Virtual receptionist in Richmond, VA: cost vs in-house
Hiring a virtual receptionist costs less in Richmond than in Virginia or the country as a whole. The median is $36,400 a year1: 1.8% below the Virginia statewide median of $37,060 and 4.2% below the US median of $38,010. Nationally it ranks #242 of 521 areas. BLS counts about 3,550 people in this job here, 15% of the Virginia total.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Richmond, VA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Richmond against Virginia and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond, VA | $28,530 | $36,400 | $45,720 | |
| Virginia | $28,800 | $37,060 | $47,220 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
The middle half of virtual receptionists in Richmond earns $31,100–$40,260. The top tenth earns $45,720 or more, 1.6 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 1.7 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $9,160 wide, against $12,210 across Virginia and $11,170 nationally: employers in Richmond 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 | $28,530 | $2,378 | $13.72 | $36,813 |
| 25th percentile | $31,100 | $2,592 | $14.95 | $40,129 |
| Median | $36,400 | $3,033 | $17.50 | $46,968 |
| 75th percentile | $40,260 | $3,355 | $19.36 | $51,948 |
| 90th percentile | $45,720 | $3,810 | $21.98 | $58,994 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $3,860 a year in pay and about $4,981 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $5,300 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 Richmond, and the Virginia statewide median of $37,060 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Richmond
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 $10,568 to the $36,400 median and brings it to $46,968 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 Richmond
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 17 roles we track in Richmond; project coordinators have the highest, at $102,170.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +21.7% | 4,140 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +17.7% | 340 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +17.2% | 10,960 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +10.6% | 480 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 3,550 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #13 of the 17 roles we track in Richmond (-4.2%), between medical administrative assistants (-3.5%) and customer support specialists (-4.7%). The typical role here is at +0.1%, so, measured against the US, virtual receptionists cost less in Richmond than the area's general pay level would suggest. Virtual receptionists hold 5.1% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Richmond, 5.5% across Virginia and 5.7% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Virginia
Across the 13 areas of Virginia with data for this job, the median runs from $33,940 in Lynchburg to $37,220 in Harrisonburg, a gap of $3,280 a year. The one area in Virginia with more virtual receptionists, Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC ($35,470), pays less: a bigger pool at a lower median.
| Area | Median | vs Richmond | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisonburg, VA | +2.3% | 390 | |
| Charlottesville, VA | +2.0% | 720 | |
| Richmond, VA | this area | 3,550 | |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | -0.5% | 300 | |
| Winchester, VA-WV | -0.9% | 380 | |
| Southside Virginia (Nonmetro) | -1.3% | 590 | |
| Northwest Virginia (Nonmetro) | -1.6% | 310 |
Richmond against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Richmond is #47 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 Virginia, Sebastian-Vero Beach and Muskegon-Norton Shores pay just above Richmond and York-Hanover and Michigan City-La Porte just below. All four are within $60 a year of the median in Richmond. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Richmond | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | +0.4% | 3,690 | jobs | |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | +0.2% | 320 | pay | |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL | +0.1% | 530 | pay | |
| Richmond, VA | this area | 3,550 | ||
| York-Hanover, PA | +0.0% | 1,160 | pay | |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | -0.0% | 200 | pay | |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR | -1.7% | 3,390 | jobs | |
| Louisville, KY-IN | -5.2% | 3,330 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Richmond, VA?
About $46,968 a year at the median, or $3,914 a month: $36,400 in pay plus about $10,568 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do virtual receptionists earn in Richmond?
The median was $36,400 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $28,530, the 90th $45,720, and the middle half earned $31,100 to $40,260.
Is Richmond cheaper than the rest of Virginia for virtual receptionists?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $36,400 against $37,060 statewide. The next area up in Virginia is Charlottesville at $37,140, the next down Staunton-Stuarts Draft at $36,200.
How many virtual receptionists work in Richmond?
BLS counts about 3,550 in the May 2025 survey. That is 15% of the Virginia total of 23,360. Only Virginia Beach-Chesapeake has more in Virginia.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a data entry specialist in Richmond?
No: $3,870 a year less at the median. The medians are $36,400 and $40,270.
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.