Receptionist salary

The median pay for a receptionist nationally is $19.75 an hour — about $41,080 a year full time. That is based on 14 job postings on LocalWork from the last 12 months that stated pay, so it reflects what employers are advertising rather than verified earnings. Half of the roles pay more than this and half pay less, so treat it as the middle of the market rather than a target.

Most receptionists nationally earn between $16.15 an hour and $22.85 an hour — that is the 10th to the 90th percentile. The spread usually reflects experience, shift, certifications and employer size more than anything else.

Pay at the bottom of the range — roughly what someone starting out can expect — is around $16.15 an hour. A quarter of receptionists earn below $18.00 an hour, so the first year or two typically sits in that band. This is a role employers routinely fill with people who have no prior experience.

The top 10% of receptionists nationally earn about $22.85 an hour or more, roughly 1.2× the median. Getting there usually means experience plus something specific — certifications, supervisory duties, specialised skills or premium shifts.

Receptionists are the first point of contact for an organisation — greeting visitors, handling calls and supporting the office. Day to day, that means greet visitors and manage sign-in, answer and route calls, manage meeting room bookings and handle post and deliveries.

The usual route is: (1) apply — commonly an entry-level office role, (2) take on additional admin responsibilities, (3) move to administrative assistant, (4) progress into specialised admin or office management. Employers typically look for high school diploma typically, computer literacy and professional presentation.

Usually not. Most employers hire receptionists without a specific licence, and train on the job.

There are currently 17 open receptionists listed on LocalWork. Consistent demand, particularly in medical and professional practices where front-desk coverage is essential.