Virtual receptionist in Waco, TX: cost vs in-house
Waco is a lower-cost market for virtual receptionists: the median of $32,810 a year1 is 6.8% below the Texas statewide median of $35,210, and 13.7% below the US median of $38,010. That is in the bottom quarter of US areas (#425 of 521). About 730 virtual receptionists work here.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Waco, TX. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Waco against Texas and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waco, TX | $23,710 | $32,810 | $45,030 | |
| Texas | $24,700 | $35,210 | $47,380 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
Virtual receptionists at the 90th percentile earn $45,030, 1.9 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 1.7. The middle half of virtual receptionists in Waco earns $28,480–$36,990. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $8,510 wide, against $11,050 across Texas and $11,170 nationally: employers in Waco 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 | $23,710 | $1,976 | $11.40 | $30,594 |
| 25th percentile | $28,480 | $2,373 | $13.69 | $36,748 |
| Median | $32,810 | $2,734 | $15.77 | $42,335 |
| 75th percentile | $36,990 | $3,082 | $17.78 | $47,729 |
| 90th percentile | $45,030 | $3,752 | $21.65 | $58,103 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $4,330 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $4,180, or about $5,394 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 75th and 90th percentiles in Waco, and the Texas statewide median of $35,210 falls between the median and the 75th percentile. An offer at the national rate would beat what three quarters of local virtual receptionists earn.
What a hire really costs in Waco
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, which adds about $9,525 to the $32,810 median and brings it to $42,335 a year. 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 Waco
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 17 roles we track in Waco; project coordinators have the highest, at $78,580.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Assistant | +32.0% | 1,470 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +19.5% | 180 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +18.3% | 3,260 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +16.4% | 560 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 730 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #11 of the 17 roles we track in Waco (-13.7%), between customer support specialists (-13.3%) and office managers (-13.7%). The typical role here is at -12.5%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Virtual receptionists hold 5.5% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Waco, 5.0% across Texas and 5.7% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Texas
Across the 32 areas of Texas with data for this job, the median runs from $28,530 in McAllen-Edinburg to $37,280 in Midland, a gap of $8,750 a year. Of the 16 areas in Texas with more virtual receptionists than Waco, 10 pay less, the largest of them El Paso, TX ($29,460), McAllen-Edinburg, TX ($28,530) and the North Region of Texas nonmetro area ($32,130).
| Area | Median | vs Waco | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sherman-Denison, TX | +4.4% | 320 | |
| Amarillo, TX | +3.3% | 900 | |
| Wichita Falls, TX | +0.4% | 420 | |
| Waco, TX | this area | 730 | |
| Longview, TX | -1.4% | 610 | |
| Hill Country Region of Texas (Nonmetro) | -1.8% | 1,190 | |
| Victoria, TX | -2.1% | 280 |
Waco against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Waco is #235 of 521 US areas for this job. It is a mid-sized market, and its pay is in the bottom quarter of US areas. Outside Texas, Charleston and Elizabethtown pay just above Waco and Cleveland and Warner Robins just below. All four are within $210 a year of the median in Waco. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Waco | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville, VA | +13.2% | 720 | jobs | |
| Idaho Falls, ID | +6.1% | 720 | jobs | |
| Columbia, MO | +3.7% | 730 | jobs | |
| Elizabethtown, KY | +0.6% | 250 | pay | |
| Charleston, WV | +0.0% | 800 | pay | |
| Waco, TX | this area | 730 | ||
| Cleveland, TN | -0.1% | 160 | pay | |
| Warner Robins, GA | -0.2% | 350 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Waco, TX?
About $42,335 a year at the median, or $3,528 a month: $32,810 in pay plus about $9,525 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for virtual receptionists in Waco?
Pay here is lower than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $32,810 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $23,710, the 90th $45,030, and the middle half earned $28,480 to $36,990.
Is Waco cheaper than the rest of Texas for virtual receptionists?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $32,810 against $35,210 statewide. The next area up in Texas is Wichita Falls at $32,940, the next down Longview at $32,350.
How many virtual receptionists work in Waco?
BLS counts about 730 in the May 2025 survey. 16 areas in Texas have more; the closest in size is College Station-Bryan, with about 790.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a medical administrative assistant in Waco?
No: $5,380 a year less at the median. The medians are $32,810 and $38,190.
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.