Virtual receptionist in Wilmington, NC: cost vs in-house
Wilmington is a lower-cost market for virtual receptionists: the median of $34,260 a year1 is 3.3% below the North Carolina statewide median of $35,440, and 9.9% below the US median of $38,010. Nationally it ranks #379 of 521 areas. BLS counts about 1,210 people in this job here, 6% of the North Carolina total.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Wilmington, NC. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Wilmington against North Carolina and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington, NC | $22,080 | $34,260 | $44,960 | |
| North Carolina | $23,270 | $35,440 | $46,210 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
Pay is more spread out here than nationally: the top tenth earns $44,960 or more, 2.0 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 Wilmington earns $29,280–$38,900. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $9,620 wide, against $10,930 across North Carolina and $11,170 nationally: employers in Wilmington 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 | $22,080 | $1,840 | $10.62 | $28,490 |
| 25th percentile | $29,280 | $2,440 | $14.08 | $37,781 |
| Median | $34,260 | $2,855 | $16.47 | $44,206 |
| 75th percentile | $38,900 | $3,242 | $18.70 | $50,194 |
| 90th percentile | $44,960 | $3,747 | $21.62 | $58,013 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $4,980 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $4,640, or about $5,987 once benefits are added. 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 Wilmington, and the North Carolina statewide median of $35,440 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Wilmington
At the $34,260 median, a local hire costs about $44,206 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $9,946 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 Wilmington
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 17 roles we track in Wilmington; project coordinators have the highest, at $89,120.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +31.0% | 110 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +16.9% | 2,700 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +16.1% | 110 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +11.2% | 2,850 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 1,210 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #8 of the 17 roles we track in Wilmington (-9.9%), between bookkeepers (-9.7%) and paralegals (-10.9%). The typical role here is at -10.9%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Virtual receptionists hold 6.1% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Wilmington, 3.8% across North Carolina and 5.7% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in North Carolina
Across the 18 areas of North Carolina with data for this job, the median runs from $30,600 in Jacksonville to $36,550 in Raleigh-Cary, a gap of $5,950 a year. Of the 3 areas in North Carolina with more virtual receptionists than Wilmington, 1 pays less: Greensboro-High Point, NC ($34,070).
| Area | Median | vs Wilmington | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western North Carolina (Nonmetro) | +1.7% | 1,120 | |
| Rocky Mount, NC | +1.3% | 190 | |
| Goldsboro, NC | +1.3% | 150 | |
| Wilmington, NC | this area | 1,210 | |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | -0.6% | 1,360 | |
| Hickory-Lenoir, NC | -1.1% | 420 | |
| Greenville, NC | -1.7% | 360 |
Wilmington against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Wilmington is #126 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 North Carolina, Sherman-Denison and Savannah pay just above Wilmington and Roanoke and Bloomington just below. All four are within $30 a year of the median in Wilmington. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Wilmington | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City, SD | +10.9% | 1,240 | jobs | |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass, FL | +4.2% | 1,210 | jobs | |
| Savannah, GA | +0.0% | 1,290 | pay | |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | +0.0% | 320 | pay | |
| Wilmington, NC | this area | 1,210 | ||
| Roanoke, VA | -0.1% | 980 | pay | |
| Bloomington, IN | -0.1% | 410 | pay | |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | -4.6% | 1,190 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Wilmington, NC?
About $44,206 a year at the median, or $3,684 a month: $34,260 in pay plus about $9,946 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do virtual receptionists earn in Wilmington?
The median was $34,260 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $22,080, the 90th $44,960, and the middle half earned $29,280 to $38,900.
Is Wilmington cheaper than the rest of North Carolina for virtual receptionists?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $34,260 against $35,440 statewide. The next area up in North Carolina is Goldsboro at $34,710, the next down Greensboro-High Point at $34,070.
How many virtual receptionists work in Wilmington?
BLS counts about 1,210 in the May 2025 survey. That is 6% of the North Carolina total of 20,080. 3 areas in North Carolina have more; the closest in size is Greensboro-High Point, with about 1,360.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a customer support specialist in Wilmington?
No: $3,840 a year less at the median. The medians are $34,260 and $38,100.
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.