Pay vs cost of living
How far does a Receptionist's pay go, state by state?
A Receptionist's pay leaves the most room in North Dakota — about $2,378/mo take-home against $911/mo typical rent — and the least in Hawaii.
| State | Est. take-home | Typical rent | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | $2,378/mo | $911/mo | 38% |
| Wisconsin | $2,465/mo | $1,033/mo | 42% |
| Maine | $2,462/mo | $1,104/mo | 45% |
| Wyoming | $2,269/mo | $979/mo | 43% |
| South Dakota | $2,178/mo | $910/mo | 42% |
| Iowa | $2,183/mo | $932/mo | 43% |
| Nebraska | $2,263/mo | $1,017/mo | 45% |
| Michigan | $2,309/mo | $1,072/mo | 46% |
| Alaska | $2,589/mo | $1,361/mo | 53% |
| Ohio | $2,214/mo | $986/mo | 45% |
| Indiana | $2,245/mo | $1,022/mo | 46% |
| Montana | $2,227/mo | $1,031/mo | 46% |
| Minnesota | $2,403/mo | $1,230/mo | 51% |
| Missouri | $2,166/mo | $997/mo | 46% |
| Rhode Island | $2,451/mo | $1,289/mo | 53% |
| Arkansas | $2,019/mo | $903/mo | 45% |
| North Carolina | $2,258/mo | $1,147/mo | 51% |
| Illinois | $2,343/mo | $1,246/mo | 53% |
| Kansas | $2,117/mo | $1,025/mo | 48% |
| Vermont | $2,297/mo | $1,207/mo | 53% |
| West Virginia | $1,914/mo | $848/mo | 44% |
| Oklahoma | $2,035/mo | $970/mo | 48% |
| Kentucky | $1,980/mo | $918/mo | 46% |
| Idaho | $2,216/mo | $1,163/mo | 52% |
| New Mexico | $2,062/mo | $1,034/mo | 50% |
| Pennsylvania | $2,201/mo | $1,176/mo | 53% |
| Oregon | $2,437/mo | $1,431/mo | 59% |
| Mississippi | $1,910/mo | $933/mo | 49% |
| Alabama | $1,942/mo | $967/mo | 50% |
| Connecticut | $2,447/mo | $1,483/mo | 61% |
| New Hampshire | $2,384/mo | $1,424/mo | 60% |
| Arizona | $2,376/mo | $1,419/mo | 60% |
| South Carolina | $2,085/mo | $1,131/mo | 54% |
| Tennessee | $2,049/mo | $1,111/mo | 54% |
| Georgia | $2,251/mo | $1,320/mo | 59% |
| Washington | $2,565/mo | $1,641/mo | 64% |
| New York | $2,531/mo | $1,621/mo | 64% |
| Louisiana | $1,923/mo | $1,028/mo | 53% |
| Utah | $2,272/mo | $1,396/mo | 61% |
| Delaware | $2,168/mo | $1,321/mo | 61% |
| Texas | $2,155/mo | $1,328/mo | 62% |
| Massachusetts | $2,540/mo | $1,716/mo | 68% |
| Nevada | $2,298/mo | $1,478/mo | 64% |
| New Jersey | $2,454/mo | $1,656/mo | 67% |
| Colorado | $2,454/mo | $1,659/mo | 68% |
| Virginia | $2,278/mo | $1,547/mo | 68% |
| Maryland | $2,396/mo | $1,683/mo | 70% |
| District of Columbia | $2,597/mo | $1,900/mo | 73% |
| Florida | $2,237/mo | $1,542/mo | 69% |
| California | $2,562/mo | $1,969/mo | 77% |
| Hawaii | $2,409/mo | $1,927/mo | 80% |
Take-home is that state's BLS OEWS 2023 median wage after a rough ~22% tax estimate — a ballpark, not a real paycheck. Rent is population-weighted Census gross rent (utilities included). Neither includes state taxes, insurance, or the cost of moving.