If you run a small business or school in Australia and you're thinking about an AI phone receptionist, you're probably wondering whether the cost stacks up against hiring someone.
Here's an honest comparison.
## The true cost of a human receptionist in Australia
A full-time receptionist in Australia earns between $55,000 and $70,000 per year in base salary. Add superannuation (11.5%), leave entitlements, workers' compensation, and payroll costs, and the real cost is closer to $70,000-$90,000 per year.
And that's for 38 hours per week, 48 weeks per year. No weekend coverage. No public holidays. No 6am calls. No illness.
## What AI handles — and what it doesn't
An AI receptionist like Yindi handles inbound calls 24/7, captures structured information, routes calls intelligently, and integrates with your CRM or management software. It doesn't get sick, doesn't need a lunch break, and doesn't get overwhelmed during the morning rush.
What it doesn't do is walk around the building, manage physical mail, or provide the full range of human interaction that a receptionist provides in person.
For phone-specific tasks — which represent the majority of a receptionist's workload in most schools and small businesses — an AI solution handles the job completely.
## The numbers
| | Human Receptionist | Yindi AI |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cost | $70,000–$90,000 | $2,988–$4,188 |
| Hours covered | 38hrs/wk, 48wks | 24/7/365 |
| Calls per hour | 10-15 | Unlimited |
| After-hours | No | Yes |
| Languages | Usually 1 | 20+ |
## The right approach
Most businesses and schools find the best outcome is not "AI instead of a receptionist" — it's "AI so your receptionist can focus on higher-value work." When Yindi handles the repetitive inbound calls, your office staff can focus on the students, clients, and situations that genuinely need a human.