Virtual receptionist in Wheeling, WV-OH: cost vs in-house
For this job Wheeling sits right at the West Virginia figure, with a median of $31,750 a year1. That is about level with the West Virginia statewide median of $31,920, and 16.5% below the US median of $38,010. That is in the bottom quarter of US areas (#461 of 521). About 410 virtual receptionists work here.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Wheeling, WV-OH. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Wheeling against West Virginia and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $23,400 | $31,750 | $43,540 | |
| West Virginia | $23,690 | $31,920 | $42,740 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
Virtual receptionists at the 90th percentile earn $43,540, 1.9 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 1.7. The middle half of virtual receptionists in Wheeling earns $28,550–$37,260. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $8,710 wide, between the figure for West Virginia ($8,650) and the US figure ($11,170).
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 | $23,400 | $1,950 | $11.25 | $30,194 |
| 25th percentile | $28,550 | $2,379 | $13.73 | $36,839 |
| Median | $31,750 | $2,646 | $15.26 | $40,968 |
| 75th percentile | $37,260 | $3,105 | $17.91 | $48,077 |
| 90th percentile | $43,540 | $3,628 | $20.93 | $56,181 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $5,510 over the median, the 25th only $3,200 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $7,110 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 Wheeling, and the West Virginia statewide median of $31,920 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 Wheeling
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 $9,218 to the $31,750 median and brings it to $40,968 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 Wheeling
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 16 roles we track in Wheeling; project coordinators have the highest, at $94,070.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR Assistant | +24.5% | 40 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +23.5% | 160 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +22.8% | 50 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +21.1% | 990 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 410 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #9 of the 16 roles we track in Wheeling (-16.5%), between medical administrative assistants (-14.7%) and recruiters (-17.7%). The typical role here is at -15.6%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Virtual receptionists hold 8.5% of the jobs in these 16 roles in Wheeling, 9.3% across West Virginia and 5.8% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in West Virginia
Across the 9 areas of West Virginia with data for this job, the median runs from $30,180 in Beckley to $34,690 in Weirton-Steubenville, a gap of $4,510 a year. Of the 5 areas in West Virginia with more virtual receptionists than Wheeling, 2 pay less: the Northern West Virginia nonmetro area ($30,790) and the Southern West Virginia nonmetro area ($30,370).
| Area | Median | vs Wheeling | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, WV | +3.3% | 800 | |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY | +0.4% | 1,050 | |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | +0.4% | 330 | |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | this area | 410 | |
| Northern West Virginia (Nonmetro) | -3.0% | 970 | |
| Southern West Virginia (Nonmetro) | -4.3% | 620 | |
| Beckley, WV | -4.9% | 350 |
Wheeling against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Wheeling is #357 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 West Virginia, Daphne-Fairhope and Bowling Green pay just above Wheeling and Lake Charles and Auburn-Opelika just below. All four are within $150 a year of the median in Wheeling. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Wheeling | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | +31.6% | 410 | jobs | |
| Jefferson City, MO | +8.7% | 410 | jobs | |
| Bloomington, IN | +7.8% | 410 | jobs | |
| Bowling Green, KY | +0.0% | 390 | pay | |
| Daphne-Fairhope, AL | +0.0% | 460 | pay | |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | this area | 410 | ||
| Lake Charles, LA | -0.4% | 570 | pay | |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | -0.5% | 330 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Wheeling, WV-OH?
About $40,968 a year at the median, or $3,414 a month: $31,750 in pay plus about $9,218 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for virtual receptionists in Wheeling?
Pay here is lower than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $31,750 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $23,400, the 90th $43,540, and the middle half earned $28,550 to $37,260.
Is Wheeling cheaper than the rest of West Virginia for virtual receptionists?
About the same: a median of $31,750 against $31,920 statewide. The next area up in West Virginia is Parkersburg-Vienna at $31,880, the next down the Northern West Virginia nonmetro area at $30,790.
How many virtual receptionists work in Wheeling?
BLS counts about 410 in the May 2025 survey. 5 areas in West Virginia have more; the closest in size is Morgantown, with about 600.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a customer support specialist in Wheeling?
No: $6,690 a year less at the median. The medians are $31,750 and $38,440.
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.