About
$59,500
a year.
That is for one full time medical receptionist at $23.22 an hour, once you add what Hawaii employers are required to pay on top of wages. Here is the full breakdown.
Last updated October 2026
What you pay for one medical receptionist
Cost
Full-time, 40 hrs
Part-time, 20 hrs
Part-time, 19 hrs
Wages at $23.22/hr
$48,298
$24,149
$22,941
Social Security and Medicare (7.65%)
$3,695
$1,847
$1,755
Federal unemployment
$42
$42
$42
Hawaii unemployment insurance (2.41%)
$1,164
$582
$553
Temporary Disability Insurance (est.)
$450
$250
$0
Prepaid Health Care (est.)
$5,876
$6,238
$0
Workers’ comp (est.)
$209
$104
$99
Total per year
$59,734
$33,212
$25,390
Per month
$4,978
$2,768
$2,116
Hours the phone is covered each week
40
20
19
These totals leave out paid time off, recruiting, training, and turnover, so the real cost usually runs higher.
The 20 hour line
Hawaii’s Prepaid Health Care Act requires employers to provide health coverage once an employee works 20 or more hours a week for four weeks in a row. The employee pays no more than 1.5% of their wages. The employer pays the rest.
The premium is about the same for a 20 hour employee as a 40 hour one. That is why a 20 hour receptionist costs more per hour than a full-time one, and why so many local practices keep part-time staff at 19 hours.
A medical receptionist vs. an AI receptionist
Full-time receptionist
AI receptionist from AI Works
First year cost
$59,734
From $5,550
After the first year
$59,734
From $4,800
Hours covered each week
40
168, every hour of every day
Cost per covered hour
about $29
about $0.64
Answers after 5pm and weekends
No
Yes
Books appointments
Yes
Yes
Greets walk-ins, takes payments, files paperwork
Yes
No
AI Works pricing shown at the starting prices of $750 setup and $400 a month. Your price depends on your lines and locations. It includes the software, phone number, and texting. Many practices with a front desk keep their receptionist and use the AI for nights, weekends, and overflow calls.
Common questions
How much does a medical receptionist cost in Hawaii?
Does Hawaii’s Prepaid Health Care Act apply to part-time employees?
Is an AI receptionist cheaper than hiring?
How many missed calls does it take to pay for an AI receptionist?
How we calculated this
Wage: $23.22 an hour, the statewide average for medical secretaries and administrative assistants (State of Hawaii DBEDT, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2024).
Hawaii unemployment insurance: 2.40% new employer rate plus 0.01% Employment and Training, on a 2026 wage base of $64,500 (Hawaii DLIR).
Social Security and Medicare: 7.65%. Federal unemployment: 0.6% of the first $7,000.
Prepaid Health Care: estimated single premium of $550 a month, minus the employee share of 1.5% of wages. Your actual premium depends on your plan.
Temporary Disability Insurance and workers’ comp: estimates for office work. Your rates depend on your carrier.
Missed call value: {{MISSED_CALL_VALUE_PENDING}}
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