AI Receptionist vs. Full-Time Receptionist Salary (Real Numbers)

The sticker price of a receptionist is never the real price. Once you add benefits, payroll tax, sick days, and turnover, the true cost is often double what the job posting says.

The problem

Most business owners compare an AI receptionist's monthly fee against a receptionist's hourly wage and stop there. That comparison misses almost everything else that comes with a full-time hire, and it makes the human option look cheaper than it actually is.

What is an AI receptionist for Small businesses?

Here's the real math on a full-time receptionist in Canada.

Base wage: $38,000 to $48,000 CAD per year for an experienced receptionist.

Add mandatory employer costs: CPP and EI contributions run roughly 7 to 8 percent of wages. Add extended health benefits if you offer them, typically $2,000 to $4,000 CAD per year. Add paid sick days and vacation time, which is coverage you're paying for while getting no calls answered. Add the cost of hiring and training a replacement every time someone leaves, which for front desk roles happens more often than most owners expect.

All in, a full-time receptionist typically costs $45,000 to $58,000 CAD per year once every real expense is counted. That's coverage for one shift, one person, five days a week.

An AI receptionist costs $147 to $597 CAD per month, or roughly $1,764 to $7,164 CAD per year. No benefits. No sick days. No training costs. No turnover risk.

How it works for Small Business

Underdog Engine's Starter plan is $147 CAD per month and Growth is $597 CAD per month. Both include full call answering and appointment booking, with usage on Starter billed in USD due to underlying voice AI provider costs.

Why the Underdog Engine is different

A full-time receptionist can't answer the phone at 9pm, on a Saturday, or during a lunch break. An AI receptionist can. A full-time receptionist can only handle one call at a time, so a busy Monday morning means missed calls stacking up. An AI receptionist can handle every call at once, no matter how many come in together. And an AI receptionist never calls in sick, never quits, and never needs two weeks of training before it gets good at the job.

Explore the Underdog Engine →

Benefits

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  Save tens of thousands of dollars a year compared to a full-time hire
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  Get coverage 24 hours a day instead of one 8-hour shift
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  Handle multiple calls at once instead of losing callers to a busy line
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  Skip the hiring, training, and turnover cycle entirely
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  Redirect the savings into marketing, equipment, or growing the team where it actually matters