Receptionists and Information Clerks: Career Overview
Answer inquiries and provide information to the general public, customers, visitors, and other interested parties regarding activities conducted at establishment and location of departments, offices, and employees within the organization.
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What Tasks Do Receptionists and Information Clerks Do?
The day-to-day responsibilities of receptionists and information clerks span:
- Operate telephone switchboard to answer, screen, or forward calls, providing information, taking messages, or scheduling appointments.
- Greet persons entering establishment, determine nature and purpose of visit, and direct or escort them to specific destinations.
- Receive payment and record receipts for services.
- Schedule appointments and maintain and update appointment calendars.
- Transmit information or documents to customers, using computer, mail, or facsimile machine.
- Hear and resolve complaints from customers or the public.
- File and maintain records.
- Provide information about establishment, such as location of departments or offices, employees within the organization, or services provided.
Skills and Knowledge
Effective receptionists and information clerks draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
These are the skills most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Other Receptionists and Information Clerks Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Appointment Clerk
- Appointment Scheduler
- Appointment Setter
- Automobile Club Information Clerk (Auto Club Info Clerk)
- Bilingual Receptionist
- Call Center Agent
- Call Center Operator
- Call Center Representative (Call Center Rep)
Employment and Demand
There are roughly 1,659,422 receptionists and information clerks working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +11.4% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Receptionists and Information Clerks
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $42,506 |
| Hourly median | $20.44 |
| 10th percentile | $27,886 |
| 25th percentile | $35,196 |
| 75th percentile | $49,817 |
| 90th percentile | $57,127 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $44,380 |
| District of Columbia | $43,900 |
| Washington | $43,760 |
| California | $43,360 |
| Massachusetts | $42,650 |
| New York | $41,570 |
| Colorado | $40,560 |
| Maine | $40,360 |
| Rhode Island | $40,360 |
| Oregon | $39,800 |
| Wisconsin | $39,750 |
| New Hampshire | $39,390 |
| Connecticut | $39,110 |
| New Jersey | $39,060 |
| Hawaii | $38,950 |
| Vermont | $38,240 |
| Arizona | $38,150 |
| Maryland | $38,000 |
| North Dakota | $37,480 |
| Illinois | $37,150 |
| Minnesota | $36,910 |
| Nebraska | $36,890 |
| Michigan | $36,770 |
| South Dakota | $36,560 |
| Virginia | $36,170 |
| Wyoming | $36,150 |
| Georgia | $36,100 |
| Utah | $36,090 |
| Florida | $36,070 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,030 |
| Nevada | $35,850 |
| Delaware | $35,820 |
| Indiana | $35,760 |
| Iowa | $35,730 |
| Idaho | $35,680 |
| North Carolina | $35,400 |
| Montana | $35,360 |
| Kansas | $35,320 |
| Ohio | $35,210 |
| Missouri | $35,170 |
| South Carolina | $34,950 |
| Texas | $34,480 |
| New Mexico | $34,320 |
| Tennessee | $33,970 |
| Arkansas | $33,960 |
| Virgin Islands | $33,770 |
| Oklahoma | $33,640 |
| Kentucky | $31,230 |
| Alabama | $30,900 |
| Louisiana | $30,570 |
| West Virginia | $30,570 |
| Mississippi | $30,270 |
| Guam | $22,850 |
| Puerto Rico | $21,740 |
Where Receptionists and Information Clerks Earn the Most
Compensation for receptionists and information clerks vary by region. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $42,377 | 14.0% | 0.87 |
| New England | $40,836 | 5.4% | 1.17 |
| Middle Atlantic | $39,416 | 19.0% | 1.32 |
| Rocky Mountains | $37,541 | 3.5% | 0.95 |
| Great Lakes | $36,989 | 14.3% | 1.04 |
| Plains States | $36,024 | 6.0% | 0.98 |
| Southwest | $35,174 | 12.5% | 1.00 |
| Southeast | $34,659 | 25.0% | 1.04 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Receptionists and Information Clerks
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $48,060 | 10,000 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $45,710 | 4,630 |
| Vallejo, CA | CA | $45,580 | 750 |
| Napa, CA | CA | $45,440 | 300 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | CA | $45,430 | 1,280 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $45,300 | 13,440 |
| Anchorage, AK | AK | $44,790 | 1,050 |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | AK | $44,480 | 170 |
Which Industries Hire Receptionists and Information Clerks
The largest employers of receptionists and information clerks work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 449,730 | $38,410 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 109,250 | $33,950 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 107,660 | $37,540 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 61,270 | $31,150 |
| Retail Trade | 40,400 | $34,770 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 33,630 | $38,330 |
| Educational Services | 32,020 | $36,120 |
| Finance and Insurance | 22,740 | $39,320 |
Below are examples of industries where receptionists and information clerks work:
Tools and Technology
- Word processing software: Google Docs (hot technology)
- Accounting software: Intuit QuickBooks (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of receptionists and information clerks tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Telephone Conversations
- Contact With Others
- Frequency of Decision Making
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
How to Become Receptionists and Information Clerks
Typical receptionists and information clerks positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Medical Records Specialists (Supplemental)
- Patient Representatives (Primary-Long)
- Cashiers (Supplemental)
- Counter and Rental Clerks (Primary-Long)
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel (Supplemental)
- Telemarketers (Supplemental)
- First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers (Supplemental)
- Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service (Primary-Short)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Aspiring receptionists and information clerks often complete programs in:
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
1 programs across 1 majors
Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences
1 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 43-4171.00 (Receptionists and Information Clerks).
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