Virtual receptionist in Topeka, KS: cost vs in-house
No other area in Kansas pays virtual receptionists more than Topeka: the median is $35,780 a year1. That is about level with the Kansas statewide median of $36,050, and 5.9% below the US median of $38,010. Nationally it ranks #287 of 521 areas. About 480 virtual receptionists work here, 7% of the Kansas total.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Topeka, KS. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Topeka against Kansas and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka, KS | $27,200 | $35,780 | $45,400 | |
| Kansas | $27,390 | $36,050 | $45,690 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
Virtual receptionists at the 90th percentile earn $45,400, 1.7 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 1.7. The middle half of virtual receptionists in Topeka earns $30,350–$40,030. The mean ($35,780) is no higher than the median, so few high earners skew the figures here. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $9,680 wide, between the figure for Kansas ($8,310) 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 | $27,200 | $2,267 | $13.08 | $35,097 |
| 25th percentile | $30,350 | $2,529 | $14.59 | $39,161 |
| Median | $35,780 | $2,982 | $17.20 | $46,168 |
| 75th percentile | $40,030 | $3,336 | $19.25 | $51,652 |
| 90th percentile | $45,400 | $3,783 | $21.83 | $58,581 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $4,250 a year in pay and about $5,484 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $5,430 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 median and the 75th percentile in Topeka, and the Kansas statewide median of $36,050 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Topeka
At the $35,780 median, a local hire costs about $46,168 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $10,388 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 Topeka
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 17 roles we track in Topeka; project coordinators have the highest, at $100,000.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customer Support Specialist | +20.7% | 2,340 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +10.4% | 2,920 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +3.5% | 30 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +2.7% | 300 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 480 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #8 of the 17 roles we track in Topeka (-5.9%), between bookkeepers (-4.6%) and accountants (-8.8%). The typical role here is at -8.8%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Virtual receptionists hold 3.4% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Topeka, 4.6% across Kansas and 5.7% nationally. The job is a smaller part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Kansas
Across the 5 areas of Kansas with data for this job, the median runs from $32,130 in Manhattan to $35,780 in Topeka, a gap of $3,650 a year. All 2 areas in Kansas with more virtual receptionists than Topeka pay less, among them Wichita, KS ($35,540) and the Kansas nonmetro area ($34,820).
| Area | Median | vs Topeka | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka, KS | this area | 480 | |
| Wichita, KS | -0.7% | 1,900 | |
| Lawrence, KS | -1.0% | 260 | |
| Kansas (Nonmetro) | -2.7% | 1,700 | |
| Manhattan, KS | -10.2% | 390 |
Topeka against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Topeka is #321 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Kansas, Little Rock-North Little Rock and Deltona-Daytona Beach pay just above Topeka and Logan and New Orleans-Metairie just below. All four are within $30 a year of the median in Topeka. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Topeka | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fond du Lac, WI | +12.9% | 470 | jobs | |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach, FL | +0.0% | 1,410 | pay | |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR | +0.0% | 3,390 | pay | |
| Topeka, KS | this area | 480 | ||
| Logan, UT-ID | -0.0% | 520 | pay | |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | -0.1% | 2,930 | pay | |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | -1.9% | 490 | jobs | |
| Hattiesburg, MS | -16.6% | 480 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Topeka, KS?
About $46,168 a year at the median, or $3,847 a month: $35,780 in pay plus about $10,388 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for virtual receptionists in Topeka?
The median was $35,780 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $27,200, the 90th $45,400, and the middle half earned $30,350 to $40,030.
Is Topeka the most expensive area in Kansas for virtual receptionists?
Yes. Its median of $35,780 is the highest of 5 areas in Kansas. Wichita comes next at $35,540.
How many virtual receptionists work in Topeka?
BLS counts about 480 in the May 2025 survey. That is 7% of the Kansas total of 7,290. Only Wichita and the Kansas nonmetro area have more in Kansas.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a data entry specialist in Topeka?
No: $980 a year less at the median. The medians are $35,780 and $36,760.
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.