How much does a human receptionist cost per year?

A human receptionist in the United States typically costs between $35,000 and $55,000 per year in base salary alone, depending on your location, industry, and the candidate's experience. In higher cost-of-living cities like New York, San Francisco, or Seattle, that number can push past $60,000 without much effort.

Salary is only part of the real cost. Once you factor in payroll taxes, health insurance, paid time off, sick days, and any retirement contributions, most employers add another 20 to 30 percent on top of the base wage. That brings the true all-in cost of a full-time receptionist to somewhere between $42,000 and $75,000 annually for most small and mid-sized businesses. You also need to account for the time spent recruiting, onboarding, and occasionally replacing that person, since receptionist turnover tends to run high across most industries.

There are also hidden coverage gaps that don't show up in payroll figures. A human receptionist works roughly 40 hours a week, takes vacations, calls in sick, and goes home at the end of the day. Any calls coming in outside those hours go to voicemail or ring unanswered, which research consistently shows leads to lost business — particularly for service-based companies where a missed call often means a missed customer. Businesses with after-hours demand, multiple incoming lines, or high call volume during peak seasons feel this limitation most acutely.

For businesses ready to stop missing calls, My AI Front Desk offers 24/7 AI receptionist coverage starting at $65 per month. It handles calls around the clock, books appointments, answers common questions, and transfers calls when needed — at a fraction of what a single part-time hire would cost. Learn more at myaifrontdesk.com.