Virtual receptionist in Salt Lake City-Murray, UT: cost vs in-house
Virtual receptionists earn more in Salt Lake City-Murray than anywhere else in Utah. Expect a median of $37,810 a year1, 2.3% above the Utah statewide median of $36,960 and about level with the US median of $38,010. Nationally it ranks #149 of 521 areas. It is the largest market for the job in Utah: about 4,660 people, 39% of the Utah total.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Salt Lake City-Murray, UT. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Salt Lake City-Murray against Utah and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $28,700 | $37,810 | $49,090 | |
| Utah | $27,870 | $36,960 | $47,210 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
Virtual receptionists at the 90th percentile earn $49,090, 1.7 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 1.7. The middle half of virtual receptionists in Salt Lake City-Murray earns $33,860–$44,450. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $10,590 wide, against $10,880 across Utah and $11,170 nationally: employers in Salt Lake City-Murray 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 | $28,700 | $2,392 | $13.80 | $37,032 |
| 25th percentile | $33,860 | $2,822 | $16.28 | $43,690 |
| Median | $37,810 | $3,151 | $18.18 | $48,787 |
| 75th percentile | $44,450 | $3,704 | $21.37 | $57,355 |
| 90th percentile | $49,090 | $4,091 | $23.60 | $63,342 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $6,640 over the median, the 25th only $3,950 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $8,568 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 median and the 75th percentile in Salt Lake City-Murray, and the Utah statewide median of $36,960 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Salt Lake City-Murray
At the $37,810 median, a local hire costs about $48,787 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $10,977 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 Salt Lake City-Murray
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 17 roles we track in Salt Lake City-Murray; project coordinators have the highest, at $98,000.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Entry Specialist | +25.8% | 1,580 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +24.2% | 2,190 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +20.1% | 26,620 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +19.0% | 400 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 4,660 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #8 of the 17 roles we track in Salt Lake City-Murray (-0.5%), between administrative assistants (+0.8%) and HR assistants (-1.9%). The typical role here is at -1.9%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Virtual receptionists hold 4.5% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Salt Lake City-Murray, 6.2% across Utah and 5.7% nationally. The job is a smaller part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Utah
Across the 7 areas of Utah with data for this job, the median runs from $35,770 in Logan to $37,810 in Salt Lake City-Murray, a gap of $2,040 a year. No other area in Utah has as many virtual receptionists, and all 6 others pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Salt Lake City-Murray | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | this area | 4,660 | |
| Wasatch Front Fringe Utah (Nonmetro) | -2.1% | 580 | |
| Ogden, UT | -2.6% | 2,050 | |
| Provo-Orem, UT | -2.8% | 2,650 | |
| High Desert Utah (Nonmetro) | -3.0% | 780 | |
| St. George, UT | -4.5% | 810 | |
| Logan, UT-ID | -5.4% | 520 |
Salt Lake City-Murray against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Salt Lake City-Murray is #37 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 Utah, Billings and Norwich-New London pay just above Salt Lake City-Murray and Coeur d'Alene and Prescott Valley-Prescott just below. All four are within $60 a year of the median in Salt Lake City-Murray. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Salt Lake City-Murray | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento-Roseville, CA | +19.4% | 4,570 | jobs | |
| Bridgeport-Stamford, CT | +18.0% | 4,780 | jobs | |
| Norwich-New London, CT | +0.2% | 1,010 | pay | |
| Billings, MT | +0.0% | 250 | pay | |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | this area | 4,660 | ||
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | -0.1% | 580 | pay | |
| Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | -0.1% | 770 | pay | |
| Jacksonville, FL | -2.8% | 4,380 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Salt Lake City-Murray, UT?
About $48,787 a year at the median, or $4,066 a month: $37,810 in pay plus about $10,977 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for virtual receptionists in Salt Lake City-Murray?
The median was $37,810 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $28,700, the 90th $49,090, and the middle half earned $33,860 to $44,450.
Is Salt Lake City-Murray the most expensive area in Utah for virtual receptionists?
Yes. Its median of $37,810 is the highest of 7 areas in Utah. The Wasatch Front Fringe Utah nonmetro area comes next at $37,020.
How many virtual receptionists work in Salt Lake City-Murray?
BLS counts about 4,660 in the May 2025 survey. That is 39% of the Utah total of 12,020. No other area in Utah has as many.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than an e-commerce order specialist in Salt Lake City-Murray?
No: $7,190 a year less at the median. The medians are $37,810 and $45,000.
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.