What a receptionist costs in 2026
The median receptionist in the United States earned $38,010 a year, $18.27 an hour, in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2025 survey. With benefits at a small employer, a full-time receptionist at the median costs about $51,300 a year, or about $4,300 a month.
The middle half of receptionists earn $33,960 to $45,130. There are 910,180 of them across the country, and what one costs you depends most on where you are: District of Columbia has the highest median at $49,060, and Mississippi the lowest of the 50 states at $31,160.
Liaison does the routine half of a receptionist’s job for 15% of that. See how.
What a receptionist would cost you
Pick a state or a metro area and the hours you need. The cost is the median hourly wage there plus benefits at the rate you choose.
Receptionist, the United States, 40 hours a week
$51,305 a year
$4,275 a month. Wages $38,002 at the median of $18.27 an hour, plus $13,303 in benefits. The middle half of receptionists here earn $33,960 to $45,130 in wages.
Receptionist wages and cost by state
Median wage, May 2025. The cost column adds benefits at the rate for employers with 1 to 49 workers (35% on top of wages).
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | Cost to a small employer | Middle half earns | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $32,590 | $15.67 | $43,999 | $28,120 to $36,660 | 10,460 |
| Alaska | $44,720 | $21.50 | $60,375 | $38,370 to $50,070 | 1,530 |
| Arizona | $38,730 | $18.62 | $52,288 | $35,530 to $44,670 | 23,220 |
| Arkansas | $34,840 | $16.75 | $47,036 | $30,290 to $37,320 | 10,870 |
| California | $44,100 | $21.20 | $59,538 | $39,050 to $48,690 | 82,470 |
| Colorado | $42,010 | $20.20 | $56,717 | $36,510 to $46,860 | 11,020 |
| Connecticut | $40,630 | $19.53 | $54,853 | $36,250 to $47,160 | 14,980 |
| Delaware | $36,310 | $17.46 | $49,021 | $32,790 to $42,560 | 2,880 |
| District of Columbia | $49,060 | $23.59 | $66,235 | $39,850 to $57,760 | 2,000 |
| Florida | $36,810 | $17.70 | $49,696 | $32,730 to $41,590 | 63,280 |
| Georgia | $36,100 | $17.36 | $48,738 | $29,540 to $41,670 | 26,080 |
| Guam | $23,290 | $11.20 | $31,443 | $21,720 to $26,840 | 210 |
| Hawaii | $41,600 | $20.00 | $56,163 | $37,770 to $47,840 | 3,510 |
| Idaho | $36,810 | $17.70 | $49,696 | $32,210 to $42,520 | 5,340 |
| Illinois | $37,400 | $17.98 | $50,493 | $34,510 to $44,260 | 40,370 |
| Indiana | $36,160 | $17.39 | $48,819 | $29,790 to $41,750 | 17,360 |
| Iowa | $37,330 | $17.95 | $50,398 | $32,080 to $42,560 | 4,660 |
| Kansas | $36,050 | $17.33 | $48,670 | $31,210 to $39,520 | 7,290 |
| Kentucky | $32,940 | $15.84 | $44,471 | $28,420 to $38,440 | 9,290 |
| Louisiana | $32,750 | $15.75 | $44,215 | $27,930 to $37,090 | 12,820 |
| Maine | $42,440 | $20.41 | $57,297 | $38,470 to $46,780 | 3,440 |
| Maryland | $38,100 | $18.32 | $51,438 | $34,900 to $44,790 | 18,390 |
| Massachusetts | $43,870 | $21.09 | $59,228 | $38,190 to $47,840 | 18,970 |
| Michigan | $37,470 | $18.02 | $50,587 | $34,140 to $42,450 | 25,230 |
| Minnesota | $37,510 | $18.04 | $50,641 | $31,600 to $44,530 | 11,800 |
| Mississippi | $31,160 | $14.98 | $42,068 | $26,780 to $36,420 | 6,920 |
| Missouri | $35,740 | $17.18 | $48,252 | $31,600 to $39,590 | 18,890 |
| Montana | $37,360 | $17.96 | $50,439 | $33,080 to $42,840 | 1,280 |
| Nebraska | $37,860 | $18.20 | $51,114 | $33,860 to $42,640 | 6,750 |
| Nevada | $37,050 | $17.81 | $50,020 | $33,280 to $43,710 | 10,650 |
| New Hampshire | $38,160 | $18.34 | $51,519 | $31,010 to $46,270 | 5,320 |
| New Jersey | $41,650 | $20.02 | $56,230 | $36,600 to $46,980 | 42,060 |
| New Mexico | $35,140 | $16.89 | $47,442 | $29,910 to $38,240 | 5,650 |
| New York | $43,080 | $20.71 | $58,161 | $37,470 to $49,080 | 65,010 |
| North Carolina | $35,440 | $17.04 | $47,847 | $29,120 to $40,050 | 20,080 |
| North Dakota | $39,530 | $19.00 | $53,368 | $35,250 to $46,170 | 1,930 |
| Ohio | $35,920 | $17.27 | $48,495 | $29,910 to $39,520 | 30,850 |
| Oklahoma | $34,560 | $16.61 | $46,658 | $28,180 to $37,500 | 9,380 |
| Oregon | $40,900 | $19.66 | $55,218 | $36,840 to $46,510 | 13,590 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,810 | $17.70 | $49,696 | $30,700 to $42,930 | 37,830 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,890 | $11.01 | $30,903 | $21,840 to $25,400 | 4,030 |
| Rhode Island | $42,620 | $20.49 | $57,540 | $36,110 to $46,920 | 4,270 |
| South Carolina | $35,510 | $17.07 | $47,941 | $29,370 to $40,580 | 11,280 |
| South Dakota | $38,280 | $18.40 | $51,681 | $31,930 to $44,030 | 5,760 |
| Tennessee | $34,910 | $16.79 | $47,131 | $29,380 to $39,840 | 11,460 |
| Texas | $35,210 | $16.93 | $47,536 | $29,160 to $40,210 | 78,330 |
| Utah | $36,960 | $17.77 | $49,899 | $31,750 to $42,630 | 12,020 |
| Vermont | $38,370 | $18.45 | $51,802 | $35,090 to $42,320 | 1,160 |
| Virgin Islands | $34,630 | $16.65 | $46,753 | $29,430 to $38,550 | 120 |
| Virginia | $37,060 | $17.82 | $50,034 | $31,660 to $43,870 | 23,360 |
| Washington | $44,710 | $21.49 | $60,362 | $38,980 to $49,110 | 26,500 |
| West Virginia | $31,920 | $15.34 | $43,094 | $28,230 to $36,880 | 5,470 |
| Wisconsin | $41,150 | $19.78 | $55,555 | $36,000 to $46,570 | 25,580 |
| Wyoming | $37,480 | $18.02 | $50,601 | $33,860 to $43,680 | 1,540 |
Highest and lowest paying metro areas
Out of the 393 metro areas where BLS publishes a median for receptionists. The lowest list covers the 50 states and DC; the calculator above has every metro area, Puerto Rico’s included.
| Highest | Median annual |
|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $49,450 |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $47,260 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $47,130 |
| Napa, CA | $46,850 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $45,820 |
| Lowest | Median annual |
|---|---|
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $28,530 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $28,720 |
| Laredo, TX | $29,140 |
| Eagle Pass, TX | $29,340 |
| Gadsden, AL | $29,450 |
The routine part of the receptionist’s job
Much of what a receptionist does every week is routine: the follow-ups, the reconciling, the scheduling, the reports pulled together from three systems. That routine part is what Liaison does, inside the tools the business already runs: $629 a month on Professional, set up with you, or $149 a month self-serve. The judgment stays with your people.
The routine half of a receptionist’s job, for 15% of what one costs.
- Answers the routine email and text enquiries in your voice, at any hour.
- Books, confirms and reschedules from your own calendar.
- Takes the message, logs it against the customer, and hands the ones that need a person to a person.
Professional is $629 a month, $7,548 a year, against about $51,300 a year for a receptionist at the median once benefits are added. On Professional we connect your tools, bring your data in and set up the first rules with you. Anything that moves money waits for your yes.
“Cut our month-end close from 4 days to 4 hours.” Marcus C., owner
$629 a month, or $500 a month on a 12-month term. Prefer to start on your own? Starter is $149 a month, self-serve, with a free trial first: 7 days, no card. More: AI office manager.
Questions
How much does a receptionist cost a small business?
The median receptionist earned $38,010 a year, or $18.27 an hour, in May 2025. Benefits at employers with fewer than 50 workers add 35% on top of wages (June 2026), so a full-time receptionist at the median costs about $51,300 a year. The middle half earn $33,960 to $45,130.
Which states pay receptionists the most?
District of Columbia ($49,060), Alaska ($44,720) and Washington ($44,710) have the highest median wage for receptionists. The lowest among the 50 states and DC are Mississippi ($31,160), West Virginia ($31,920) and Alabama ($32,590).
Which metro areas pay receptionists the most?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($49,450), Fairbanks-College, AK ($47,260) and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($47,130), out of the 393 metro areas where BLS publishes a median for receptionists.
Where does this data come from?
Wages are the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for May 2025, occupation 43-4171. The benefit cost is from the BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation release for June 2026. Recruiting, training, equipment and turnover are not included.
See it on your own business.
Thirty minutes with us, on your own tools. Bring the thing that eats your evenings and watch it get handled from your own inbox, calendar and books.
Professional is $629 a month and we set it up with you. Starter is $149 a month, self-serve, with the free trial first: 7 days, no card. Every plan is on the pricing page.