Virtual receptionist in the Southern Ohio nonmetro area: cost vs in-house
The Southern Ohio nonmetro area is a lower-cost market for virtual receptionists: the median of $34,210 a year1 is 4.8% below the Ohio statewide median of $35,920, and 10.0% below the US median of $38,010. Nationally it ranks #382 of 521 areas. About 1,000 virtual receptionists work here, 3% of the Ohio total.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the Southern Ohio nonmetro area against Ohio and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Ohio (Nonmetro) | $27,080 | $34,210 | $43,400 | |
| Ohio | $26,070 | $35,920 | $46,840 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
The middle half of virtual receptionists in the Southern Ohio nonmetro area earns $30,350–$38,100. The top tenth earns $43,400 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 $7,750 wide, against $9,610 across Ohio and $11,170 nationally: employers in the Southern Ohio nonmetro area 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 | $27,080 | $2,257 | $13.02 | $34,942 |
| 25th percentile | $30,350 | $2,529 | $14.59 | $39,161 |
| Median | $34,210 | $2,851 | $16.45 | $44,142 |
| 75th percentile | $38,100 | $3,175 | $18.32 | $49,161 |
| 90th percentile | $43,400 | $3,617 | $20.87 | $56,000 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $3,860 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $3,890, or about $5,019 once benefits are added. 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 the Southern Ohio nonmetro area, and the Ohio statewide median of $35,920 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in the Southern Ohio nonmetro area
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 $9,932 to the $34,210 median and brings it to $44,142 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 the Southern Ohio nonmetro area
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 17 roles we track in the Southern Ohio nonmetro area; project coordinators have the highest, at $82,910.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Assistant | +29.0% | 1,950 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +14.1% | 1,240 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +13.8% | 750 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +11.0% | 70 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 1,000 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #6 of the 17 roles we track in the Southern Ohio nonmetro area (-10.0%), between bookkeepers (-8.9%) and payroll specialists (-11.9%). The typical role here is at -12.8%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Virtual receptionists hold 8.9% of the jobs in these 17 roles in the Southern Ohio nonmetro area, 6.0% across Ohio and 5.7% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Ohio
Across the 16 areas of Ohio with data for this job, the median runs from $33,170 in Mansfield to $36,910 in Columbus, a gap of $3,740 a year. All 9 areas in Ohio with more virtual receptionists than the Southern Ohio nonmetro area also pay more, among them Columbus, OH ($36,910) and Cleveland, OH ($36,320).
| Area | Median | vs the Southern Ohio nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sandusky, OH | +1.8% | 280 | |
| West Northwestern Ohio (Nonmetro) | +1.3% | 1,270 | |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | +1.3% | 1,030 | |
| North Northeastern Ohio (Nonmetro) | +1.3% | 1,400 | |
| Southern Ohio (Nonmetro) | this area | 1,000 | |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | -0.2% | 990 | |
| Mansfield, OH | -3.0% | 290 |
the Southern Ohio nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the Southern Ohio nonmetro area is #161 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Ohio, Bloomington and Roanoke pay just above the Southern Ohio nonmetro area and Sebring and Myrtle Beach-Conway just below. All four are within $80 a year of the median in the Southern Ohio nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the Southern Ohio nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norwich-New London, CT | +10.7% | 1,010 | jobs | |
| Rockford, IL | +9.5% | 1,000 | jobs | |
| Roanoke, VA | +0.1% | 980 | pay | |
| Bloomington, IN | +0.1% | 410 | pay | |
| Southern Ohio (Nonmetro) | this area | 1,000 | ||
| Sebring, FL | -0.1% | 210 | pay | |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway, SC | -0.2% | 890 | pay | |
| Slidell-Mandeville, LA | -7.2% | 1,000 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Southern Ohio (Nonmetro)?
About $44,142 a year at the median, or $3,678 a month: $34,210 in pay plus about $9,932 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for virtual receptionists in the Southern Ohio nonmetro area?
The median was $34,210 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $27,080, the 90th $43,400, and the middle half earned $30,350 to $38,100.
Is the Southern Ohio nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of Ohio for virtual receptionists?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $34,210 against $35,920 statewide. The next area up in Ohio is the North Northeastern Ohio nonmetro area at $34,640, the next down Youngstown-Warren at $34,140.
How many virtual receptionists work in the Southern Ohio nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 1,000 in the May 2025 survey. That is 3% of the Ohio total of 30,850. 9 areas in Ohio have more; the closest in size is Canton-Massillon, with about 1,030.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a data entry specialist in the Southern Ohio nonmetro area?
No: $3,760 a year less at the median. The medians are $34,210 and $37,970.
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.