Virtual receptionist in the Southwest Maine nonmetro area: cost vs in-house
The median virtual receptionist in the Southwest Maine nonmetro area earned $41,760 a year in May 20251. That is 9.9% above the US median of $38,010, even though it is 1.6% below the Maine statewide median of $42,440. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#57 of 521). About 720 virtual receptionists work here, 21% of the Maine total.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the Southwest Maine nonmetro area against Maine and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Maine (Nonmetro) | $35,800 | $41,760 | $48,490 | |
| Maine | $35,880 | $42,440 | $49,140 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
The middle half of virtual receptionists in the Southwest Maine nonmetro area earns $37,910–$45,500. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $48,490, only 1.4 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 $7,590 wide, against $8,310 across Maine and $11,170 nationally: employers in the Southwest Maine 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 | $35,800 | $2,983 | $17.21 | $46,194 |
| 25th percentile | $37,910 | $3,159 | $18.23 | $48,916 |
| Median | $41,760 | $3,480 | $20.08 | $53,884 |
| 75th percentile | $45,500 | $3,792 | $21.88 | $58,710 |
| 90th percentile | $48,490 | $4,041 | $23.31 | $62,568 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $3,850 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $3,740, or about $4,826 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 25th percentile and the median in the Southwest Maine nonmetro area, and the Maine statewide median of $42,440 falls between the median and the 75th percentile.
What a hire really costs in the Southwest Maine nonmetro area
At the $41,760 median, a local hire costs about $53,884 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $12,124 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 the Southwest Maine nonmetro area
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 16 roles we track in the Southwest Maine nonmetro area; project coordinators have the highest, at $94,320.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales Development Representative | +13.2% | 310 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +12.8% | 850 | |
| HR Assistant | +8.4% | 130 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +6.7% | 70 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 720 |
Measured against the US median, this job is the best paid of the 16 roles we track in the Southwest Maine nonmetro area (+9.9%); sales development representatives come last (-32.5%). The typical role here is at -5.2%, so, measured against the US, virtual receptionists cost more in the Southwest Maine nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Virtual receptionists hold 6.1% of the jobs in these 16 roles in the Southwest Maine nonmetro area, 6.3% across Maine and 5.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Maine
Across the 5 areas of Maine with data for this job, the median runs from $39,270 in the Northeast Maine nonmetro area to $44,770 in Portland-South Portland, a gap of $5,500 a year. The one area in Maine with more virtual receptionists, Portland-South Portland, ME ($44,770), also pays more.
| Area | Median | vs the Southwest Maine nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland-South Portland, ME | +7.2% | 1,730 | |
| Southwest Maine (Nonmetro) | this area | 720 | |
| Bangor, ME | -5.1% | 360 | |
| Lewiston-Auburn, ME | -5.7% | 250 | |
| Northeast Maine (Nonmetro) | -6.0% | 330 |
the Southwest Maine nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the Southwest Maine nonmetro area is #239 of 521 US areas for this job. It is a mid-sized market, and its pay is in the top quarter of US areas. Outside Maine, Amherst Town-Northampton and Spokane-Spokane Valley pay just above the Southwest Maine nonmetro area and Providence-Warwick and Worcester just below. All four are within $40 a year of the median in the Southwest Maine nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the Southwest Maine nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vallejo, CA | +9.0% | 720 | jobs | |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | +0.1% | 2,370 | pay | |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | +0.0% | 410 | pay | |
| Southwest Maine (Nonmetro) | this area | 720 | ||
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | -0.1% | 5,550 | pay | |
| Worcester, MA | -0.1% | 1,940 | pay | |
| Charlottesville, VA | -11.1% | 720 | jobs | |
| Idaho Falls, ID | -16.7% | 720 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Southwest Maine (Nonmetro)?
About $53,884 a year at the median, or $4,490 a month: $41,760 in pay plus about $12,124 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for virtual receptionists in the Southwest Maine nonmetro area?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $41,760 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $35,800, the 90th $48,490, and the middle half earned $37,910 to $45,500.
Is the Southwest Maine nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of Maine for virtual receptionists?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $41,760 against $42,440 statewide. The next area up in Maine is Portland-South Portland at $44,770, the next down Bangor at $39,630.
How many virtual receptionists work in the Southwest Maine nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 720 in the May 2025 survey. That is 21% of the Maine total of 3,440. Only Portland-South Portland has more in Maine.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than an e-commerce order specialist in the Southwest Maine nonmetro area?
No: $2,790 a year less at the median. The medians are $41,760 and $44,550.
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.