### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Receptionists Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            									
							
				                                                
                                            




            			receptionists imageReceptionists provide general information about their organization to visitors.							
						Quick Facts:     Receptionists2023     Median Pay
            						$35,840     per year
										$17.23     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    High school diploma or equivalentWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    Short-term on-the-job trainingNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    1,068,800Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    0% (Little or no change)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    3,900What Receptionists Do
                                                
                        
                        
Receptionists do tasks such as answering phones, receiving visitors, and providing information about their organization to the public.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Receptionists are employed in nearly every industry.
            
                                                How to Become a Receptionist
                                                
                        
Receptionists typically need a high school diploma or equivalent and good communication skills.
            
                        Pay
                        																																					    														The median hourly wage for receptionists was $17.23 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of receptionists is projected to show little or no change							 from 2022 to 2032.
						Despite  limited  employment growth, about 142,600 openings for receptionists are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for receptionists.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of receptionists with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about receptionists by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Receptionists Do 
            

			ReceptionistsReceptionists greet patients in hospitals and doctors' offices.			
Receptionists do administrative tasks, such as answering phones, greeting visitors, and providing general information about their organization.
Duties
Receptionists typically do the following:
Answer the telephone and take messages or forward calls
Schedule and confirm appointments and maintain calendars
Greet customers, clients, and other visitors
Check in visitors and direct or escort them to their destinations
Inform other employees of visitors’ arrivals or cancellations
Enter customer information into the organization's database
Copy, file, and maintain paper or electronic documents
Handle incoming and outgoing correspondenceReceptionists are often the first employee of an organization to have contact with a customer or client. They are responsible for making a good first impression for the organization.
Receptionists’ specific responsibilities vary by employer. For example, receptionists in hospitals and doctors’ offices may collect patients’ personal information and direct patients to the waiting room. Some handle billing and insurance payments.
In large corporations and government offices, receptionists may have a security role. For example, they may control access to the organization by issuing visitor passes and escorting visitors to their destination.
Receptionists use telephones, computers, and other office equipment, such as shredders and printers.
 Work Environment
			ReceptionistsReceptionists are employed in virtually every industry.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Receptionists held about 1.1 million jobs in 2022. The largest employers of receptionists were as follows:
        Healthcare and social assistance
                45%Professional, scientific, and technical services
                11Personal care services
                6Administrative and support services
                4Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations
                4Receptionists are employed in nearly every industry.
Receptionists usually work in areas that are visible and accessible to the public and other employees, such as the front desk of a lobby or waiting room.
Some receptionists face stressful situations. They may have to answer numerous phone calls or deal with difficult visitors.
Work Schedules
Most receptionists work full time. Some receptionists, such as those who work in hospitals and nursing homes, work evenings and weekends.
 How to Become a Receptionist

			ReceptionistsReceptionists need to be good at communicating with people.			
Although hiring requirements vary by industry and employer, receptionists typically need a high school diploma or equivalent and good communication skills.
Education
Receptionists typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, and employers may prefer to hire candidates who have experience with certain computer software. Proficiency in word processing and spreadsheet applications may be particularly helpful.
Training
Most receptionists receive short-term on-the-job training, usually lasting a few days up to a month. Training typically covers procedures for greeting visitors, answering the telephone, and using the computer.
Advancement
Receptionists may advance to other administrative occupations with more responsibilities, such as secretaries and administrative assistants.
Important Qualities
***Communication skills.*** Receptionists must speak and write clearly when providing information and corresponding with customers.
***Computer skills.***Receptionists should be adept at using computers.
***Customer-service skills.*** Receptionists represent the organization, so they should be courteous, professional, and helpful to customers and the public.
***Integrity.*** Receptionists may handle confidential data, especially in medical and legal offices. They must be trustworthy and protect clients’ privacy.
***Interpersonal skills.*** Receptionists should be comfortable interacting with people in different types of situations.
***Organizational skills.*** Receptionists take messages, schedule appointments, and maintain employee files. They need good organizational skills to manage their diverse responsibilities.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                ReceptionistsMedian hourly wages, May 2023Total, all occupations$23.11   Information and record clerks$18.77   Receptionists and information clerks$17.23Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median hourly wage for receptionists was $17.23 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $12.95, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $22.77.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median hourly wages for receptionists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Healthcare and social assistance
                $17.74Administrative and support services
                17.57Professional, scientific, and technical services
                17.34Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations
                15.76Personal care services
                14.76Most receptionists work full time. Receptionists who work in hospitals and nursing homes may work evenings and weekends.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                ReceptionistsPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Total, all occupations3%  Receptionists and information clerks0%  Information and record clerks-4%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of receptionists is projected to show little or no change				 from 2022 to 2032.
			
			Despite  limited  employment growth, about 142,600 openings for receptionists are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
Growing healthcare industries are projected to lead demand for receptionists, particularly in physicians’ and dentists’ offices and in outpatient care centers.
Employment growth of receptionists in other industries is expected to be slower as organizations continue to automate or consolidate administrative functions. For example, many organizations use computer software, websites, mobile applications, or other technology to interact with the public or customers.
			

                        Employment projections data for     receptionists, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Receptionists and information clerks**
			43-4171
			1,068,800
			1,072,700
			0
			3,900
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Receptionists and information clerks **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of receptionists. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Customer Service Representatives**
            Customer service representatives interact with customers to handle complaints, process orders, and answer questions.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $39,680**General Office Clerks**
            General office clerks perform a variety of clerical tasks, including answering telephones, typing documents, and filing records.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $40,480**Information Clerks**
            Information clerks perform routine clerical duties, maintain records, collect data, and provide information to customers.
            See How to Become One
            $40,540**Library Technicians and Assistants**
            Library technicians and assistants help librarians with all aspects of running a library.
            See How to Become One
            $36,700**Secretaries and Administrative Assistants**
            Secretaries and administrative assistants do routine clerical and organizational tasks.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $46,010**Tellers**
            Tellers are responsible for accurately processing routine transactions at a bank.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $37,640
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information about training for receptionists and those in other administrative careers, visit
American Society of Administrative Professionals

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Receptionists and Information Clerks
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Receptionists, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/receptionists.htm (visited *May 20, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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