Virtual receptionist in Pocatello, ID: cost vs in-house
Pocatello is a lower-cost market for virtual receptionists: the median of $34,870 a year1 is 5.3% below the Idaho statewide median of $36,810, and 8.3% below the US median of $38,010. Among US areas it comes in at #345 of 521. The market is small, about 280 people, 5% of the Idaho total, so expect few local candidates at a time.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Pocatello, ID. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Pocatello against Idaho and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pocatello, ID | $27,400 | $34,870 | $43,790 | |
| Idaho | $28,500 | $36,810 | $47,100 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
Virtual receptionists at the 90th percentile earn $43,790, 1.6 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 1.7. The middle half of virtual receptionists in Pocatello earns $30,650–$37,510. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $6,860 wide, against $10,310 across Idaho and $11,170 nationally: employers in Pocatello 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 | $27,400 | $2,283 | $13.17 | $35,355 |
| 25th percentile | $30,650 | $2,554 | $14.74 | $39,548 |
| Median | $34,870 | $2,906 | $16.76 | $44,994 |
| 75th percentile | $37,510 | $3,126 | $18.03 | $48,400 |
| 90th percentile | $43,790 | $3,649 | $21.05 | $56,503 |
Local pay is bunched just above the median: the 75th percentile is only $2,640 over it, while the 25th sits $4,220 below. Moving an offer from the median to the 75th percentile costs about $3,406 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 Pocatello, and the Idaho 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 Pocatello
At the $34,870 median, a local hire costs about $44,994 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $10,124 here. 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 Pocatello
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 13 roles we track in Pocatello; project coordinators have the highest, at $82,250.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeper | +30.3% | 340 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +26.2% | 380 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +15.8% | 300 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +8.8% | 1,130 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 280 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #2 of the 13 roles we track in Pocatello (-8.3%), between administrative assistants (-7.5%) and bookkeepers (-10.3%). The typical role here is at -18.0%, so, measured against the US, virtual receptionists cost more in Pocatello than the area's general pay level would suggest. Virtual receptionists hold 7.4% of the jobs in these 13 roles in Pocatello, 6.5% across Idaho and 5.9% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Idaho
Across the 8 areas of Idaho with data for this job, the median runs from $34,800 in Idaho Falls to $37,780 in Coeur d'Alene, a gap of $2,980 a year. Of the 6 areas in Idaho with more virtual receptionists than Pocatello, 1 pays less: Idaho Falls, ID ($34,800).
| Area | Median | vs Pocatello | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise City, ID | +7.5% | 2,280 | |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | +7.3% | 200 | |
| Northwestern Idaho (Nonmetro) | +5.3% | 360 | |
| Southeast-Central Idaho (Nonmetro) | +4.1% | 490 | |
| Twin Falls, ID | +4.0% | 360 | |
| Pocatello, ID | this area | 280 | |
| Idaho Falls, ID | -0.2% | 720 |
Pocatello against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Pocatello is #443 of 521 US areas for this job. The market is small, and its pay sits near the middle of the US range. Outside Idaho, Spartanburg and Wildwood-The Villages pay just above Pocatello and State College and Niles just below. All four are within $70 a year of the median in Pocatello. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Pocatello | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carson City, NV | +17.4% | 280 | jobs | |
| Albany, OR | +12.7% | 280 | jobs | |
| Battle Creek, MI | +7.5% | 280 | jobs | |
| Wildwood-The Villages, FL | +0.2% | 240 | pay | |
| Spartanburg, SC | +0.1% | 690 | pay | |
| Pocatello, ID | this area | 280 | ||
| State College, PA | -0.0% | 470 | pay | |
| Niles, MI | -0.1% | 330 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Pocatello, ID?
About $44,994 a year at the median, or $3,749 a month: $34,870 in pay plus about $10,124 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do virtual receptionists earn in Pocatello?
The median was $34,870 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $27,400, the 90th $43,790, and the middle half earned $30,650 to $37,510.
Is Pocatello cheaper than the rest of Idaho for virtual receptionists?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $34,870 against $36,810 statewide. The next area up in Idaho is Twin Falls at $36,260, the next down Idaho Falls at $34,800.
How many virtual receptionists work in Pocatello?
BLS counts about 280 in the May 2025 survey. That is 5% of the Idaho total of 5,340. 6 areas in Idaho have more; the closest in size is the Northwestern Idaho nonmetro area, with about 360.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a customer support specialist in Pocatello?
No: $3,070 a year less at the median. The medians are $34,870 and $37,940.
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 2026-11-13.