Receptionists

Receptionists do administrative tasks, such as answering phones, greeting visitors, and providing general information about their organization.

Duties

Receptionists typically do the following:

• Answer the telephone and take messages or forward calls
• Schedule and confirm appointments and maintain calendars
• Greet customers, clients, and other visitors
• Check in visitors and direct or escort them to their destinations
• Inform other employees of visitors’ arrivals or cancellations
• Enter customer information into the organization's database
• Copy, file, and maintain paper or electronic documents
• Handle incoming and outgoing correspondence

Receptionists are often the first employee of an organization to have contact with a customer or client. They are responsible for making a good first impression for the organization.

Receptionists’ specific responsibilities vary by employer. For example, receptionists in hospitals and doctors’ offices may collect patients’ personal information and direct patients to the waiting room. Some handle billing and insurance payments.

In large corporations and government offices, receptionists may have a security role. For example, they may control access to the organization by issuing visitor passes and escorting visitors to their destination.

Receptionists use telephones, computers, and other office equipment, such as shredders and printers.

Receptionists held about 1.0 million jobs in 2024. The largest employers of receptionists were as follows:

Receptionists are employed in nearly every industry.

Receptionists usually work in areas that are visible and accessible to the public and other employees, such as the front desk of a lobby or waiting room.

Some receptionists face stressful situations. They may have to answer numerous phone calls or deal with difficult visitors.

Work Schedules

Most receptionists work full time. Some receptionists, such as those who work in hospitals and nursing homes, work evenings and weekends.

Receptionists typically need a high school diploma or equivalent and good communication skills.

The median hourly wage for receptionists was $17.90 in May 2024.

Employment of receptionists is projected to decline 0 percent from 2024 to 2034.

Despite declining employment, about 128,500 openings for receptionists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.