A person working as Receptionist in Colombo typically earns around 37,400 LKR. Salaries range from 17,200 LKR (lowest) to 59,400 LKR (highest).
This is the average salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Receptionist salaries in Colombo vary drastically based on experience, skills, gender, or location. Below you will find a detailed breakdown based on many different criteria.
Minimum Salary 17,200 LKR |
Median 35,700 LKR |
Maximum 59,400 LKR |
Salaries for the position Receptionist in Colombo range from 17,200 LKR (starting salary) to 59,400 LKR (maximum salary). It should be noted that the given figure is not the legally mandated minimum wage; rather, it represents the lowest figure reported in a salary survey that included thousands of participants and professionals from all regions of the country.
With a median salary of 35,700 LKR, half of the professionals who work as Receptionist in Colombo earn less than this amount, and the other half earn more. The median salary denotes the middle value of salaries. Ideally, you would want to belong to the group earning more than the median salary, located on the right side of the salary distribution graph.
The median is closely associated with two other values known as the 25th and 75th percentiles. By examining the salary distribution chart, it can be determined that 25% of professionals employed as Receptionist in Colombo earn less than 28,800 LKR, while 75% earn more. Similarly, the chart shows that 75% earn less than 41,200 LKR while 25% earn more.
To provide a better understanding of expected salaries, we categorized the frequently occurring salaries into different ranges. This approach provides a more precise representation of salary distribution for the job title Receptionist in Colombo compared to simply calculating the average. The majority of reported salaries, approximately 65%, fall within the range of 21,400 LKR to 31,100 LKR. About 20% of salaries are below the 21,400 LKR mark, while 10% fall within the range of 31,100 LKR to 35,500 LKR. Only 5% of individuals have salaries exceeding 35,500 LKR.
0 - 2 Years | 19,500 LKR | |
2 - 5 Years | +34% | 26,100 LKR |
5 - 10 Years | +48% | 38,500 LKR |
10 - 15 Years | +22% | 47,000 LKR |
15 - 20 Years | +9% | 51,200 LKR |
20+ Years | +8% | 55,400 LKR |
The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally, the more years of experience the higher the wage. We broke down salaries by experience level for people working as Receptionist and this is what we found.
Employees with less than two years of experience earn approximately 19,500 LKR.
While someone with an experience level between two and five years is expected to earn 26,100 LKR, 34% more than someone with less than two year's experience.
Moving forward, an experience level between five and ten years lands a salary of 38,500 LKR, 48% more than someone with two to five years of experience.
Additionally, professionals whose expertise span anywhere between ten and fifteen years get a salary equivalent to 47,000 LKR, 22% more than someone with five to ten years of experience.
If the experience level is between fifteen and twenty years, then the expected wage is 51,200 LKR, 9% more than someone with ten to fifteen years of experience.
Lastly, employees with more than twenty years of professional experience get a salary of 55,400 LKR, 8% more than people with fifteen to twenty years of experience.
High School | 22,300 LKR | |
Certificate or Diploma | +57% | 34,900 LKR |
Bachelor's Degree | +68% | 58,600 LKR |
We all know that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income? We broke down salaries by education level for the position Receptionist in order to make a comparison.
Employees at this education level have an average salary of 22,300 LKR.
At this level, the average salary becomes 34,900 LKR, 57% more than the previous level.
At this level, the average salary becomes 58,600 LKR, 68% more than the previous level.
Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? For the people who work as Receptionist in Sri Lanka, the average difference between the salary of male and female employees is 9%.
Male | 35,000 LKR | |
Female | +10% | 38,600 LKR |
Individuals working as Receptionist in Sri Lanka are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately % every months. The national average annual increment for all professions combined is 9% granted to employees every 17 months.
The term Annual Salary Increase usually refers to the increase in 12 calendar month period, but because it is rare that people get their salaries reviewed exactly on the one-year mark, it is more meaningful to know the frequency and the rate at the time of the increase.
The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 / Increase Frequency
Not all compensation increases are reflected directly in the salary. Some companies offer upgraded packages to their staff instead of cash money. The figures displayed here account only for direct increments to the base salary.
100% of surveyed staff reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while % said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.
Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from % to % of their annual salary.
Received Bonus | % | |
No Bonus | 100% |
The most standard form of bonus, where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.
Company Performance BonusesOccasionally, some companies like to celebrate excess earnings and profits with their staff collectively in the form of bonuses that are granted to everyone. The amount of the bonus will probably be different from person to person depending on their role within the organization.
Goal-Based BonusesGranted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.
Holiday / End of Year BonusesThese types of bonuses are given without a reason and usually resemble an appreciation token.
People tend to confuse bonuses with commissions. A commission is a prefixed rate at which someone gets paid for items sold or deals completed while a bonus is in most cases arbitrary and unplanned.
The main two types of jobs | |
Revenue Generators | Supporting Cast |
Employees that are directly involved in generating revenue or profit for the organization. Their field of expertise usually matches the type of business. | Employees that support and facilitate the work of revenue generators. Their expertise is usually different from that of the core business operations. |
Example: | Example: |
Revenue generators usually get more and higher bonuses, higher salaries, and more frequent salary increments. The reason is quite simple: it is easier to quantify your value to the company in monetary terms when you participate in revenue generation.
Top management personnel and senior employees naturally exhibit higher bonus rates and frequencies than juniors. This is very predictable due to the inherent responsibilities of being higher in the hierarchy. People in top positions can easily get double or triple bonus rates than employees down the pyramid.
The hourly wage is the salary paid in one worked hour. Usually, jobs are classified into two categories: salaried jobs and hourly jobs. Salaried jobs pay a fixed amount regardless of the hours worked. Hourly jobs pay per worked hour. To convert salary into hourly wage the above formula is used (assuming 5 working days in a week and 8 working hours per day which is the standard for most jobs). The hourly wage calculation may differ slightly depending on the worked hours per week and the annual vacation allowance. The figures mentioned above are good approximations and are considered to be the standard. One major difference between salaried employees and hourly paid employees is overtime eligibility. Salaried employees are usually exempt from overtime as opposed to hourly paid staff.
The minimum pay rate per hour for people working as Receptionist in Colombo is 99 LKR. This is the minimum as per the gathered data in the salary survey not the minimum hourly rate mandated by law.
Job Title | Average Salary |
Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering | -100% | |
Airbnb Property Manager | 118,000 LKR | +220% |
All Rounder | 41,400 LKR | +11% |
Assistant Executive Housekeeper | 32,200 LKR | -14% |
Assistant Food and Beverage Controller | 59,200 LKR | +58% |
Assistant Food and Beverage Director | 128,000 LKR | +240% |
Assistant Hospitality Manager | 139,000 LKR | +270% |
Assistant Storekeeper | 28,400 LKR | -24% |
Assistant Tour Manager | 64,200 LKR | +72% |
Baker and Pastrycook | 36,600 LKR | -2% |
Bakery Manager | 77,700 LKR | +110% |
Bakery Superintendent | 51,300 LKR | +37% |
Banquet Captain | 40,900 LKR | +9% |
Banquet Manager | 53,200 LKR | +42% |
Banquet Server | 32,500 LKR | -13% |
Bar Attendant | 32,700 LKR | -13% |
Bar Manager | 68,900 LKR | +84% |
Bar Supervisor | 46,400 LKR | +24% |
Barista | 42,800 LKR | +14% |
Bartender | 41,700 LKR | +12% |
Bellman | 33,100 LKR | -11% |
Beverage Manager | 83,100 LKR | +120% |
Bistro Attendant | 34,100 LKR | -9% |
Buffet Chef | 59,000 LKR | +58% |
Buffet Host | 32,900 LKR | -12% |
Buffet Manager | 71,900 LKR | +92% |
Butcher and Slaughterer | 29,100 LKR | -22% |
Cafeteria Assistant | 35,200 LKR | -6% |
Cafeteria Manager | 64,800 LKR | +73% |
Cafeteria Supervisor | 45,400 LKR | +21% |
Cake Decorator | 39,800 LKR | +6% |
Casino Shift Manager | 116,000 LKR | +210% |
Chain Store Customer Support | 51,400 LKR | +37% |
Chef | 62,600 LKR | +67% |
Chef De Cuisine | 90,700 LKR | +140% |
Club Manager | 120,000 LKR | +220% |
Cluster Director | 154,000 LKR | +310% |
Cluster Revenue Manager | 118,000 LKR | +220% |
Cocktail Server | 34,100 LKR | -9% |
Coffee Shop Manager | 111,000 LKR | +200% |
Concierge | 32,700 LKR | -13% |
Confectionery Baker | 37,500 LKR | +0% |
Conference and Sales Coordinator | 60,100 LKR | +61% |
Conference Services Manager | 72,600 LKR | +94% |
Cook | 53,500 LKR | +43% |
Corporate Sous Chef | 94,700 LKR | +150% |
Corporate Travel Consultant | 90,300 LKR | +140% |
Croupier | 45,100 LKR | +21% |
Culinary Assistant | 29,700 LKR | -21% |
Culinary Associate | 29,100 LKR | -22% |
Culinary Tour Guide | 80,200 LKR | +110% |
Demi Chef | 66,500 LKR | +78% |
Dietary Aide | 66,200 LKR | +77% |
Dining Room Supervisor | 58,300 LKR | +56% |
Dishwasher | 25,500 LKR | -32% |
Duty Manager | 79,500 LKR | +110% |
Events Coordinator | 49,900 LKR | +33% |
Executive Chef | 76,400 LKR | +100% |
Executive Pastry Chef | 58,500 LKR | +56% |
Fast Food Cook | 54,600 LKR | +46% |
Fast Food Shift Supervisor | 58,000 LKR | +55% |
Fine Dining Cook | 94,200 LKR | +150% |
Fine Dining Restaurant Chef | 93,400 LKR | +150% |
Fleet Manager | 161,000 LKR | +330% |
Food and Beverage Manager | 119,000 LKR | +220% |
Food and Beverage Trend Analyst | 83,900 LKR | +120% |
Food Consultant | 95,700 LKR | +160% |
Food Photographer | 64,100 LKR | +71% |
Food Policy Analyst | 92,900 LKR | +150% |
Food Safety Auditor | 84,600 LKR | +130% |
Food Safety Compliance Manager | 95,700 LKR | +160% |
Food Safety Coordinator | 76,400 LKR | +100% |
Food Server | 33,200 LKR | -11% |
Food Service Director | 122,000 LKR | +230% |
Food Service Manager | 137,000 LKR | +270% |
Food Service Sales | 77,000 LKR | +110% |
Food Service Worker | 32,600 LKR | -13% |
Food Stylist | 52,300 LKR | +40% |
Food Sustainability Consultant | 99,600 LKR | +170% |
Front Desk Agent | 37,900 LKR | +1% |
Front Desk Clerk | 39,600 LKR | +6% |
Front Office Manager | 69,900 LKR | +87% |
Gastronomy Consultant | 70,700 LKR | +89% |
Guest Service Executive | 104,000 LKR | +180% |
Guest Service Representative | 41,300 LKR | +10% |
Head Chef | 76,400 LKR | +100% |
Head Concierge | 48,200 LKR | +29% |
Hospitality Director | 193,000 LKR | +420% |
Hospitality Technology Specialist | 80,500 LKR | +120% |
Hostess / Host | 36,100 LKR | -3% |
Hotel Desk Clerk | 36,500 LKR | -2% |
Hotel Maid | 28,400 LKR | -24% |
Hotel Manager | 191,000 LKR | +410% |
Hotel Revenue Manager | 111,000 LKR | +200% |
Hotel Sales Manager | 138,000 LKR | +270% |
Hotel Service Supervisor | 105,000 LKR | +180% |
Hotel Staff | 33,300 LKR | -11% |
Inventory Coordinator | 42,200 LKR | +13% |
Kitchen Manager | 62,400 LKR | +67% |
Kitchen Staff | 33,500 LKR | -10% |
Kitchen Supervisor | 54,300 LKR | +45% |
Line Cook | 57,900 LKR | +55% |
Luggage Porter | 26,900 LKR | -28% |
Molecular Gastronomist | 97,600 LKR | +160% |
Motel Manager | 108,000 LKR | +190% |
Pastry Chef | 51,400 LKR | +37% |
Pastrycooking and Baking Assistant | 36,100 LKR | -3% |
Personal Chef | 75,200 LKR | +100% |
Production Operator | 54,400 LKR | +46% |
Quality, Health and Safety Coordinator | 60,200 LKR | +61% |
Receptionist | 37,400 LKR | +0% |
Regional Restaurant Manager | 146,000 LKR | +290% |
Restaurant Manager | 121,000 LKR | +220% |
Restaurant Server | 33,200 LKR | -11% |
Room Reservations Manager | 117,000 LKR | +210% |
Room Service Manager | 120,000 LKR | +220% |
Sous Chef | 71,600 LKR | +92% |
Special Events Coordinator | 74,600 LKR | +100% |
Supervisor of Food Services | 86,700 LKR | +130% |
Sustainable Catering Coordinator | 71,300 LKR | +91% |
Sustainable Tourism Consultant | 80,900 LKR | +120% |
Tour Consultant | 91,200 LKR | +140% |
Tour Guide | 59,000 LKR | +58% |
Tour Manager | 84,000 LKR | +120% |
Travel Agent | 63,500 LKR | +70% |
Travel Consultant | 89,900 LKR | +140% |
Virtual / Augmented Reality Tourism Specialist | 78,500 LKR | +110% |
Waiter / Waitress | 31,000 LKR | -17% |
Wedding Planner | 99,200 LKR | +170% |
City | Average Salary |
Colombo | 37,400 LKR |
Where can you get paid more, working in a private company or the government? The difference between the public or government sector salaries and the private sector salaries in Sri Lanka is 8% on average across all career fields.
Private Sector | 86,300 LKR | |
Public Sector | +8% | 92,900 LKR |
A good and competitive compensation would range anywhere between 35,700 LKR and 41,200 LKR. This is a very rough estimate. Experience and education play a very huge part in the final earnings.
All salary and compensation figures displayed here are gross salary figures, that is the salary before tax deductions. Because taxes may differ across sectors and locations, it is difficult to accurately calculate the net salary after tax for every career.
The base salary for a careers like Receptionist in Colombo ranges from 17,200 LKR to 28,800 LKR. The base salary depends on many factors including experience and education. It is not easy to provide a figure with very little information, so take this range with a grain of salt.
Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people earn more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated. We wrote a guide to explain all about the different scenarios. How to compare your salary