Virtual receptionist in Sioux City, IA-NE: cost vs in-house
For this job Sioux City sits right at the US figure, with a median of $38,380 a year1. That is about level with the US median of $38,010, and 2.8% above the Iowa statewide median of $37,330. Among US areas it comes in at #131 of 521. BLS counts about 330 people in this job here.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Sioux City, IA-NE-SD. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Sioux City against Iowa and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux City, IA-NE | $28,990 | $38,380 | $48,720 | |
| Iowa | $26,740 | $37,330 | $47,610 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
Virtual receptionists at the 90th percentile earn $48,720, 1.7 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 1.7. The middle half of virtual receptionists in Sioux City earns $33,930–$44,630. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $10,700 wide, between the figure for Iowa ($10,480) 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 | $28,990 | $2,416 | $13.94 | $37,406 |
| 25th percentile | $33,930 | $2,828 | $16.31 | $43,781 |
| Median | $38,380 | $3,198 | $18.45 | $49,523 |
| 75th percentile | $44,630 | $3,719 | $21.46 | $57,587 |
| 90th percentile | $48,720 | $4,060 | $23.42 | $62,865 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $6,250 a year in pay and about $8,065 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $4,450 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 25th percentile and the median in Sioux City, and the Iowa statewide median of $37,330 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Sioux 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 $11,143 to the $38,380 median and brings it to $49,523 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 Sioux City
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 15 roles we track in Sioux City; project coordinators have the highest, at $85,130.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Assistant | +19.7% | 640 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +16.1% | 40 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +9.1% | 400 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +6.9% | 1,110 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 330 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #2 of the 15 roles we track in Sioux City (+1.0%), between data entry specialists (+7.8%) and administrative assistants (-3.3%). The typical role here is at -8.8%, so, measured against the US, virtual receptionists cost more in Sioux City than the area's general pay level would suggest. Virtual receptionists hold 6.2% of the jobs in these 15 roles in Sioux City, 3.4% across Iowa and 5.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Iowa
Across the 12 areas of Iowa with data for this job, the median runs from $35,170 in Ames to $38,830 in Dubuque, a gap of $3,660 a year. All 5 areas in Iowa with more virtual receptionists than Sioux City pay less, among them Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ($37,910) and Davenport-Moline, IA-IL ($36,170).
| Area | Median | vs Sioux City | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubuque, IA | +1.2% | 200 | |
| Iowa City, IA | +0.9% | 300 | |
| Sioux City, IA-NE | this area | 330 | |
| Northeast Iowa (Nonmetro) | -0.3% | 300 | |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | -1.2% | 1,260 | |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | -1.8% | 500 | |
| Northwest Iowa (Nonmetro) | -3.9% | 450 |
Sioux City against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Sioux City is #408 of 521 US areas for this job. The market is small, and its pay sits near the middle of the US range. Outside Iowa, Vineland and Fargo pay just above Sioux City and Helena and Reno just below. All four are within $120 a year of the median in Sioux City. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Sioux City | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo, ND-MN | +0.3% | 700 | pay | |
| Vineland, NJ | +0.3% | 570 | pay | |
| Sioux City, IA-NE | this area | 330 | ||
| Helena, MT | -0.2% | 100 | pay | |
| Reno, NV | -0.2% | 1,700 | pay | |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | -9.5% | 330 | jobs | |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | -17.7% | 330 | jobs | |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | -20.3% | 330 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Sioux City, IA-NE?
About $49,523 a year at the median, or $4,127 a month: $38,380 in pay plus about $11,143 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for virtual receptionists in Sioux City?
The median was $38,380 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $28,990, the 90th $48,720, and the middle half earned $33,930 to $44,630.
Is Sioux City cheaper than the rest of Iowa for virtual receptionists?
No, it costs more: a median of $38,380 against $37,330 statewide. The next area up in Iowa is Iowa City at $38,740, the next down the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area at $38,250.
How many virtual receptionists work in Sioux City?
BLS counts about 330 in the May 2025 survey. 5 areas in Iowa have more; the closest in size is the Northwest Iowa nonmetro area, with about 450.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a customer support specialist in Sioux City?
No: $2,630 a year less at the median. The medians are $38,380 and $41,010.
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.