An SDR costs $50-80K per year and works 8 hours a day. AI callback works 24/7 and calls every Google Ads lead in under 60 seconds. Here is how they compare.
| Factor | AI Callback (HelloAinora) | Human SDR |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Cost | Custom - fraction of an SDR salary | $50,000-$80,000+ base salary, plus benefits, tools, and management overhead |
| Response Time | Under 60 seconds, every time | 2-30 minutes on average, depending on workload |
| Availability | 24/7/365 - no sick days, no vacations, no lunch breaks | 8-10 hours per day, Monday through Friday |
| Consistency | Same script, same energy, same quality on every call | Varies by mood, fatigue, and experience level |
| Simultaneous Leads | Unlimited - calls every lead as it comes in | One call at a time - other leads wait in queue |
| Ramp-Up Time | Live in days - configure your script and connect Google Ads | 2-4 weeks to hire, 1-3 months to fully ramp |
| Scalability | Handles 10 or 10,000 leads per month with no change | Need to hire additional SDRs as volume grows |
| Data Capture | Every call recorded, transcribed, and synced to CRM automatically | Depends on SDR discipline with CRM data entry |
| Turnover Risk | None | Average SDR tenure is 14 months |
Salary is just the starting point. The true cost of hiring an SDR includes far more.
Base salary per year
Benefits, taxes, and insurance
Tools (dialer, CRM seats, etc.)
Recruiting and hiring costs
Ramp time before full productivity
Average SDR tenure before you start over
For the specific task of responding to Google Ads leads fast, AI callback has clear advantages.
Even the best SDR takes 2-5 minutes to see a notification, pull up the lead info, and dial. Lexi calls in under 60 seconds, automatically.
Google Ads generate leads at all hours. An SDR misses everything after 6pm, on weekends, and during lunch. Lexi never stops.
Every call is recorded and transcribed. Qualification data flows to your CRM automatically. No missed notes, no forgotten follow-ups.
Running a seasonal campaign that triples your lead volume? Lexi handles it without hiring. Scale down next month with no layoffs.
AI callback handles the first touch - the instant response, qualification, and appointment booking. But there are tasks where a human SDR adds value that AI cannot replicate yet:
The best approach: let AI callback handle the instant first response and qualification, then route qualified leads to your human team for closing. Your SDRs spend their time on high-value conversations instead of dialing and chasing.
Book a demo to see how Lexi qualifies your Google Ads leads before your team gets involved. Custom pricing based on your volume.