AI Receptionist vs. Hiring: Cost Calculator
See what a human receptionist really costs, all in, next to a flat-rate AI receptionist that answers around the clock. Drag the sliders to your own numbers, and check the wage data behind it.
+ payroll tax $2,831 (7.65%)
+ benefits $9,250 (25%)
How this is calculated
The comparison is honest arithmetic, and it counts what a hire actually costs, not just the salary. The human side starts from the base wage, anchored to the U.S. BLS median receptionist wage BLS median of about $37,000 a year, then adds the employer payroll tax (7.65% for Social Security and Medicare) and the benefits you set with the slider, because the real cost of an employee runs well past the offer letter. The other side is a flat plan that answers every hour of the year: a flat $499 a month on the Standard plan, roughly 20 cents for each included minute, and it never clocks out.
A person covers about 40 hours a week. The phone rings 168. That gap, nights, weekends, lunch breaks, and the second call that comes in while they are on the first, is where most of the difference hides.
Read the result as an example, not a quote. Your wage, your plan, and your call volume are yours; the calculator just does the multiplication.
Questions people ask
Is an AI receptionist cheaper than hiring a receptionist?
Usually by a wide margin. A full-time receptionist runs about $3,100 a month before payroll taxes, benefits, and paid time off, and only covers about 40 hours a week. An AI receptionist is a flat monthly price starting at $99 and answers every hour of every day. Run your own wage and plan through the calculator above to see the gap.
How much does it cost to hire a receptionist?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median receptionist wage at about $17.90 an hour, roughly $3,100 a month for full-time. The real cost is higher once you add payroll taxes (about 7.65% for Social Security and Medicare), benefits, paid time off, and the time it takes to hire and train.
How much does an AI receptionist cost?
First AI Employee is a flat monthly price with no per-call charges: $99 Essential, $249 Basic, $499 Standard, and $999 Enterprise, each with a monthly minute allowance. There is a 7-day free trial; a card starts it, and it converts to a paid plan when the trial ends unless you cancel first.
Can an AI receptionist replace a human receptionist?
On the phone, it answers every call on the first ring, books appointments, answers questions, and routes urgent calls, around the clock, which a single person cannot do. For in-person front-desk work you still want a human. Many owners use the AI to cover the phones so their team is not chained to them.
Answer every call without adding to payroll
First AI Employee picks up on the first ring, books the job, and texts you the details, around the clock, for one flat monthly price. Plans start at $99 a month, with a 7-day free trial.
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