Virtual receptionist in Wichita, KS: cost vs in-house
Hiring a virtual receptionist costs less in Wichita than in Kansas or the country as a whole. The median is $35,540 a year1: 1.4% below the Kansas statewide median of $36,050 and 6.5% below the US median of $38,010. Nationally it ranks #305 of 521 areas. It is the largest market for the job in Kansas: about 1,900 people, 26% of the Kansas total.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Wichita, KS. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Wichita against Kansas and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita, KS | $27,340 | $35,540 | $44,950 | |
| Kansas | $27,390 | $36,050 | $45,690 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
The middle half of virtual receptionists in Wichita earns $31,200–$38,320. The top tenth earns $44,950 or more, 1.6 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 1.7 times. The mean ($35,490) is no higher than the median, so few high earners skew the figures here. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $7,120 wide, against $8,310 across Kansas and $11,170 nationally: employers in Wichita 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 | $27,340 | $2,278 | $13.14 | $35,277 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $2,600 | $15.00 | $40,258 |
| Median | $35,540 | $2,962 | $17.09 | $45,858 |
| 75th percentile | $38,320 | $3,193 | $18.42 | $49,445 |
| 90th percentile | $44,950 | $3,746 | $21.61 | $58,000 |
Local pay is bunched just above the median: the 75th percentile is only $2,780 over it, while the 25th sits $4,340 below. Moving an offer from the median to the 75th percentile costs about $3,587 more a year with benefits. 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 Wichita, and the Kansas statewide median of $36,050 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Wichita
At the $35,540 median, a local hire costs about $45,858 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $10,318 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 fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Wichita
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 17 roles we track in Wichita; project coordinators have the highest, at $89,170.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Assistant | +16.7% | 6,290 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +11.2% | 1,460 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +10.7% | 5,950 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +8.5% | 190 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 1,900 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #4 of the 17 roles we track in Wichita (-6.5%), between accountants (-5.3%) and data entry specialists (-6.7%). The typical role here is at -12.2%, so, measured against the US, virtual receptionists cost more in Wichita than the area's general pay level would suggest. Virtual receptionists hold 5.9% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Wichita, 4.6% across Kansas and 5.7% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Kansas
Across the 5 areas of Kansas with data for this job, the median runs from $32,130 in Manhattan to $35,780 in Topeka, a gap of $3,650 a year. No other area in Kansas has as many virtual receptionists, and 3 of the other 4 pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Wichita | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka, KS | +0.7% | 480 | |
| Wichita, KS | this area | 1,900 | |
| Lawrence, KS | -0.4% | 260 | |
| Kansas (Nonmetro) | -2.0% | 1,700 | |
| Manhattan, KS | -9.6% | 390 |
Wichita against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Wichita is #85 of 521 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside Kansas, Columbus and Monroe pay just above Wichita and Columbia and Hilton Head Island-Bluffton just below. All four are within $40 a year of the median in Wichita. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Wichita | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester, MA | +17.4% | 1,940 | jobs | |
| Toledo, OH | +3.3% | 1,900 | jobs | |
| Monroe, MI | +0.1% | 280 | pay | |
| Columbus, IN | +0.1% | 240 | pay | |
| Wichita, KS | this area | 1,900 | ||
| Columbia, SC | -0.0% | 1,880 | pay | |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton, SC | -0.1% | 650 | pay | |
| El Paso, TX | -17.1% | 1,950 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Wichita, KS?
About $45,858 a year at the median, or $3,822 a month: $35,540 in pay plus about $10,318 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for virtual receptionists in Wichita?
The median was $35,540 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $27,340, the 90th $44,950, and the middle half earned $31,200 to $38,320.
Is Wichita cheaper than the rest of Kansas for virtual receptionists?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $35,540 against $36,050 statewide. The next area up in Kansas is Topeka at $35,780, the next down Lawrence at $35,410.
How many virtual receptionists work in Wichita?
BLS counts about 1,900 in the May 2025 survey. That is 26% of the Kansas total of 7,290. No other area in Kansas has as many.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a data entry specialist in Wichita?
No: $3,020 a year less at the median. The medians are $35,540 and $38,560.
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.