The medians are $36,200 and $35,270.
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.