Receptionists and information clerks salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $28,760 | $13.83 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $38,010 | $18.27 |
| Mean (average) | $39,460 | $18.97 |
| 90th percentile | $49,950 | $24.01 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Receptionists and information clerks pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 54 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $32,590 | $22,830 | $40,730 | 10,460 | 0.85 |
| Alaska | $44,720 | $32,810 | $57,360 | 1,530 | 0.8 |
| Arizona | $38,730 | $32,130 | $47,930 | 23,220 | 1.22 |
| Arkansas | $34,840 | $27,610 | $43,930 | 10,870 | 1.42 |
| California | $44,100 | $36,410 | $58,800 | 82,470 | 0.77 |
| Colorado | $42,010 | $33,200 | $51,490 | 11,020 | 0.66 |
| Connecticut | $40,630 | $34,120 | $54,170 | 14,980 | 1.51 |
| Delaware | $36,310 | $31,200 | $47,610 | 2,880 | 1.01 |
| District of Columbia | $49,060 | $37,050 | $64,270 | 2,000 | 0.49 |
| Florida | $36,810 | $28,850 | $46,480 | 63,280 | 1.09 |
| Georgia | $36,100 | $24,920 | $47,190 | 26,080 | 0.91 |
| Guam | $23,290 | $20,310 | $30,330 | 210 | 0.54 |
| Hawaii | $41,600 | $35,050 | $55,310 | 3,510 | 0.96 |
| Idaho | $36,810 | $28,500 | $47,100 | 5,340 | 1.06 |
| Illinois | $37,400 | $31,200 | $48,350 | 40,370 | 1.13 |
| Indiana | $36,160 | $24,410 | $47,310 | 17,360 | 0.93 |
| Iowa | $37,330 | $26,740 | $47,610 | 4,660 | 0.51 |
| Kansas | $36,050 | $27,390 | $45,690 | 7,290 | 0.87 |
| Kentucky | $32,940 | $23,720 | $44,270 | 9,290 | 0.79 |
| Louisiana | $32,750 | $21,420 | $44,410 | 12,820 | 1.13 |
| Maine | $42,440 | $35,880 | $49,140 | 3,440 | 0.92 |
| Maryland | $38,100 | $31,750 | $49,180 | 18,390 | 1.14 |
| Massachusetts | $43,870 | $35,790 | $54,270 | 18,970 | 0.89 |
| Michigan | $37,470 | $29,480 | $48,280 | 25,230 | 0.98 |
| Minnesota | $37,510 | $28,320 | $50,540 | 11,800 | 0.68 |
| Mississippi | $31,160 | $22,310 | $42,990 | 6,920 | 1.02 |
| Missouri | $35,740 | $29,230 | $46,660 | 18,890 | 1.1 |
| Montana | $37,360 | $27,240 | $47,420 | 1,280 | 0.43 |
| Nebraska | $37,860 | $29,070 | $47,350 | 6,750 | 1.13 |
| Nevada | $37,050 | $29,340 | $47,790 | 10,650 | 1.17 |
| New Hampshire | $38,160 | $26,800 | $53,370 | 5,320 | 1.33 |
| New Jersey | $41,650 | $33,420 | $54,290 | 42,060 | 1.68 |
| New Mexico | $35,140 | $26,970 | $44,210 | 5,650 | 1.11 |
| New York | $43,080 | $34,740 | $59,140 | 65,010 | 1.15 |
| North Carolina | $35,440 | $23,270 | $46,210 | 20,080 | 0.69 |
| North Dakota | $39,530 | $29,570 | $52,220 | 1,930 | 0.77 |
| Ohio | $35,920 | $26,070 | $46,840 | 30,850 | 0.95 |
| Oklahoma | $34,560 | $24,700 | $44,760 | 9,380 | 0.94 |
| Oregon | $40,900 | $33,970 | $49,660 | 13,590 | 1.18 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,810 | $24,820 | $48,310 | 37,830 | 1.07 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,890 | $21,840 | $27,940 | 4,030 | 0.73 |
| Rhode Island | $42,620 | $32,940 | $50,020 | 4,270 | 1.45 |
| South Carolina | $35,510 | $22,710 | $46,750 | 11,280 | 0.84 |
| South Dakota | $38,280 | $27,920 | $47,860 | 5,760 | 2.15 |
| Tennessee | $34,910 | $25,400 | $45,980 | 11,460 | 0.6 |
| Texas | $35,210 | $24,700 | $47,380 | 78,330 | 0.95 |
| Utah | $36,960 | $27,870 | $47,210 | 12,020 | 1.18 |
| Vermont | $38,370 | $30,830 | $46,810 | 1,160 | 0.65 |
| Virgin Islands | $34,630 | $27,040 | $44,450 | 120 | 0.66 |
| Virginia | $37,060 | $28,800 | $47,220 | 23,360 | 0.97 |
| Washington | $44,710 | $36,730 | $57,840 | 26,500 | 1.28 |
| West Virginia | $31,920 | $23,690 | $42,740 | 5,470 | 1.33 |
| Wisconsin | $41,150 | $29,530 | $50,030 | 25,580 | 1.49 |
| Wyoming | $37,480 | $28,580 | $49,570 | 1,540 | 0.94 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for receptionists and information clerks
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 105,100. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 0.7%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for receptionists and information clerks
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Veterinary Reception/Receptionist CIP 01.8203
- Receptionist CIP 52.0406
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Outlook (in demand)
- Microsoft Word (in demand)
- Google Docs (hot technology)
- Intuit QuickBooks (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- 3M Post-it App
- Alpha Software Alpha Five
- Appointment scheduling software
- Automated information system software
- Billing software
- Blackbaud The Raiser's Edge
- Bookkeeping software
- Claim processing system software
Transferable skills for career changers: Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Time Management, Complex Problem Solving, Persuasion.
Common job titles: Clerk Specialist, Front Desk Receptionist, Greeter, Information Assistant (Info Assistant), Medical Receptionist, Member Services Representative (Member Services Rep), Office Assistant, Receptionist, Registration Clerk, Scheduler.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do receptionists and information clerks make?
The national median annual wage for receptionists and information clerks was $38,010 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $28,760 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $49,950. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do receptionists and information clerks need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is receptionists and information clerks a growing career?
BLS projects employment of receptionists and information clerks to change -1.7% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 105,100 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay receptionists and information clerks the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were District of Columbia ($49,060), Alaska ($44,720), Washington ($44,710). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.