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AI receptionist vs human receptionist: cost in Australia (2026)

What it costs to have your phone answered by a person on the award minimum, against what the AI receptionists we track charge for the same calls. Human figures are the legal minimums from the Fair Work award, with sources. AI figures are calculated from each vendor's published prices. Nothing here is a guess.

Short answer: A full-time receptionist on the award minimum costs at least A$4,973 a month including super (Level 1, year 1). For 100 calls of 3 minutes a month, the cheapest AI receptionist estimate is A$49 and the middle of the pack is A$200. A person can do far more than answer calls, so this is a comparison of call answering only.

Monthly cost, side by side

Calls a month	Cheapest AI estimate	Middle AI estimate	Full-time person, Level 1, year 1, with super	Casual 20 hrs/week, Level 1, year 1, with super
30 calls × 3 min 90 talk minutes	A$39 as listed, GST not stated AI Call Centre Starter	A$109 of 32 vendors	A$4,973 A$166 a call	A$3,272 A$109 a call
100 calls × 3 min 300 talk minutes	A$49 as listed, GST not stated ServiceM8 Phone Agent Connect Plus (needs a ServiceM8 account)	A$200 of 32 vendors	A$4,973 A$49.73 a call	A$3,272 A$32.72 a call
250 calls × 3 min 750 talk minutes	A$69 as listed, GST not stated ServiceM8 Phone Agent Connect Plus (needs a ServiceM8 account)	A$359 of 31 vendors	A$4,973 A$19.89 a call	A$3,272 A$13.09 a call
500 calls × 3 min 1,500 talk minutes	A$104 inc GST A$94.55 ex GST OneBookPlus AI Receptionist AI Receptionist + AI Companion	A$602 of 30 vendors	A$4,973 A$9.95 a call	A$3,272 A$6.54 a call

AI: each vendor's cheapest plan for that volume, using included minutes or calls and published overage, with 10% GST added to ex-GST prices (vendors that don't state GST are shown as listed). “Middle” is the median across vendors with a price for that volume. Setup fees and add-ons aren't included. Human: award minimum × 52 weeks ÷ 12 months, plus 12% super. A person's cost doesn't change with call volume, so the cost per call falls as calls rise. Wages have no GST.

Award minimum pay for a receptionist

Classification	Full-time weekly	Hourly	Casual hourly (inc 25% loading)
Level 1, year 1	A$1,024.70	A$26.97	A$33.71
Level 2, year 1	A$1,119.10	A$29.45	A$36.81

The Clerks—Private Sector Award 2020 covers clerical work including “receiving and answering calls … operating a telephone switchboard, attending a reception desk”. Level 1 duties include “reception or switchboard duties” such as directing callers; Level 2 adds “responding to enquiries”. Adults (21 and over), from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026. A full-time week is 38 ordinary hours.

Monthly cost of a person

Arrangement	Wages / month	With 12% super
Full-time, Level 1, year 1 (38 hrs/week)	A$4,440	A$4,973
Full-time, Level 2, year 1 (38 hrs/week)	A$4,849	A$5,431
Casual, Level 1, year 1, 20 hrs/week	A$2,922	A$3,272

We applied super to the casual rate including the loading. These are minimums only and leave out leave cover, workers compensation insurance, payroll tax (depends on your state and payroll size), recruitment, training, a desk and a phone line. We haven't put numbers on those because they vary by business.

Per minute

A person on Level 1, year 1 costs A$0.45 a minute of paid time (A$0.50 with super), whether or not the phone rings.
The lowest effective AI rate we track is A$0.10 per included minute (ServiceM8 Phone Agent Connect Plus, GST not stated, needs a ServiceM8 account), if you use every included minute. You pay for talk time, not waiting time.
Every minute-based plan is ranked on AI receptionist cost per minute.

What the numbers don't show

A person can do other work between calls, handle walk-ins, and use judgement that AI can't.
An AI receptionist can answer several calls at once, and at night and on weekends, without penalty rates. Check whether your vendor charges more after hours.
Many businesses use both: a person in business hours and an AI for overflow and after hours.
Award rates are minimums. Check the Fair Work pay guide or the Pay and Conditions Tool for your situation.

FAQ

How much does a receptionist cost in Australia?

The legal minimum for an adult receptionist under the Clerks—Private Sector Award is A$26.97 an hour, or A$1,024.70 a week full time (Level 1, year 1, from 1 July 2026). That is about A$4,440 a month, or A$4,973 with 12% super. Reception work that also handles enquiries is described at Level 2, which starts at A$29.45 an hour. Many receptionists are paid above the award, and these figures leave out leave cover, workers compensation, payroll tax, recruitment and equipment.

How much does an AI receptionist cost in Australia?

Of the 34 services we track, 32 publish prices. The cheapest paid plan is A$19 a month. For 100 calls of 3 minutes a month, the lowest estimate is A$49 (ServiceM8 Phone Agent Connect Plus) and the middle estimate is A$200, with GST added where prices are ex-GST. See the calculator for your own volume.

Is an AI receptionist cheaper than a casual receptionist?

On price alone, yes, at the volumes we tested. A casual at Level 1, year 1 costs A$33.71 an hour including the 25% casual loading, so 20 hours a week is about A$3,272 a month with super. The highest middle estimate in our table (500 calls of 3 minutes) is A$602. A person does more than answer calls, though, so compare the work you need done, not just the price.

What does after-hours cover cost with a person?

Under the award, ordinary hours on weekends and public holidays attract penalty rates for full-time and part-time staff: Saturday (ordinary hours, 7am to 12.30pm) 125% (A$33.71 an hour at Level 1, year 1), Sunday 200% (A$53.94 an hour at Level 1, year 1), Public holiday 250% (A$67.43 an hour at Level 1, year 1). Casual rates are higher again. The AI plan prices on this site are monthly prices plus usage, and we use the same price at any hour. Check with the vendor whether nights or weekends cost extra.

Do I pay GST on an AI receptionist?

Wages have no GST. AI receptionist subscriptions usually do when the vendor is registered for GST. If your business is registered for GST you can generally claim the GST on business purchases as a credit, so the ex-GST figure is closer to your real cost. Ask your accountant about your situation.

Where do these figures come from?

Award rates are from the Fair Work Commission's consolidated Clerks—Private Sector Award 2020 [MA000002] and the Fair Work Ombudsman pay guide. The 12% super rate is from the Fair Work Ombudsman. AI prices are from each vendor's own website, checked 2 November 2026. All were read on or before 4 November 2026.

Sources (read 4 November 2026): Clerks—Private Sector Award 2020 [MA000002], Fair Work Commission consolidated award (amendments to 26 October 2026; minimum rates clause 16.1 Table 3, casual loading clause 11.1, penalty rates Schedule B.1.1, classifications Schedule A) · award PDF · Fair Work Ombudsman pay guide (published 24 June 2026, rates from 1 July 2026) · Fair Work Ombudsman: tax and superannuation (super guarantee 12% of qualifying earnings). AI receptionist prices: each vendor's own site, checked 2 November 2026; see each vendor page for its sources. This is general information, not legal, tax or employment advice.