Virtual receptionist in Rapid City, SD: cost vs in-house
The median virtual receptionist in Rapid City earned $37,990 a year in May 20251. That is about level with the South Dakota statewide median of $38,280 and about level with the US median of $38,010. Among US areas it comes in at #142 of 521. About 1,240 virtual receptionists work here, 22% of the South Dakota total.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Rapid City, SD. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Rapid City against South Dakota and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City, SD | $27,910 | $37,990 | $47,820 | |
| South Dakota | $27,920 | $38,280 | $47,860 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
The middle half of virtual receptionists in Rapid City earns $32,360–$43,660. The top tenth earns $47,820 or more, 1.7 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 1.7 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $11,300 wide, between the figure for South Dakota ($12,100) and the US figure ($11,170).
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 | $27,910 | $2,326 | $13.42 | $36,013 |
| 25th percentile | $32,360 | $2,697 | $15.56 | $41,755 |
| Median | $37,990 | $3,166 | $18.26 | $49,019 |
| 75th percentile | $43,660 | $3,638 | $20.99 | $56,335 |
| 90th percentile | $47,820 | $3,985 | $22.99 | $61,703 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $5,670 a year in pay and about $7,316 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $5,630 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.
For scale, the US median of $38,010 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Rapid City, and the South Dakota statewide median of $38,280 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Rapid City
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 $11,029 to the $37,990 median and brings it to $49,019 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 Rapid City
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 14 roles we track in Rapid City; accountants have the highest, at $79,270.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeper | +23.2% | 1,720 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +21.2% | 70 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +9.8% | 990 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +1.4% | 1,010 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 1,240 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #2 of the 14 roles we track in Rapid City (-0.1%), between e-commerce order specialists (+4.7%) and recruiters (-1.3%). The typical role here is at -12.5%, so, measured against the US, virtual receptionists cost more in Rapid City than the area's general pay level would suggest. Virtual receptionists hold 16.6% of the jobs in these 14 roles in Rapid City, 13.4% across South Dakota and 6.2% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in South Dakota
Across the 4 areas of South Dakota with data for this job, the median runs from $37,350 in the East South Dakota nonmetro area to $38,560 in Sioux Falls, a gap of $1,210 a year. Of the 2 areas in South Dakota with more virtual receptionists than Rapid City, 1 pays less: the East South Dakota nonmetro area ($37,350).
| Area | Median | vs Rapid City | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | +1.5% | 2,430 | |
| Rapid City, SD | this area | 1,240 | |
| West South Dakota (Nonmetro) | -1.7% | 590 | |
| East South Dakota (Nonmetro) | -1.7% | 1,320 |
Rapid City against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Rapid City is #123 of 521 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside South Dakota, Minneapolis-St. Paul and Philadelphia-Camden pay just above Rapid City and Mankato and Des Moines-West Des Moines just below. All four are within $80 a year of the median in Rapid City. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Rapid City | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield, MA | +7.3% | 1,240 | jobs | |
| Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ | +0.1% | 22,210 | pay | |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI | +0.0% | 8,780 | pay | |
| Rapid City, SD | this area | 1,240 | ||
| Mankato, MN | -0.1% | 190 | pay | |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | -0.2% | 1,260 | pay | |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | -1.3% | 1,250 | jobs | |
| Lincoln, NE | -2.5% | 1,260 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Rapid City, SD?
About $49,019 a year at the median, or $4,085 a month: $37,990 in pay plus about $11,029 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for virtual receptionists in Rapid City?
The median was $37,990 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $27,910, the 90th $47,820, and the middle half earned $32,360 to $43,660.
Is Rapid City cheaper than the rest of South Dakota for virtual receptionists?
About the same: a median of $37,990 against $38,280 statewide. The next area up in South Dakota is Sioux Falls at $38,560, the next down the West South Dakota nonmetro area at $37,360.
How many virtual receptionists work in Rapid City?
BLS counts about 1,240 in the May 2025 survey. That is 22% of the South Dakota total of 5,760. Only Sioux Falls and the East South Dakota nonmetro area have more in South Dakota.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a customer support specialist in Rapid City?
No: $530 a year less at the median. The medians are $37,990 and $38,520.
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.