Virtual receptionist in Rochester, NY: cost vs in-house
The median virtual receptionist in Rochester earned $38,550 a year in May 20251. That is 1.4% above the US median of $38,010, even though it is 10.5% below the New York statewide median of $43,080. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#125 of 521). About 2,840 virtual receptionists work here, 4% of the New York total.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Rochester, NY. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Rochester against New York and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester, NY | $32,240 | $38,550 | $49,060 | |
| New York | $34,740 | $43,080 | $59,140 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
The middle half of virtual receptionists in Rochester earns $35,230–$45,140. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $49,060, only 1.5 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 $9,910 wide, against $11,610 across New York and $11,170 nationally: employers in Rochester 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 | $32,240 | $2,687 | $15.50 | $41,600 |
| 25th percentile | $35,230 | $2,936 | $16.94 | $45,458 |
| Median | $38,550 | $3,212 | $18.53 | $49,742 |
| 75th percentile | $45,140 | $3,762 | $21.70 | $58,245 |
| 90th percentile | $49,060 | $4,088 | $23.59 | $63,303 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $6,590 over the median, the 25th only $3,320 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $8,503 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 Rochester, and the New York statewide median of $43,080 falls between the median and the 75th percentile.
What a hire really costs in Rochester
At the $38,550 median, a local hire costs about $49,742 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $11,192 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 Rochester
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 17 roles we track in Rochester; project coordinators have the highest, at $103,520.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +17.2% | 190 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +16.1% | 9,290 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +15.1% | 4,510 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +2.2% | 370 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 2,840 |
Measured against the US median, this job is the best paid of the 17 roles we track in Rochester (+1.4%); paralegals come last (-9.0%). The typical role here is at -2.0%, so, measured against the US, virtual receptionists cost more in Rochester than the area's general pay level would suggest. Virtual receptionists hold 5.3% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Rochester, 5.9% across New York and 5.7% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in New York
Across the 16 areas of New York with data for this job, the median runs from $36,160 in Watertown-Fort Drum to $44,690 in New York-Newark, a gap of $8,530 a year. All 2 areas in New York with more virtual receptionists than Rochester also pay more, among them New York-Newark, NY-NJ ($44,690) and Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY ($38,960).
| Area | Median | vs Rochester | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ithaca, NY | +2.2% | 300 | |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | +1.1% | 3,930 | |
| Central East New York (Nonmetro) | +0.8% | 890 | |
| Rochester, NY | this area | 2,840 | |
| Southwest New York (Nonmetro) | -2.9% | 1,010 | |
| Elmira, NY | -3.0% | 200 | |
| Binghamton, NY | -4.0% | 600 |
Rochester against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Rochester is #56 of 521 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job and one of the better-paying ones. Outside New York, Sioux Falls and Janesville-Beloit pay just above Rochester and Salem and Fargo just below. All four are within $80 a year of the median in Rochester. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Rochester | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Haven, CT | +11.2% | 2,680 | jobs | |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | +0.2% | 640 | pay | |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | +0.0% | 2,430 | pay | |
| Rochester, NY | this area | 2,840 | ||
| Salem, OR | -0.1% | 1,290 | pay | |
| Fargo, ND-MN | -0.1% | 700 | pay | |
| Tucson, AZ | -3.9% | 2,730 | jobs | |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | -7.3% | 2,930 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Rochester, NY?
About $49,742 a year at the median, or $4,145 a month: $38,550 in pay plus about $11,192 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do virtual receptionists earn in Rochester?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $38,550 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $32,240, the 90th $49,060, and the middle half earned $35,230 to $45,140.
Is Rochester cheaper than the rest of New York for virtual receptionists?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $38,550 against $43,080 statewide. The next area up in New York is the Central East New York nonmetro area at $38,860, the next down the Southwest New York nonmetro area at $37,450.
How many virtual receptionists work in Rochester?
BLS counts about 2,840 in the May 2025 survey. That is 4% of the New York total of 65,010. Only New York-Newark and Buffalo-Cheektowaga have more in New York.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a data entry specialist in Rochester?
No: $850 a year less at the median. The medians are $38,550 and $39,400.
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.