Top Skills for This Career
BLS identifies these as the three highest-rated skills for this detailed occupation. TrustInEd adds the plain-language explanations so visitors understand what each skill means.
Adjusting effectively when priorities, conditions, tools, or expectations change.
Working effectively with people by building relationships, understanding others, and responding appropriately.
Understanding customer needs and providing helpful, professional service.
How Do You Prepare for This Career?
BLS describes the typical preparation for this occupation. Requirements can vary by employer, state, licensing rules and individual circumstances.
How to Become One
How to Become a Receptionist Receptionists need to be good at communicating with people. Although hiring requirements vary by industry and employer, receptionists typically need a high school diploma or equivalent and good communication skills.
Education
Receptionists typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, and employers may prefer to hire candidates who have experience with certain computer software. Proficiency in word processing and spreadsheet applications may be particularly helpful.
Training
Most receptionists receive short-term on-the-job training, usually lasting a few days up to a month. Training typically covers procedures for greeting visitors, answering the telephone, and using the computer. Advancement Receptionists may advance to other administrative occupations with more responsibilities, such as secretaries and administrative assistants.
Your Next Step
Review training, certifications, apprenticeships, or employer-based preparation that may support entry into this career.
Pay
the median annual wage for all workers was $50,980.
Job Outlook
Job Outlook Employment of receptionists is projected to grow 2 percent from 2025 to 2035, decline. About 105,100 openings for receptionists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. Employment Employment of receptionists is expected to be constrained as organizations continue to automate or consolidate administrative functions. For example, many organizations use computer software, websites, mobile applications, or other technology to interact with the public or customers. Receptionists Percent change in employment, projected 2025–35 Total, all occupations 3% Receptionists and information clerks -2% Information and record clerks -4% Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
What They Do
What Receptionists Do
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.
Work Environment
Work Environment
Receptionists held about 947,500 jobs in 2025. The largest employers of receptionists were as follows:
| Healthcare and social assistance | 42% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 11 |
| Personal care services | 7 |
| Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations | 4 |
| Administrative and support services | 3 |
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.
Important Qualities
The following are examples of qualities that are important for these workers to perform their duties. For more information, visit the Employment Projections (EP) skills data page. Communication skills. Receptionists must speak and write clearly when providing information and corresponding with customers. Computer skills. Receptionists should be adept at using computers. Customer-service skills. Receptionists represent the organization, so they should be courteous, professional, and helpful to customers and the public. Integrity. Receptionists may handle confidential data, especially in medical and legal offices. They must be trustworthy and protect clients’ privacy. Interpersonal skills. Receptionists should be comfortable interacting with people in different types of situations. Organizational skills. Receptionists take messages, schedule appointments, and maintain employee files. They need good organizational skills to manage their diverse responsibilities.
More Information
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about receptionists by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
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Start with ED →Career data and occupational profile text are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook and Employment Projections program. Education requirements are typical entry-level requirements and may vary by employer, state, occupation or individual circumstance. View the official BLS profile.