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Receptionists and Information Clerks: Career Profile
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.
The Daily Work of 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.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Successful receptionists and information clerks combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
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)
How Many Receptionists and Information Clerks Are There?
There are about 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 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Receptionists and Information Clerks Salary 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
Earnings for receptionists and information clerks shift depending on where you work. The following regions pay the most:
| 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 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| 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 bulk 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:
Software Receptionists and Information Clerks Use
- 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)
Work Environment
The work environment for 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
Getting Started in This Career
Entry-level 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.
Similar Occupations
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)
About the Data
Statistics shown above are sourced from 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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