What is the salary and career path for a receptionist?
Receptionists are classified under Receptionists and Information Clerks (SOC 43-4171), an exact BLS match. Its OEWS May 2025 median is $38,010 a year ($18.27 an hour), running from $28,760 at the 10th percentile to $49,950 at the 90th. BLS projects essentially no change in the code over 2024–2034 — flat employment — as digital check-in and phone systems offset demand, though turnover in a very large occupation still generates roughly 128,500 openings a year. A high school diploma is the typical requirement, with no license needed and on-the-job training standard.
- Receptionists earn a national median $38,010/yr ($18.27/hr) (BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 43-4171); the top 10% clear $49,950.
- The role greets visitors, routes calls and schedules, requiring only a high school diploma and on-the-job training.
- BLS projects flat employment through 2034 as digital systems offset demand, but turnover yields ~128,500 openings a year.
- It works best as an entry point, with front-desk experience opening paths into administrative and office roles.
Career Path
How do you become a receptionist?
Entry receptionist
Starting at the front desk with on-the-job training sits near the $28,760 10th percentile.
Receptionist
Running the front desk, calls and scheduling earns the $38,010 median for SOC 43-4171.
Senior / lead receptionist
Handling a busy multi-line desk or specialized office reaches the $45,130 75th percentile.
Administrative assistant / office coordinator
Moving into broader admin work sits at the $49,950 90th percentile and opens higher-paid office roles.
BLS Salary Data
Which state pays receptionists the most in 2026?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 43-4171. National median: $38,010. Full salary guide →
Pay Comparison
How does receptionist pay compare to related roles?
Head-to-head against the roles receptionists most often weigh against. BLS OEWS May 2025 medians.
Takeaway: receptionists rank 4 of 4 on median pay among the comparable roles above, with a projected +0% employment change 2024–34 (BLS Employment Projections). Pay position and projected demand together are what determine how quickly receptionists clear offers across the GlobalCybers placement network.
Methodology & Sources
How this guide is sourced and reviewed
Wages (BLS): All median and percentile figures are BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 43-4171 (receptionists) and the matching SOC codes for each comparison role. OEWS is sampled on a rolling 3-year basis and published ~10 months after collection, so treat it as a firm anchor rather than a spot rate.
Job growth: Projected 2024–34 employment change, and the average annual openings figure, are from the BLS Employment Projections program, by occupation. Openings are a per-year average over the projection decade, not a decade total.
Licensing & credentials:Requirements are drawn from the issuing state licensing boards and the certifying body behind each credential — not from third-party aggregators.
Demand signal:Any statement about how quickly this role clears offers reflects GlobalCybers placement request volume across the trailing 12 months — our own network data, offered as a directional real-world indicator alongside BLS, not a market-wide survey.
Credentials
What licences and certifications do receptionists need?
The typical minimum; no postsecondary education is required. See all state licences →
Microsoft's certification proving Word, Outlook and Excel basics that help candidacy.
Front-desk or hospitality training that strengthens the visitor-facing side of the role.
Tools & Software
What tools and software do receptionists use on the job?
⚙️ Core Tools & Equipment
📊 BLS Employment Data, SOC 43-4171
Salary Levers
How do receptionists earn above the $38,010 BLS median?
Work a busier or specialized desk
A high-volume or medical/legal front desk lifts pay from the $28,760 floor toward the $38,010 median.
Add administrative duties
Taking on scheduling, records and clerical work pushes pay toward the $45,130 75th percentile.
Transition into an office role
Moving into administrative-assistant work reaches the $49,950 top decile and beyond into other codes.
This Route vs. College
Is becoming a receptionist worth it vs. a 4-year degree?
The entry route into this role, set against a four-year degree. Same starting line, side by side.
Entry-level (10th percentile) and all-level median wages: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 43-4171. Student-debt figure: median federal borrower balance for bachelor's-degree completers. Starting-salary comparison is illustrative and varies by field and region.
FAQ
Receptionist Career, Frequently Asked Questions
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