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Receptionists and Information Clerks

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipLower pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

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.

Kinds of work

  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Enterprising: Leading, persuading, selling and starting new projects or businesses.
  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $38,010 Median per year · $18.27/hr Most earn $28,760–$49,950

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Schedule appointments and maintain and update appointment calendars.
  • Perform administrative support tasks, such as proofreading, transcribing handwritten information, or operating calculators or computers to work with pay records, invoices, balance sheets, or other documents.
  • Perform administrative support tasks, such as proofreading, transcribing handwritten information, or operating calculators or computers to work with pay records, invoices, balance sheets, or other documents.
  • Collect, sort, distribute, or prepare mail, messages, or courier deliveries.
  • Keep a current record of staff members' whereabouts and availability.
  • Operate telephone switchboard to answer, screen, or forward calls, providing information, taking messages, or scheduling appointments.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Numerous Job Openings

United States
2% fewer jobs by 2035, declining · about 105,100 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Offices of physicians14.6%
  • Personal care services7.5%
  • Offices of dentists7.4%
  • Fitness and recreational sports centers6.3%
  • Veterinary services5.9%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Receptionist work is a common entry-level job. Many people start with a high school diploma and some office or customer service experience, and it usually takes about 1 to 2 years of related work before people feel ready for this role.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Build reading, writing, math, and computer skills, and take any business or keyboarding classes your school offers, since receptionists need clear communication and basic office software.

  2. Customer Service Representative

    1-2 years

    Answering questions and helping people by phone, email, or in person builds the greeting, problem-solving, and multitasking skills that receptionists use every day.

  3. Receptionist

    Ongoing

    As a receptionist or information clerk, you greet visitors, answer calls, direct people to departments and staff, and share information about the organization.

Where it can lead

  1. Executive Assistant

    2-4 years of experience first

    You would support senior leaders with scheduling, correspondence, and projects, which usually requires stronger office software skills and more independent judgment.

  2. Patient Representative

    2-4 years of experience first

    You would help patients and families with questions, complaints, and billing or care concerns, which usually calls for deeper knowledge of a healthcare setting and problem-solving experience.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take business, keyboarding, or computer classesThese classes build typing speed and office software skills that receptionists use daily.
  • Join a school club or student governmentRunning meetings, greeting guests, and organizing events help you practice communication and teamwork.
  • Work a starter job like a school office aide or cashierHelping people at a counter or front desk gives you real customer service experience early on.
  • Volunteer at a front desk or information tableVolunteering at a hospital, library, or community center lets you practice welcoming visitors and answering questions.
  • Practice speaking clearly on the phoneRole-playing calls with a friend or family member builds the confidence you will need to answer questions professionally.

In college

  • Take office technology or business communication coursesThese classes strengthen the software and professional writing skills that employers look for in receptionists.
  • Get a campus front-desk or customer-facing jobWorking at a student services office, library desk, or campus information center gives you direct experience with the public.
  • Earn an office software certificationA certificate in common office programs can show employers you are ready to handle front-desk tasks.
  • Join a student organization that handles visitors or eventsHelping welcome guests and answer questions at events builds the same skills receptionists use every day.
  • Look for internships or temp office workShort office placements expose you to how organizations run and help you build the 1 to 2 years of experience employers often expect.

Tips for getting started

  • Get comfortable with common office software like email, calendars, and word processing, since most receptionist jobs expect these from day one.
  • Look for part-time or volunteer roles where you answer phones or greet people, such as at a school office, library, or community center, to start building experience.
  • Practice clear, friendly phone and in-person communication, because that is the core of the job and something employers notice quickly.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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