Virtual receptionist in the Sussex Delaware nonmetro area: cost vs in-house
No other area in Delaware pays virtual receptionists less than the Sussex Delaware nonmetro area. The median is $36,560 a year1, about level with the Delaware statewide median of $36,310 and 3.8% below the US median of $38,010. Nationally it ranks #233 of 521 areas. It is the largest market for the job in Delaware: about 530 people, 18% of the Delaware total.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the Sussex Delaware nonmetro area against Delaware and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sussex Delaware (Nonmetro) | $31,200 | $36,560 | $48,020 | |
| Delaware | $31,200 | $36,310 | $47,610 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
The middle half of virtual receptionists in the Sussex Delaware nonmetro area earns $31,750–$40,700. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $48,020, 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 $8,950 wide, against $9,770 across Delaware and $11,170 nationally: employers in the Sussex Delaware 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 | $31,200 | $2,600 | $15.00 | $40,258 |
| 25th percentile | $31,750 | $2,646 | $15.26 | $40,968 |
| Median | $36,560 | $3,047 | $17.58 | $47,174 |
| 75th percentile | $40,700 | $3,392 | $19.57 | $52,516 |
| 90th percentile | $48,020 | $4,002 | $23.09 | $61,961 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $4,810 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $4,140, or about $5,342 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 Sussex Delaware nonmetro area, and the Delaware statewide median of $36,310 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in the Sussex Delaware nonmetro area
At the $36,560 median, a local hire costs about $47,174 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $10,614 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 Sussex Delaware nonmetro area
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 16 roles we track in the Sussex Delaware nonmetro area; project coordinators have the highest, at $101,040.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Assistant | +23.0% | 1,030 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +17.1% | 870 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +2.5% | 50 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +0.3% | 50 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 530 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #8 of the 16 roles we track in the Sussex Delaware nonmetro area (-3.8%), between paralegals (-3.8%) and bookkeepers (-4.9%). The typical role here is at -4.3%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Virtual receptionists hold 6.8% of the jobs in the 15 of these roles with a job count in the Sussex Delaware nonmetro area, 5.8% across Delaware and 6.1% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Delaware
Across the 2 areas of Delaware with data for this job, the median runs from $36,560 in the Sussex Delaware nonmetro area to $36,570 in Dover, a gap of $10 a year. No other area in Delaware has as many virtual receptionists, and none of the others pays less.
| Area | Median | vs the Sussex Delaware nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dover, DE | +0.0% | 450 | |
| Sussex Delaware (Nonmetro) | this area | 530 |
the Sussex Delaware nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the Sussex Delaware nonmetro area is #303 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Delaware, Rochester and Great Falls pay just above the Sussex Delaware nonmetro area and Raleigh-Cary and San Antonio-New Braunfels just below. All four are within $20 a year of the median in the Sussex Delaware nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the Sussex Delaware nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visalia, CA | +8.1% | 530 | jobs | |
| Great Falls, MT | +0.1% | 100 | pay | |
| Rochester, MN | +0.0% | 420 | pay | |
| Sussex Delaware (Nonmetro) | this area | 530 | ||
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | -0.0% | 3,690 | pay | |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | -0.0% | 7,950 | pay | |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL | -0.4% | 530 | jobs | |
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | -0.5% | 530 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Sussex Delaware (Nonmetro)?
About $47,174 a year at the median, or $3,931 a month: $36,560 in pay plus about $10,614 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for virtual receptionists in the Sussex Delaware nonmetro area?
The median was $36,560 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $31,200, the 90th $48,020, and the middle half earned $31,750 to $40,700.
Is the Sussex Delaware nonmetro area the cheapest area in Delaware for virtual receptionists?
Yes. Its median of $36,560 is the lowest of 2 areas in Delaware. Dover is next at $36,570.
How many virtual receptionists work in the Sussex Delaware nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 530 in the May 2025 survey. That is 18% of the Delaware total of 2,880. No other area in Delaware has as many.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than an e-commerce order specialist in the Sussex Delaware nonmetro area?
No: $110 a year less at the median. The medians are $36,560 and $36,670.
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.