Virtual receptionist in Syracuse, NY: cost vs in-house
The median virtual receptionist in Syracuse earned $39,900 a year in May 20251. That is 5.0% above the US median of $38,010, even though it is 7.4% below the New York statewide median of $43,080. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#83 of 521). About 2,340 virtual receptionists work here, 4% of the New York total.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Syracuse, NY. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Syracuse against New York and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse, NY | $32,520 | $39,900 | $48,690 | |
| New York | $34,740 | $43,080 | $59,140 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
The middle half of virtual receptionists in Syracuse earns $35,320–$48,050. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $48,690, 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 $12,730 wide, wider than in New York as a whole ($11,610) and the US ($11,170), so what a virtual receptionist earns in Syracuse depends more on the employer.
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 | $32,520 | $2,710 | $15.63 | $41,961 |
| 25th percentile | $35,320 | $2,943 | $16.98 | $45,574 |
| Median | $39,900 | $3,325 | $19.18 | $51,484 |
| 75th percentile | $48,050 | $4,004 | $23.10 | $62,000 |
| 90th percentile | $48,690 | $4,058 | $23.41 | $62,826 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $8,150 over the median, the 25th only $4,580 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $10,516 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 25th percentile and the median in Syracuse, and the New York statewide median of $43,080 falls between the median and the 75th percentile.
What a hire really costs in Syracuse
At the $39,900 median, a local hire costs about $51,484 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $11,584 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 Syracuse
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 17 roles we track in Syracuse; project coordinators have the highest, at $105,390.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +18.8% | 90 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +13.7% | 4,710 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +12.5% | 1,870 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +7.4% | 230 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 2,340 |
Measured against the US median, this job is the best paid of the 17 roles we track in Syracuse (+5.0%); sales development representatives come last (-8.8%). The typical role here is at +1.3%, so, measured against the US, virtual receptionists cost more in Syracuse than the area's general pay level would suggest. Virtual receptionists hold 7.3% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Syracuse, 5.9% across New York and 5.7% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in New York
Across the 16 areas of New York with data for this job, the median runs from $36,160 in Watertown-Fort Drum to $44,690 in New York-Newark, a gap of $8,530 a year. Of the 4 areas in New York with more virtual receptionists than Syracuse, 3 pay less: Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY ($38,960), Rochester, NY ($38,550) and Albany-Schenectady, NY ($39,790).
| Area | Median | vs Syracuse | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark, NY-NJ | +12.0% | 74,190 | |
| Syracuse, NY | this area | 2,340 | |
| Albany-Schenectady, NY | -0.3% | 2,650 | |
| Capital/Northern New York (Nonmetro) | -0.9% | 760 | |
| Kingston, NY | -0.9% | 440 | |
| Glens Falls, NY | -1.2% | 350 | |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie, NY | -1.2% | 1,770 |
Syracuse against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Syracuse is #69 of 521 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job and one of the better-paying ones. Outside New York, Honolulu and Minot pay just above Syracuse and Flagstaff and Bakersfield-Delano just below. All four are within $210 a year of the median in Syracuse. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Syracuse | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | +4.8% | 2,370 | jobs | |
| Minot, ND | +0.4% | 160 | pay | |
| Honolulu, HI | +0.2% | 2,410 | pay | |
| Syracuse, NY | this area | 2,340 | ||
| Flagstaff, AZ | -0.2% | 670 | pay | |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | -0.5% | 1,180 | pay | |
| Boise City, ID | -6.0% | 2,280 | jobs | |
| North Port-Bradenton, FL | -6.2% | 2,370 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Syracuse, NY?
About $51,484 a year at the median, or $4,290 a month: $39,900 in pay plus about $11,584 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for virtual receptionists in Syracuse?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $39,900 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $32,520, the 90th $48,690, and the middle half earned $35,320 to $48,050.
Is Syracuse cheaper than the rest of New York for virtual receptionists?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $39,900 against $43,080 statewide. The next area up in New York is New York-Newark at $44,690, the next down Albany-Schenectady at $39,790.
How many virtual receptionists work in Syracuse?
BLS counts about 2,340 in the May 2025 survey. That is 4% of the New York total of 65,010. 4 areas in New York have more; the closest in size is Albany-Schenectady, with about 2,650.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a data entry specialist in Syracuse?
No: $2,940 a year less at the median. The medians are $39,900 and $42,840.
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.