Virtual receptionist in the West Kentucky nonmetro area: cost vs in-house
The West Kentucky nonmetro area is a lower-cost market for virtual receptionists: the median of $31,360 a year1 is 4.8% below the Kentucky statewide median of $32,940, and 17.5% below the US median of $38,010. That is in the bottom quarter of US areas (#468 of 521). About 520 virtual receptionists work here, 6% of the Kentucky total.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the West Kentucky nonmetro area against Kentucky and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Kentucky (Nonmetro) | $22,890 | $31,360 | $43,910 | |
| Kentucky | $23,720 | $32,940 | $44,270 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
Pay is more spread out here than nationally: the top tenth earns $43,910 or more, 1.9 times the bottom tenth, against 1.7 times across the US. Two offers for the same title can sit far apart. The middle half of virtual receptionists in the West Kentucky nonmetro area earns $27,850–$37,440. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $9,590 wide, against $10,020 across Kentucky and $11,170 nationally: employers in the West Kentucky 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 | $22,890 | $1,908 | $11.00 | $29,535 |
| 25th percentile | $27,850 | $2,321 | $13.39 | $35,935 |
| Median | $31,360 | $2,613 | $15.08 | $40,465 |
| 75th percentile | $37,440 | $3,120 | $18.00 | $48,310 |
| 90th percentile | $43,910 | $3,659 | $21.11 | $56,658 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $6,080 over the median, the 25th only $3,510 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $7,845 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 75th and 90th percentiles in the West Kentucky nonmetro area, and the Kentucky statewide median of $32,940 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 the West Kentucky 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 $9,105 to the $31,360 median and brings it to $40,465 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 Kentucky nonmetro area
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 17 roles we track in the West Kentucky nonmetro area; project coordinators have the highest, at $75,050.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +22.7% | 40 | |
| Paralegal | +22.7% | 120 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +19.5% | 1,590 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +15.9% | 1,360 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 520 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #8 of the 17 roles we track in the West Kentucky nonmetro area (-17.5%), between e-commerce order specialists (-16.7%) and administrative assistants (-18.3%). The typical role here is at -18.3%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Virtual receptionists hold 5.0% of the jobs in these 17 roles in the West Kentucky nonmetro area, 4.7% across Kentucky and 5.7% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Kentucky
Across the 10 areas of Kentucky with data for this job, the median runs from $29,640 in the East Kentucky nonmetro area to $34,520 in Louisville, a gap of $4,880 a year. Of the 4 areas in Kentucky with more virtual receptionists than the West Kentucky nonmetro area, 1 pays less: the Central Kentucky nonmetro area ($29,680).
| Area | Median | vs the West Kentucky nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paducah, KY-IL | +2.5% | 240 | |
| South Central Kentucky (Nonmetro) | +2.3% | 840 | |
| Bowling Green, KY | +1.2% | 390 | |
| West Kentucky (Nonmetro) | this area | 520 | |
| Owensboro, KY | -0.2% | 310 | |
| Central Kentucky (Nonmetro) | -5.4% | 740 | |
| East Kentucky (Nonmetro) | -5.5% | 370 |
the West Kentucky nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the West Kentucky nonmetro area is #308 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 Kentucky, Alexandria and Lubbock pay just above the West Kentucky nonmetro area and Monroe and Columbus just below. All four are within $190 a year of the median in the West Kentucky nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the West Kentucky nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Logan, UT-ID | +14.1% | 520 | jobs | |
| Saginaw, MI | +13.9% | 520 | jobs | |
| Bloomington, IL | +12.7% | 520 | jobs | |
| Lubbock, TX | +0.6% | 1,130 | pay | |
| Alexandria, LA | +0.4% | 400 | pay | |
| West Kentucky (Nonmetro) | this area | 520 | ||
| Monroe, LA | -0.4% | 600 | pay | |
| Columbus, GA-AL | -0.5% | 910 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in West Kentucky (Nonmetro)?
About $40,465 a year at the median, or $3,372 a month: $31,360 in pay plus about $9,105 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for virtual receptionists in the West Kentucky nonmetro area?
Pay here is lower than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $31,360 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $22,890, the 90th $43,910, and the middle half earned $27,850 to $37,440.
Is the West Kentucky nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of Kentucky for virtual receptionists?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $31,360 against $32,940 statewide. The next area up in Kentucky is Bowling Green at $31,750, the next down Owensboro at $31,300.
How many virtual receptionists work in the West Kentucky nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 520 in the May 2025 survey. That is 6% of the Kentucky total of 9,290. 4 areas in Kentucky have more; the closest in size is the Central Kentucky nonmetro area, with about 740.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a medical administrative assistant in the West Kentucky nonmetro area?
No: $5,000 a year less at the median. The medians are $31,360 and $36,360.
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.