Virtual receptionist in Tulsa, OK: cost vs in-house
No other area in Oklahoma pays virtual receptionists more than Tulsa: the median is $35,310 a year1. That is 2.2% above the Oklahoma statewide median of $34,560, and 7.1% below the US median of $38,010. Among US areas it comes in at #321 of 521. About 2,500 virtual receptionists work here, 27% of the Oklahoma total.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Tulsa, OK. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Tulsa against Oklahoma and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tulsa, OK | $24,960 | $35,310 | $45,510 | |
| Oklahoma | $24,700 | $34,560 | $44,760 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
The middle half of virtual receptionists in Tulsa earns $30,160–$38,410. The top tenth earns $45,510 or more, 1.8 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 1.7 times. The mean ($35,060) 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 only $8,250 wide, against $9,320 across Oklahoma and $11,170 nationally: employers in Tulsa 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 | $24,960 | $2,080 | $12.00 | $32,206 |
| 25th percentile | $30,160 | $2,513 | $14.50 | $38,916 |
| Median | $35,310 | $2,942 | $16.98 | $45,561 |
| 75th percentile | $38,410 | $3,201 | $18.47 | $49,561 |
| 90th percentile | $45,510 | $3,792 | $21.88 | $58,723 |
Local pay is bunched just above the median: the 75th percentile is only $3,100 over it, while the 25th sits $5,150 below. Moving an offer from the median to the 75th percentile costs about $4,000 more a year with benefits. 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 Tulsa, and the Oklahoma statewide median of $34,560 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Tulsa
At the $35,310 median, a local hire costs about $45,561 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $10,251 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 Tulsa
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 17 roles we track in Tulsa; project coordinators have the highest, at $93,240.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Assistant | +15.3% | 5,060 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +15.3% | 380 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +10.4% | 2,740 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +9.2% | 9,800 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 2,500 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #5 of the 17 roles we track in Tulsa (-7.1%), between bookkeepers (-4.8%) and project coordinators (-8.9%). The typical role here is at -11.6%, so, measured against the US, virtual receptionists cost more in Tulsa than the area's general pay level would suggest. Virtual receptionists hold 5.1% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Tulsa, 5.4% across Oklahoma and 5.7% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Oklahoma
Across the 8 areas of Oklahoma with data for this job, the median runs from $31,750 in the Southwest Oklahoma nonmetro area to $35,310 in Tulsa, a gap of $3,560 a year. The one area in Oklahoma with more virtual receptionists, Oklahoma City, OK ($35,040), pays less: a bigger pool at a lower median.
| Area | Median | vs Tulsa | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tulsa, OK | this area | 2,500 | |
| Oklahoma City, OK | -0.8% | 4,030 | |
| Southeast Oklahoma (Nonmetro) | -2.4% | 1,030 | |
| Enid, OK | -4.2% | 140 | |
| Northwest Oklahoma (Nonmetro) | -8.6% | 380 | |
| Northeast Oklahoma (Nonmetro) | -9.0% | 640 | |
| Lawton, OK | -9.1% | 170 |
Tulsa against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Tulsa is #64 of 521 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside Oklahoma, Bloomington and Houston-Pasadena pay just above Tulsa and Gettysburg and Cincinnati just below. All four are within $60 a year of the median in Tulsa. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Tulsa | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu, HI | +13.2% | 2,410 | jobs | |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | +9.2% | 2,430 | jobs | |
| Fayetteville-Springdale, AR | +2.2% | 2,530 | jobs | |
| Houston-Pasadena, TX | +0.1% | 17,140 | pay | |
| Bloomington, IL | +0.1% | 520 | pay | |
| Tulsa, OK | this area | 2,500 | ||
| Gettysburg, PA | -0.1% | 180 | pay | |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY | -0.2% | 5,560 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Tulsa, OK?
About $45,561 a year at the median, or $3,797 a month: $35,310 in pay plus about $10,251 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for virtual receptionists in Tulsa?
The median was $35,310 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $24,960, the 90th $45,510, and the middle half earned $30,160 to $38,410.
Is Tulsa the most expensive area in Oklahoma for virtual receptionists?
Yes. Its median of $35,310 is the highest of 8 areas in Oklahoma. Oklahoma City comes next at $35,040.
How many virtual receptionists work in Tulsa?
BLS counts about 2,500 in the May 2025 survey. That is 27% of the Oklahoma total of 9,380. Only Oklahoma City has more in Oklahoma.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a customer support specialist in Tulsa?
No: $3,250 a year less at the median. The medians are $35,310 and $38,560.
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.