# AI Receptionist vs Human Receptionist in Ireland: The Real Cost Comparison (2026)
Target keyword: AI vs human receptionist cost comparison Ireland Secondary keywords: AI receptionist cost Ireland, virtual receptionist pricing Ireland, receptionist salary Ireland 2026 Date: 16 February 2026 Word count: ~2,200
TL;DR: A full-time receptionist in Ireland costs €33,000-€45,000 per year when you factor in salary, employer PRSI, pension auto-enrolment, holidays, and sick leave. An AI receptionist costs €1,200-€3,600 per year and works 24/7 without breaks, holidays, or turnover. For most Irish SMEs, the smartest move isn't choosing one or the other — it's using AI to handle overflow, after-hours, and peak demand while keeping humans for complex, in-person interactions.
What Does a Receptionist Actually Cost in Ireland in 2026?
Most Irish business owners think of receptionist costs as "the salary." That's maybe 60% of the real number. Let's break down the true, fully loaded cost of employing a receptionist in Ireland.
Base salary
According to the latest data from the Central Statistics Office and job listings on IrishJobs.ie, Indeed.ie, and Jobs.ie:
| Location | Entry Level | Experienced | Senior/Medical | |----------|------------|-------------|----------------| | Dublin | €26,000-€30,000 | €30,000-€36,000 | €35,000-€42,000 | | Cork | €24,000-€28,000 | €28,000-€33,000 | €32,000-€38,000 | | Galway | €23,000-€27,000 | €27,000-€32,000 | €30,000-€36,000 | | Limerick/Waterford | €22,000-€26,000 | €26,000-€30,000 | €28,000-€34,000 | | Rural Ireland | €22,000-€25,000 | €25,000-€29,000 | €27,000-€32,000 |
National average for an experienced receptionist: approximately €30,000/year.
Employer PRSI
Every Irish employer pays 11.05% employer PRSI on earnings above €441/week (which is nearly every full-time receptionist). On a €30,000 salary:
- Employer PRSI: €3,315/year
Pension auto-enrolment
Ireland's auto-enrolment pension scheme, phasing in from 2025, requires employer contributions starting at 1.5% of gross salary, rising to 6% by 2034. In 2026:
- Employer pension contribution (1.5%): €450/year (rising annually)
Annual leave
The Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 entitles employees to a minimum of 20 days paid annual leave per year. Most receptionists receive 20-22 days. During this time, either:
- The phone goes unanswered (lost revenue)
- You pay a temp (€15-€20/hour = €2,400-€3,200 for 20 days)
- Other staff cover (lost productivity)
Estimated cost of leave coverage: €2,000-€3,000/year
Sick leave
The Sick Leave Act 2022 entitles employees to 5 paid sick days in 2025 (rising to 7 in 2026 and 10 in 2027) at 70% of normal wages (capped at €110/day). Beyond statutory, the average Irish employee takes 6-7 sick days per year.
Cost of sick pay + coverage: €800-€1,500/year
Other costs
| Item | Annual Cost | |------|-------------| | Recruitment (turnover ~20% for admin roles) | €1,000-€3,000 amortised | | Training (initial + ongoing) | €500-€1,000 | | Desk, computer, phone system | €1,500-€2,500 amortised | | HR administration | €300-€500 |
The real total
| Cost Component | Low Estimate | High Estimate | |---------------|-------------|---------------| | Base salary | €28,000 | €36,000 | | Employer PRSI (11.05%) | €3,094 | €3,978 | | Pension (1.5%) | €420 | €540 | | Annual leave coverage | €2,000 | €3,000 | | Sick leave | €800 | €1,500 | | Recruitment (amortised) | €1,000 | €3,000 | | Training | €500 | €1,000 | | Equipment (amortised) | €1,500 | €2,500 | | HR admin | €300 | €500 | | TOTAL | €37,614 | €52,018 |
The true cost of a receptionist in Ireland: €38,000-€52,000 per year.
That's 25-45% more than the salary alone.
What Does an AI Receptionist Cost?
AI receptionist pricing varies by provider, but for the Irish market:
| Plan Level | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | Included | |-----------|-------------|-------------|----------| | Starter | €99-€149 | €1,188-€1,788 | 100-200 calls/month, business hours | | Professional | €199-€249 | €2,388-€2,988 | 500+ calls/month, 24/7, integrations | | Enterprise | €299-€399 | €3,588-€4,788 | Unlimited calls, custom flows, priority support |
VoiceFleet's Professional plan for Irish businesses: €199/month (€2,388/year).
No PRSI. No pension. No sick days. No recruitment costs. No desk. No holiday cover.
Head-to-Head Comparison: What Do You Actually Get?
| Capability | Human Receptionist | AI Receptionist | |-----------|-------------------|-----------------| | Hours available | 8-9 hrs/day, Mon-Fri | 24/7/365 | | Calls handled simultaneously | 1 (maybe 2 with hold) | Unlimited | | Consistency | Varies (mood, fatigue, training) | Identical quality every call | | Languages | Usually English only | English + Irish + Spanish + more | | Speed of answering | 3-4 rings average | Instant (first ring) | | Annual cost | €38,000-€52,000 | €1,200-€3,600 | | Cost per call (500 calls/mo) | €6.33-€8.67 | €0.20-€0.60 | | Turnover risk | ~20% annually | None | | Empathy & complex situations | ✅ Excellent | ⚠️ Good, improving | | In-person greeting | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | | Physical tasks | ✅ Filing, post, deliveries | ❌ No | | Scales with demand | ❌ Fixed capacity | ✅ Instant scaling | | Data capture accuracy | Variable (human error) | 99%+ consistent |
When Does a Human Receptionist Still Make Sense?
AI isn't always the answer. Human receptionists remain essential when:
Your business depends on in-person first impressions
A boutique hotel in Killarney, a high-end solicitor's office on Fitzwilliam Square, or a private medical clinic in Blackrock — these businesses need a warm human presence at the front desk. The handshake, the offered tea, the reading of body language — AI can't replicate these.
Your callers are frequently distressed
While AI handles empathy better than most people expect, a crisis counselling service, a funeral home, or a domestic violence helpline should have trained humans answering calls. The stakes of getting tone wrong are too high.
You need physical reception duties
Someone to sign for deliveries, manage the waiting room, handle walk-ins, sort post, and maintain the front office. AI handles phone calls — it doesn't have hands.
When Does AI Make More Sense?
After-hours and weekends
If your business gets calls outside 9-5 — and nearly every Irish business does — AI is dramatically cheaper than hiring evening/weekend staff or paying overtime.
Call overflow during peak times
A dental practice in Dublin at 9 AM Monday has 15 calls in 30 minutes. One receptionist can handle maybe 6-8. AI catches the rest.
Small businesses with no receptionist
A sole-trader plumber in Cork, a one-person accountancy practice in Athlone, a freelance solicitor in Galway — these businesses can't justify €38,000+ for a receptionist. AI gives them a professional front office for €100-€200/month.
Seasonal businesses
Tourism businesses in Kerry, event venues in Meath, Christmas market organisers — demand fluctuates wildly. AI scales up and down instantly without hiring and firing.
The Hybrid Model: Why Most Irish Businesses Should Use Both
The smartest Irish businesses aren't choosing between human and AI — they're combining them:
Human receptionist handles:
- In-person visitors and walk-ins
- Complex, emotionally sensitive calls
- Tasks requiring physical presence
- Relationship building with regular clients
AI receptionist handles:
- All calls outside business hours
- Overflow during busy periods
- Initial call screening and intake
- Appointment booking and confirmations
- Routine enquiries (hours, location, pricing)
This hybrid approach means your human receptionist spends their time on high-value interactions instead of answering "What time do you close?" for the 50th time that week.
Cost of the hybrid model
- Human receptionist: €38,000-€52,000/year
- AI receptionist (for overflow + after-hours): €1,200-€2,400/year
- Total: €39,200-€54,400/year
- Result: 100% of calls answered, 24/7, with zero missed revenue
Compared to hiring a second receptionist (€38,000+) or using an outsourced answering service (€6,000-€12,000/year for 24/7), the hybrid model is both cheaper and more effective.
How to Calculate Your Own ROI
Here's a quick formula for any Irish business:
- Estimate your missed calls per month (check your phone system logs or voicemail count)
- Estimate what percentage are potential new clients (usually 20-40%)
- Multiply by your average client lifetime value
- That's your monthly cost of missed calls
Example — Dublin dental practice:
- 50 missed calls/month × 30% new patient enquiries = 15 potential patients
- 15 × €800 average first-year patient value = €12,000/month in lost revenue
- AI receptionist cost: €199/month
- Even capturing 2 of those 15 patients = €1,600/month revenue vs €199 cost
Example — Galway solicitor:
- 30 missed calls/month × 25% new client enquiries = 7-8 potential clients
- 8 × €3,000 average matter value = €24,000/month in lost revenue
- AI receptionist cost: €199/month
The numbers speak for themselves.
Ready to See What AI Costs for Your Business?
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Get a free demo from VoiceFleet → We'll show you exactly how many calls you're missing and what capturing them is worth. Irish phone numbers, EU data processing, setup in 48 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it legal to use an AI to answer business calls in Ireland?
Yes. There is no Irish or EU legislation prohibiting businesses from using AI to answer phone calls. Under GDPR, you must inform callers that calls may be recorded (which applies equally to human-answered calls). Some businesses choose to disclose the AI nature of the assistant at the start of calls, though this is not legally required for commercial call answering.
Will my customers be annoyed by talking to an AI?
Research consistently shows that callers prefer an AI that answers immediately over a human who doesn't answer at all. A 2024 survey by Zendesk found that 73% of consumers say the most important thing a company can do is value their time — and nothing wastes time like being sent to voicemail. Most callers don't even realise they're speaking to AI.
Can I keep my existing phone number?
Absolutely. AI receptionist services work alongside your existing phone number. Calls can be forwarded to the AI when your line is busy, unanswered after a set number of rings, or outside business hours. You can also use it as your primary answering system with overflow to your human team.
What's the minimum contract period?
VoiceFleet offers month-to-month plans with no long-term commitment. You can cancel at any time. Many businesses start with a one-month trial to measure impact before committing to ongoing use.
How does an AI receptionist handle strong Irish accents or dialects?
Modern AI voice systems are trained on diverse English accents, including Irish regional variations. The AI handles Dublin, Cork, Kerry, Donegal, and other regional accents with high accuracy. If a caller is unclear, the AI asks for clarification naturally — "Sorry, could you spell that surname for me?" — just as a human receptionist would.
Related: AI Receptionist for Dental Practices | AI Receptionist for Veterinary Clinics | AI Receptionist for Solicitors | Why Irish Businesses Lose Thousands to Missed Calls
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