Receptionists and Information Clerks Salary
The median receptionists and information clerks salary in the United States is $38,010 per year ($18.27/hour). Salaries range from $28,760 at the entry level to $49,950+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 910,180 receptionists and information clerks jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 0% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 Β· Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Salary Distribution
Job Growth (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
Education Required
Training Needed
Receptionists and Information Clerks Career Guide
Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for receptionists and information clerkss.
Receptionists + Information Clerks are the first point of contact for organizations β greeting visitors, answering phones, scheduling appointments, handling basic customer service. Career splits: general receptionist (front desk at business), medical receptionist (highest pay + patient interaction), legal receptionist (higher pay + confidentiality), hotel + hospitality (variable schedule + tips), government (steady pay + pension). Path: high school + on-the-job training + optional certifications. Real career mobility through specialization + advancement to office coordinator + administrator. Compensation: entry $26-34k; experienced $32-45k; specialty (medical, legal) $38-55k; sr receptionist + coordinator $45-65k+.
Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For
How to Become a Receptionists and Information Clerks
- 1High school diploma or GED (minimum)Reading + basic math + typing required.
- 2Apply at business + medical + legal settingWide variety. Entry-level positions available at almost any organization with reception desk.
- 3Complete on-the-job training (1-2 weeks)Company-specific processes + systems + protocols.
- 4Optional: Certifications (Certified Medical Administrative Assistant β CMAA, HIPAA training)Signals commitment + gives leg up on entry-level medical/legal positions.
- 5Move to Senior Receptionist / Coordinator (2-4 years)Take on more responsibility + train new hires. Higher pay.
- 6Advance to Office Coordinator + Administrator5-10 years experience. Full office team + coordination.
- 7Optional: Associate's degree in Business AdministrationFor higher-pay administrator + management path.
Career Progression
- β’Answer phones + greet visitors
- β’Schedule appointments
- β’Learning tools + processes
- β’Independent front desk operation
- β’Multi-department support
- β’Some supervisory duties
- β’Specialized reception (medical + legal)
- β’Training new receptionists
- β’Front office team lead
- β’Lead front office team
- β’Supervisor role
- β’Reports to Office Manager
- β’Full office operations
- β’Team of 6-15+ staff
- β’Reporting to owners/partners
Interview Questions & Answers
5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 11 total plus resume bullets for every level.
Q1. Tell me about your reception experience.situational
Q2. How do you handle an angry customer or patient?situational
Q3. How do you multitask during a busy period?situational
Q4. Why our organization / role?culture
Q5. How do you handle confidential information?situational
Resume Template β Experienced Receptionist (2-4 yrs)
Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.
- βΈFront Desk Receptionist, [Company], responsible for greeting 80-120 visitors + handling 200+ phone calls daily.
- βΈAdvanced Microsoft Office + specialty software (EHR, CRM, scheduling systems).
- βΈZero customer complaints + 4.9/5 customer satisfaction rating over past 12 months.
- βΈTrained 3 new-hire receptionists in past year. All completed onboarding successfully.
What Gets You Rejected
- βWeak phone or customer service skills.
- βPoor written communication.
- βAttendance issues.
- βBad-mouthing prior employer or manager.
- βWeak multi-tasking abilities.
- βPoor typing speed.
- βNot comfortable with technology.
- βWeak understanding of confidentiality (HIPAA + attorney-client).
Salary Negotiation Levers
- βHourly rate.
- βSign-on bonus $500-2,000 in high-demand areas.
- βFull benefits (health, dental, retirement) β huge difference between full-time + temp.
- βPTO + sick time.
- βCareer path to Coordinator + Supervisor.
- βTuition reimbursement (large employers).
- βOvertime eligibility.
- βShift differential (night + weekend at some organizations).
- βCertifications support (CMAA, HIPAA).
Receptionists and Information Clerks Resume Review β $29
Personalized resume review from someone who has hired receptionists and information clerkss. Purchase, email your resume to support@weblabra.com, and receive detailed written feedback within 7 days.
- β Occupation-specific critique (not generic)
- β Rewrite suggestions for weak bullets
- β Missing skills / keywords flagged
- β Formatting + ATS-readability feedback
- β 7-day turnaround, 100% refund if we miss it
Receptionists and Information Clerks Career Kit β $19
- β All 11 interview questions with expert answers
- β 10 real questions aggregated from Glassdoor, Blind, Reddit, LinkedIn
- β Interview format intel for 8 top employers
- β 3 copy-paste salary negotiation emails
- β Resume bullets for every level of the career ladder
- β 30β60β90 day plan for your first role
- β Cover letter templates specific to this occupation
- β Detailed salary negotiation script
- β Ranked list of certifications with cost + ROI
- β Downloadable PDF for offline access
- β Instant access, no expiration, no subscription
One-time purchase. 7-day refund guarantee.
Sample reviews β real customer reviews will appear here as they come in.
βThe interview question bank saved me. I got the exact question about 'walking through a DCF' at my Goldman Sachs superday, verbatim.β
β Anonymous, Financial Analyst
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β Anonymous, Software Developer
βThe 30-60-90 day plan for a new grad RN was better than the orientation my hospital gave. Wish I'd bought this in nursing school.β
β Anonymous, Registered Nurse
Receptionists and Information Clerks Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) βSalary Map β Click a state for details
Top Paying States
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $49,060 | +29.1% |
| Alaska | $44,720 | +17.7% |
| Washington | $44,710 | +17.6% |
| California | $44,100 | +16.0% |
| Massachusetts | $43,870 | +15.4% |
| New York | $43,080 | +13.3% |
| Rhode Island | $42,620 | +12.1% |
| Maine | $42,440 | +11.7% |
| Colorado | $42,010 | +10.5% |
| New Jersey | $41,650 | +9.6% |
Receptionists and Information Clerks Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $49,450 | +30.1% |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $47,260 | +24.3% |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $47,130 | +24.0% |
| Napa, CA | $46,850 | +23.3% |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $45,820 | +20.5% |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $45,820 | +20.5% |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $45,650 | +20.1% |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $45,550 | +19.8% |
| Vallejo, CA | $45,500 | +19.7% |
| Sheboygan, WI | $45,430 | +19.5% |