What you gain
An employee can greet visitors, handle physical office tasks and perform responsibilities that remote services cannot. For businesses with a busy physical front desk, that capability can justify the higher fixed cost.
Receptionist cost guide · Updated August 2026
How much does it cost to hire a receptionist?
The answer can range from roughly $25 per month for entry-level AI call handling to tens of thousands of dollars per year for an employee. The right comparison depends on whether you need phone coverage only or a person physically working at your front desk.
Data policy: Wage data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Service examples use provider-published prices checked on August 23, 2026. Provider prices can change.
At a glance
Four ways to cover business calls
| Option | Example starting cost | Pricing model | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-house receptionist | $39,460 median annual wage | Employee wages + employer costs | Businesses needing on-site front-desk work |
| AI receptionist | $24.95/mo example | Calls, minutes or subscription tiers | 24/7 phone handling and automation |
| Virtual receptionist | $250–$350/mo examples | Calls or receptionist minutes | Businesses wanting a real person remotely |
| Answering service | Varies by usage | Minutes, calls or pay-as-you-go | Overflow, after-hours and message handling |
These are comparison anchors, not universal market averages. Your actual cost depends on location, usage, plan, benefits, taxes, fees and required features.
Employee benchmark
In-house receptionist cost
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a mean annual wage of $39,460 and a median hourly wage of $18.27 for receptionists and information clerks in May 2025. Salary is only the starting point for an employer: payroll taxes, benefits, paid time off, recruiting, equipment and workspace can raise total employment cost.
What to calculate
Do not compare a service subscription only with hourly wage. Estimate total annual employer cost and determine how much of the employee's day is actually devoted to phone answering.
AI cost
AI receptionist pricing can start below $25 per month.
Upfirst currently publishes a $24.95 monthly Starter plan with 30 calls and $1.50 additional calls. Smith.ai publishes a free AI tier with 25 calls and a Pro tier starting at $150 per month for 75 calls. Different providers use different billing structures, so call volume matters.
Example: low call volume
A small business receiving only a few dozen receptionist calls per month may be able to use an entry-level AI plan for a small fraction of the cost of live staffing.
Watch the overage rate
Estimate real monthly call volume before selecting a tier. A low entry price can stop being the best value if you consistently exceed the included allowance.
Human remote coverage
Virtual receptionist pricing depends heavily on the billing unit.
Ruby publishes virtual receptionist plans starting at $250 per month for 50 receptionist minutes. Smith.ai's human-first service starts at $300 per month for 30 calls. AnswerConnect publishes an entry plan at $350 per month for 200 minutes. These prices should not be compared without accounting for the difference between calls and minutes.
Per-call
Useful when call lengths vary. A five-minute qualifying call can consume one call under a per-call plan rather than five receptionist minutes.
Per-minute
Useful when you can estimate average handling time. Multiply expected monthly handled calls by average receptionist minutes before comparing plans.
Decision framework
Don't buy more receptionist than you need.
Need someone physically present?
Start with an employee or on-site staffing solution. Remote services cannot greet visitors or perform physical front-desk work.
Need phone coverage and automation?
Start with AI. It can be dramatically less expensive for businesses comfortable with automated caller interactions.
Need callers to reach a person?
Compare virtual receptionist plans. Focus on real usage cost rather than the advertised base fee.
Need overflow or after-hours help?
An answering service may be sufficient and can avoid paying for full receptionist coverage when your existing staff already handles most calls.
Simple cost formula
Estimate before choosing a provider.
Per-minute service: monthly calls × average handled minutes × effective minute rate.
Per-call service: monthly qualifying calls × effective call rate.
Then add any base subscription, setup fees, overages or required add-ons. This gives you a much better comparison than looking at the starting price alone.