Looking to explore Receptionists salary in the United States?
We created this guide to help you learn about the Receptionist salary, non-monetary perks, benefits and more.
How Much Does a Receptionist Make in the United States?
Average Receptionist salary in the United States is a month or $36,590 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
The average wage for a Receptionist is per hour.
Although some Receptionists can earn as little as $12.95 (10th percentile), some can earn as much as $22.77 per hour (90th percentile).
[Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics]
This bar graph is interactive. Hover your mouse over different parts of the graph to see detailed data.
Being in the 90th percentile means that you are earning more than 90% of all Receptionists in the United States.
Top-earning Receptionists thus make $47,361, and they are merely 10% of all Receptionists.
Being in the 10th percentile, however, means that you earn less than 90% of the group. That means that the annual salary of a Receptionist in the 10th percentile is $26,936.
Receptionist Salary by Year
In 2022, the average base salary for Receptionists was $34,600 yearly or $16.64 hourly, while in 2021 Receptionists were averaging $32,910 yearly or $15.82 hourly.
This demonstrates an upward trend in Receptionist salaries.
How Much Does a Receptionist Make Hourly?
The average hourly wage for a Receptionist in the United States is $17.59.
How Much Does a Receptionist Make Weekly?
The average weekly Receptionist salary in the United States is $703.6.
What Impacts Receptionist Salaries?
There are multiple factors that can affect a Receptionist’s salary.
From different states to experience and industry in which the Receptionist works, explore some of the main factors affecting Receptionist salaries below:
- Experience: Experienced Receptionists are often more likely to receive higher salaries than their counterparts with no prior experience.
- Industry: Receptionists work in nearly all industries, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Receptionists who work in Postal Service earn higher salaries than Receptionists working in financial institutions, for example.
Explore the top-paying industries for Receptionists below:
| Industry | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|
| Postal Service (Federal Government) | $ 67,210 |
| Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water | $ 59,870 |
| Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services | $ 51,360 |
| Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities | $ 48,430 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | $ 47,270 |
- Type of establishment: Receptionists can work in a legal office, a hotel or a healthcare institution. Depending on the employer, they can earn different salaries based on industry trends, company budget and specific tasks they will perform in the role.
- Skills and expertise: Receptionists who have additional skills (proficiency in multiple languages, administrative software) can earn higher wages than their counterparts with little to no additional expertise.
- Market demand: In areas in which there are many Receptionist job openings but not enough qualified individuals, Receptionist salaries may be higher.
Best Paying States for Receptionists
By looking at the map of the United States, you can see that Receptionists working across states earn different salaries due to different factors such as cost of living and market demand.
Explore the below map to see different Receptionist compensations across the U.S.
[The latest data collected from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the labor/employment departments of the respective states]
This map is interactive. Hover your mouse over different parts of the map to see detailed data.
The District of Columbia offers the highest Receptionist salary at $43,700 per year. However, when it comes to the top-paying states for Receptionists, these include California ($42,920), Washington ($41,950) and New York ($41,760).
On the other hand, the states that offer the lowest wages to Receptionists include West Virginia ($30,030), Louisiana ($30,260) and Mississippi ($30,260).
| State | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $31,464 |
| Alaska | $40,980 |
| Arizona | $37,160 |
| Arkansas | $32,570 |
| California | $42,920 |
| Colorado | $39,000 |
| Connecticut | $40,320 |
| Delaware | $34,210 |
| Florida | $34,820 |
| Georgia | $35,210 |
| Hawaii | $39,110 |
| Idaho | $33,290 |
| Illinois | $36,990 |
| Indiana | $33,850 |
| Iowa | $33,790 |
| Kansas | $33,040 |
| Kentucky | $31,310 |
| Louisiana | $30,260 |
| Maine | $38,470 |
| Maryland | $38,360 |
| Massachusetts | $41,570 |
| Michigan | $35,610 |
| Minnesota | $37,600 |
| Mississippi | $30,260 |
| Missouri | $34,060 |
| Montana | $33,660 |
| Nebraska | $34,836 |
| Nevada | $35,990 |
| New Hampshire | $37,310 |
| New Jersey | $39,670 |
| New Mexico | $33,130 |
| New York | $41,760 |
| North Carolina | $34,000 |
| North Dakota | $37,080 |
| Ohio | $33,720 |
| Oklahoma | $32,240 |
| Oregon | $38,990 |
| Pennsylvania | $34,410 |
| Rhode Island | $39,850 |
| South Carolina | $32,800 |
| South Dakota | $34,300 |
| Tennessee | $32,710 |
| Texas | $33,330 |
| Utah | $34,910 |
| Vermont | $36,140 |
| Virginia | $35,200 |
| Washington | $41,950 |
| West Virginia | $30,030 |
| Wisconsin | $37,390 |
| Wyoming | $36,260 |
| District of Columbia | $43,700 |
Best Paying Cities for Receptionists
The Receptionist salary can vary not only from state to state, but also from city to city.
Out of the four major U.S. cities, New York City offers the highest salary to Receptionist at $42,150 per year, while Miami offers the lowest compensation at $35,890 annually.
Explore the average salaries across the major U.S. cities below:
Average annual wage
42,150
Number of Employees
87,340
Average annual wage
40,850
Number of Employees
26,560
Average annual wage
37,780
Number of Employees
33,740
Average annual wage
35,890
Number of Employees
23,320
Non-Monetary Perks for Receptionists
According to Statista, employees are still most likely to switch jobs to receive a higher salary.
However, that doesn’t mean that they don’t care about non-monetary perks and benefits that come with a role.
In fact, while 32% of U.S. employees would be willing to change jobs for a better salary, 26% would do so to receive access to better benefits.
The top non-monetary benefits for U.S. employees include:
- Employer-covered healthcare
- Life insurance
- Pension and retirement plans
- Mental health assistance
- Employee discounts
In the case of Receptionists, some of the most common non-monetary perks and benefits they receive are:
Health and wellness benefits
Receptionists can often benefits such as medical, dental and vision insurance. Additionally, depending on the employer, Receptionists may receive wellness perks such as gym discounts or access to a company’s fitness facility.
Paid time off (PTO)
Considering that less than 50% of hospitality workers have access to paid vacation, generous PTO policies can help Receptionists take time off without worrying about deductions in their compensation.
Retirement savings plans
Offering a retirement plan like 401 (k) plans is a common way through which employers can attract qualified Receptionists and offer them financial security.
Transportation benefits
Subsidies for public transportation or parking expenses help reduce the stress to a Receptionist’s budget through a reduction of commuting costs.
Employee discounts
Providing discounts on company products or services, as well as discounts at partner businesses, can help Receptionists save money on purchases and enjoy additional perks. For example, Receptionists working in spas or resorts often get discounted access to the facility’s amenities.
How Much Do Similar Careers to Receptionists Get Paid?
Receptionists in the U.S. earn more than what Hosts/Hostesses earn. They also earn 3% more than Servers, but about 9% less than Concierges.
| Job Title | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Host/Hostess | |
| Server | |
| Concierge |
Receptionist Salary FAQ
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the highest-paid Receptionists work in the Postal Service ($67,210 per year), followed by those working for Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water ($59,870).
Yes, Receptionists can advance their career.
By gaining experience, additional skills and certifications and networking, Receptionists can move up the ladder and advance their career to become Office Managers, Hotel Managers and more.
When talking about salary, the first step would be to research the average Receptionist salary in your state and city.
While the average salary for a Receptionist is $36,590 per year in the U.S., the top earning Receptionists can earn a salary of more than $60,000.
When asking for a raise as a Receptionist, it’s essential to prepare thoroughly.
Highlight your contributions, showcase your skills and accomplishments and provide evidence of your value to the organization.
