Virtual receptionist in the West North Dakota nonmetro area: cost vs in-house
Budget above the national rate here. The median virtual receptionist in the West North Dakota nonmetro area earned $42,530 a year in May 20251, 7.6% above the North Dakota statewide median of $39,530 and 11.9% above the US median of $38,010. Nationally that is #49 of 521 areas, in the top tenth. The market is small, about 290 people, 15% of the North Dakota total, so expect few local candidates at a time.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the West North Dakota nonmetro area against North Dakota and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West North Dakota (Nonmetro) | $35,110 | $42,530 | $54,170 | |
| North Dakota | $29,570 | $39,530 | $52,220 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
The middle half of virtual receptionists in the West North Dakota nonmetro area earns $36,990–$48,600. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $54,170, 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 $11,610 wide, wider than in North Dakota as a whole ($10,920) and the US ($11,170), so what a virtual receptionist earns in the West North Dakota nonmetro area depends more on the employer.
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 | $35,110 | $2,926 | $16.88 | $45,303 |
| 25th percentile | $36,990 | $3,082 | $17.78 | $47,729 |
| Median | $42,530 | $3,544 | $20.45 | $54,877 |
| 75th percentile | $48,600 | $4,050 | $23.37 | $62,710 |
| 90th percentile | $54,170 | $4,514 | $26.04 | $69,897 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $6,070 a year in pay and about $7,832 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $5,540 in pay. 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 25th percentile and the median in the West North Dakota nonmetro area, and the North Dakota statewide median of $39,530 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in the West North Dakota 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 $12,347 to the $42,530 median and brings it to $54,877 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 North Dakota nonmetro area
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 14 roles we track in the West North Dakota nonmetro area; sales development representatives have the highest, at $116,840.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Assistant | +17.6% | 1,160 | |
| Bookkeeper | +17.6% | 740 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +12.3% | 610 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +5.7% | 120 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 290 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #2 of the 14 roles we track in the West North Dakota nonmetro area (+11.9%), between sales development representatives (+66.9%) and customer support specialists (+6.7%). The typical role here is at -0.0%, so, measured against the US, virtual receptionists cost more in the West North Dakota nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Virtual receptionists hold 5.5% of the jobs in these 14 roles in the West North Dakota nonmetro area, 5.7% across North Dakota and 5.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in North Dakota
Across the 6 areas of North Dakota with data for this job, the median runs from $38,500 in Fargo to $42,540 in the East North Dakota nonmetro area, a gap of $4,040 a year. All 2 areas in North Dakota with more virtual receptionists than the West North Dakota nonmetro area pay less, among them Fargo, ND-MN ($38,500) and Bismarck, ND ($38,710).
| Area | Median | vs the West North Dakota nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| East North Dakota (Nonmetro) | +0.0% | 220 | |
| West North Dakota (Nonmetro) | this area | 290 | |
| Minot, ND | -5.8% | 160 | |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | -8.3% | 200 | |
| Bismarck, ND | -9.0% | 440 | |
| Fargo, ND-MN | -9.5% | 700 |
the West North Dakota nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the West North Dakota nonmetro area is #432 of 521 US areas for this job. The market is small, but its pay is in the top quarter of US areas. Outside North Dakota, Stockton-Lodi and Boulder pay just above the West North Dakota nonmetro area and Pittsfield and Yuba City just below. All four are within $650 a year of the median in the West North Dakota nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs the West North Dakota nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder, CO | +0.6% | 980 | pay | |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | +0.4% | 920 | pay | |
| West North Dakota (Nonmetro) | this area | 290 | ||
| Pittsfield, MA | -1.5% | 360 | pay | |
| Yuba City, CA | -1.5% | 200 | pay | |
| Merced, CA | -8.6% | 290 | jobs | |
| Cheyenne, WY | -11.9% | 290 | jobs | |
| Mansfield, OH | -22.0% | 290 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in West North Dakota (Nonmetro)?
About $54,877 a year at the median, or $4,573 a month: $42,530 in pay plus about $12,347 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do virtual receptionists earn in the West North Dakota nonmetro area?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $42,530 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $35,110, the 90th $54,170, and the middle half earned $36,990 to $48,600.
Is the West North Dakota nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of North Dakota for virtual receptionists?
No, it costs more: a median of $42,530 against $39,530 statewide. The next area up in North Dakota is the East North Dakota nonmetro area at $42,540, the next down Minot at $40,060.
How many virtual receptionists work in the West North Dakota nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 290 in the May 2025 survey. That is 15% of the North Dakota total of 1,930. Only Fargo and Bismarck have more in North Dakota.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a medical administrative assistant in the West North Dakota nonmetro area?
No: $2,430 a year less at the median. The medians are $42,530 and $44,960.
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 2026-11-13.