Virtual receptionist in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC: cost vs in-house
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake is a lower-cost market for virtual receptionists: the median of $35,470 a year1 is 4.3% below the Virginia statewide median of $37,060, and 6.7% below the US median of $38,010. Among US areas it comes in at #309 of 521. With about 4,370 virtual receptionists, no area in Virginia employs more.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake against Virginia and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC | $28,320 | $35,470 | $44,860 | |
| Virginia | $28,800 | $37,060 | $47,220 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
The middle half of virtual receptionists in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake earns $30,510–$38,970. The top tenth earns $44,860 or more, 1.6 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 1.7 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $8,460 wide, against $12,210 across Virginia and $11,170 nationally: employers in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake 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 | $28,320 | $2,360 | $13.62 | $36,542 |
| 25th percentile | $30,510 | $2,542 | $14.67 | $39,368 |
| Median | $35,470 | $2,956 | $17.05 | $45,768 |
| 75th percentile | $38,970 | $3,248 | $18.74 | $50,284 |
| 90th percentile | $44,860 | $3,738 | $21.57 | $57,884 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $4,960 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $3,500, or about $4,516 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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, and the Virginia statewide median of $37,060 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake
At the $35,470 median, a local hire costs about $45,768 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $10,298 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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 17 roles we track in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake; project coordinators have the highest, at $104,920.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +24.3% | 4,970 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +19.4% | 230 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +7.6% | 10,960 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +7.2% | 510 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 4,370 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #9 of the 17 roles we track in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake (-6.7%), between HR assistants (-5.2%) and office managers (-8.0%). The typical role here is at -6.7%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Virtual receptionists hold 6.3% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, 5.5% across Virginia and 5.7% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Virginia
Across the 13 areas of Virginia with data for this job, the median runs from $33,940 in Lynchburg to $37,220 in Harrisonburg, a gap of $3,280 a year. No other area in Virginia has as many virtual receptionists, and 5 of the other 12 pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Virginia Beach-Chesapeake | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winchester, VA-WV | +1.7% | 380 | |
| Southside Virginia (Nonmetro) | +1.3% | 590 | |
| Northwest Virginia (Nonmetro) | +1.0% | 310 | |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC | this area | 4,370 | |
| Southwest Virginia (Nonmetro) | -0.7% | 640 | |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg, VA | -1.5% | 370 | |
| Northeast Virginia (Nonmetro) | -1.5% | 270 |
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Virginia Beach-Chesapeake is #40 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 Virginia, Greenville-Anderson and Hilton Head Island-Bluffton pay just above Virginia Beach-Chesapeake and Farmington and Lakeland-Winter Haven just below. All four are within $40 a year of the median in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Virginia Beach-Chesapeake | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento-Roseville, CA | +27.3% | 4,570 | jobs | |
| Hartford-West Hartford, CT | +9.3% | 4,140 | jobs | |
| Jacksonville, FL | +3.6% | 4,380 | jobs | |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton, SC | +0.1% | 650 | pay | |
| Greenville-Anderson, SC | +0.1% | 2,030 | pay | |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC | this area | 4,370 | ||
| Farmington, NM | -0.1% | 250 | pay | |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | -0.1% | 1,300 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC?
About $45,768 a year at the median, or $3,814 a month: $35,470 in pay plus about $10,298 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do virtual receptionists earn in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake?
The median was $35,470 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $28,320, the 90th $44,860, and the middle half earned $30,510 to $38,970.
Is Virginia Beach-Chesapeake cheaper than the rest of Virginia for virtual receptionists?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $35,470 against $37,060 statewide. The next area up in Virginia is the Northwest Virginia nonmetro area at $35,820, the next down the Southwest Virginia nonmetro area at $35,210.
How many virtual receptionists work in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake?
BLS counts about 4,370 in the May 2025 survey. No other area in Virginia has as many.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a data entry specialist in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake?
No: $2,560 a year less at the median. The medians are $35,470 and $38,030.
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.