Virtual receptionist in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area: cost vs in-house
Of the 12 areas in Illinois with BLS pay data for this job, the West Central Illinois nonmetro area has the lowest median: $33,920 a year1. That is 9.3% below the Illinois statewide median of $37,400, and 10.8% below the US median of $38,010. That is in the bottom quarter of US areas (#398 of 521). About 990 virtual receptionists work here, 2% of the Illinois total.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area against Illinois and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Central Illinois (Nonmetro) | $31,200 | $33,920 | $46,090 | |
| Illinois | $31,200 | $37,400 | $48,350 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
The middle half of virtual receptionists in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area earns $31,200–$38,350. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $46,090, only 1.5 times the bottom tenth, against 1.7 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $7,150 wide, against $9,750 across Illinois and $11,170 nationally: employers in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area 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 | $31,200 | $2,600 | $15.00 | $40,258 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $2,600 | $15.00 | $40,258 |
| Median | $33,920 | $2,827 | $16.31 | $43,768 |
| 75th percentile | $38,350 | $3,196 | $18.44 | $49,484 |
| 90th percentile | $46,090 | $3,841 | $22.16 | $59,471 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $4,430 over the median, the 25th only $2,720 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $5,716 a year in employer cost. 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 the West Central Illinois nonmetro area, and the Illinois statewide median of $37,400 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area
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 $9,848 to the $33,920 median and brings it to $43,768 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 the West Central Illinois nonmetro area
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 17 roles we track in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area; project coordinators have the highest, at $93,300.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customer Support Specialist | +23.1% | 1,930 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +21.3% | 2,290 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +13.8% | 940 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +6.8% | 120 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 990 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #6 of the 17 roles we track in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area (-10.8%), between HR assistants (-10.6%) and data entry specialists (-12.3%). The typical role here is at -13.1%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Virtual receptionists hold 7.6% of the jobs in these 17 roles in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area, 6.6% across Illinois and 5.7% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Illinois
Across the 12 areas of Illinois with data for this job, the median runs from $33,920 in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area to $38,060 in Chicago-Naperville, a gap of $4,140 a year. All 3 areas in Illinois with more virtual receptionists than the West Central Illinois nonmetro area also pay more, among them Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN ($38,060) and Peoria, IL ($35,970).
| Area | Median | vs the West Central Illinois nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Illinois (Nonmetro) | +7.3% | 930 | |
| Peoria, IL | +6.0% | 1,010 | |
| Decatur, IL | +5.2% | 260 | |
| Kankakee, IL | +5.0% | 310 | |
| Bloomington, IL | +4.2% | 520 | |
| East Central Illinois (Nonmetro) | +2.5% | 970 | |
| West Central Illinois (Nonmetro) | this area | 990 |
the West Central Illinois nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the West Central Illinois nonmetro area is #164 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 Illinois, Lynchburg and Kingsport-Bristol pay just above the West Central Illinois nonmetro area and Amarillo and Hickory-Lenoir just below. All four are within $50 a year of the median in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the West Central Illinois nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eau Claire, WI | +21.8% | 990 | jobs | |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | +0.6% | 990 | jobs | |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | +0.1% | 470 | pay | |
| Lynchburg, VA | +0.1% | 560 | pay | |
| West Central Illinois (Nonmetro) | this area | 990 | ||
| Amarillo, TX | -0.1% | 900 | pay | |
| Hickory-Lenoir, NC | -0.1% | 420 | pay | |
| Slidell-Mandeville, LA | -6.4% | 1,000 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in West Central Illinois (Nonmetro)?
About $43,768 a year at the median, or $3,647 a month: $33,920 in pay plus about $9,848 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do virtual receptionists earn in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area?
Pay here is lower than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $33,920 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $31,200, the 90th $46,090, and the middle half earned $31,200 to $38,350.
Is the West Central Illinois nonmetro area the cheapest area in Illinois for virtual receptionists?
Yes. Its median of $33,920 is the lowest of 12 areas in Illinois. The East Central Illinois nonmetro area is next at $34,770.
How many virtual receptionists work in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 990 in the May 2025 survey. That is 2% of the Illinois total of 40,370. 3 areas in Illinois have more; the closest in size is Rockford, with about 1,000.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a data entry specialist in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area?
No: $2,320 a year less at the median. The medians are $33,920 and $36,240.
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.