Cost of hiring a virtual receptionist in Washington-Arlington, DC-VA
BLS publishes pay for this job in only one area of the District of Columbia, and it is Washington-Arlington. The median is $41,240 a year[1], 15.9% below the District of Columbia median of $49,060 and 8.5% above the US median of $38,010. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#65 of 521). BLS counts about 17,920 people in this job here.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Washington-Arlington against the District of Columbia and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington, DC-VA | $33,600 | $41,240 | $54,790 | |
| District of Columbia | $37,050 | $49,060 | $64,270 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
Virtual receptionists at the 90th percentile earn $54,790, 1.6 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 1.7. The middle half of virtual receptionists in Washington-Arlington earns $36,410–$46,560.
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 | $33,600 | $2,800 | $16.15 | $48,000 |
| 25th percentile | $36,410 | $3,034 | $17.50 | $52,014 |
| Median | $41,240 | $3,437 | $19.83 | $58,914 |
| 75th percentile | $46,560 | $3,880 | $22.38 | $66,514 |
| 90th percentile | $54,790 | $4,566 | $26.34 | $78,271 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $4,830 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $5,320, or about $7,600 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.
What a hire really costs in Washington-Arlington
At the $41,240 median, a local hire costs about $58,914 a year: benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], about $17,674 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 fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Other roles in Washington-Arlington
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 17 roles we track in Washington-Arlington; project coordinators have the highest, at $127,030.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +208.0% | 38,230 | |
| Accountant | +147.7% | 41,470 | |
| Recruiter | +144.5% | 24,450 | |
| Executive Assistant | +119.0% | 12,960 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +111.3% | 21,090 | |
| Paralegal | +97.8% | 12,990 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +89.4% | 29,300 | |
| Office Manager | +85.3% | 23,390 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +53.8% | 2,010 | |
| Bookkeeper | +43.8% | 18,550 | |
| HR Assistant | +43.4% | 1,610 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +30.1% | 37,010 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +17.1% | 18,960 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +15.4% | 920 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +12.1% | 36,750 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +3.9% | 1,620 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 17,920 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Washington-Arlington, DC-VA?
About $58,914 a year at the median, or $4,910 a month: $41,240 in pay plus benefits and payroll taxes at the 30% share of total compensation in US private industry (June 2026). Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for virtual receptionists in Washington-Arlington?
The median was $41,240 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $33,600, the 90th $54,790, and the middle half earned $36,410 to $46,560.
How many virtual receptionists work in Washington-Arlington?
BLS counts about 17,920 in the May 2025 survey.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a data entry specialist in Washington-Arlington?
No: $1,600 a year less at the median. The medians are $41,240 and $42,840.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-4171: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes434171.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-06.