Virtual receptionist in Redding, CA: cost vs in-house
Redding pays virtual receptionists less than California as a whole but still more than the country. The median is $39,660 a year1: 10.1% below the California statewide median of $44,100 and 4.3% above the US median of $38,010. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#88 of 521). About 370 virtual receptionists work here.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Redding, CA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Redding against California and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redding, CA | $34,930 | $39,660 | $48,690 | |
| California | $36,410 | $44,100 | $58,800 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
The middle half of virtual receptionists in Redding earns $36,920–$45,490. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $48,690, only 1.4 times the bottom tenth, against 1.7 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $8,570 wide, against $9,640 across California and $11,170 nationally: employers in Redding 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 | $34,930 | $2,911 | $16.79 | $45,071 |
| 25th percentile | $36,920 | $3,077 | $17.75 | $47,639 |
| Median | $39,660 | $3,305 | $19.07 | $51,174 |
| 75th percentile | $45,490 | $3,791 | $21.87 | $58,697 |
| 90th percentile | $48,690 | $4,058 | $23.41 | $62,826 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $5,830 over the median, the 25th only $2,740 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $7,523 a year in employer cost. 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 25th percentile and the median in Redding, and the California statewide median of $44,100 falls between the median and the 75th percentile.
What a hire really costs in Redding
At the $39,660 median, a local hire costs about $51,174 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $11,514 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 Redding
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 16 roles we track in Redding; project coordinators have the highest, at $99,030.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Assistant | +25.9% | 580 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +20.8% | 630 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +19.8% | 590 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +12.0% | 60 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 370 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #4 of the 16 roles we track in Redding (+4.3%), between administrative assistants (+5.0%) and office managers (+3.5%). The typical role here is at -1.8%, so, measured against the US, virtual receptionists cost more in Redding than the area's general pay level would suggest. Virtual receptionists hold 6.6% of the jobs in these 16 roles in Redding, 5.0% across California and 5.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in California
Across the 28 areas of California with data for this job, the median runs from $38,890 in Merced to $49,450 in San Francisco-Oakland, a gap of $10,560 a year. Of the 20 areas in California with more virtual receptionists than Redding, 2 pay less: Fresno, CA ($39,520) and Visalia, CA ($39,520).
| Area | Median | vs Redding | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California (Nonmetro) | +4.3% | 320 | |
| Chico, CA | +1.0% | 370 | |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | +0.1% | 1,180 | |
| Redding, CA | this area | 370 | |
| Fresno, CA | -0.4% | 2,250 | |
| Visalia, CA | -0.4% | 530 | |
| Merced, CA | -1.9% | 290 |
Redding against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Redding is #385 of 521 US areas for this job. It is a mid-sized market, and its pay is in the top quarter of US areas. Outside California, Wausau and Albany-Schenectady pay just above Redding and Bangor and Walla Walla just below. All four are within $130 a year of the median in Redding. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Redding | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany-Schenectady, NY | +0.3% | 2,650 | pay | |
| Wausau, WI | +0.0% | 790 | pay | |
| Redding, CA | this area | 370 | ||
| Bangor, ME | -0.1% | 360 | pay | |
| Walla Walla, WA | -0.1% | 170 | pay | |
| Greeley, CO | -1.8% | 370 | jobs | |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg, VA | -11.9% | 370 | jobs | |
| Altoona, PA | -18.7% | 370 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Redding, CA?
About $51,174 a year at the median, or $4,265 a month: $39,660 in pay plus about $11,514 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for virtual receptionists in Redding?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $39,660 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $34,930, the 90th $48,690, and the middle half earned $36,920 to $45,490.
Is Redding cheaper than the rest of California for virtual receptionists?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $39,660 against $44,100 statewide. The next area up in California is Bakersfield-Delano at $39,690, the next down Fresno at $39,520.
How many virtual receptionists work in Redding?
BLS counts about 370 in the May 2025 survey. 21 areas in California have more; the closest in size is Chico, with about 370.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a data entry specialist in Redding?
No: $4,750 a year less at the median. The medians are $39,660 and $44,410.
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.