Receptionist Average Salary in United States 2024
How much money does a person working as Receptionist make in United States?
LOW
18,500
USD AVERAGE
34,800
USD HIGH
52,900
USD
A person working as Receptionist in United States typically earns around 34,800 USD. Salaries range from 18,500 USD (lowest) to 52,900 USD (highest).
Salary Variance
This is the average salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Receptionist salaries in United States vary drastically based on experience, skills, gender, or location. Below you will find a detailed breakdown based on many different criteria.
Receptionist Pay Scale and Salaries in United States
Salary Structure and Pay Scale Comparison
31,300 USD or more
27,900 to 31,300 USD
20,600 USD or less
20,600 to 27,900 USD
 18,500 USD |
31,400 USD |
52,900 USD |
Median Salary, maximum and minimum salary, minimum wage, starting salary, and the salary range
Salary Range, Minimum Wage, and Starting Salary
Salaries for the position Receptionist in United States range from 18,500 USD (starting salary) to 52,900 USD (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.
Median Salary
With a median salary of 31,400 USD, half of the professionals who work as Receptionist in United States 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.
Percentiles and Salary Scale
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 United States earn less than 26,100 USD, while 75% earn more. Similarly, the chart shows that 75% earn less than 35,500 USD while 25% earn more.
Pay Scale Structure
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 United States compared to simply calculating the average. The majority of reported salaries, approximately 65%, fall within the range of 20,600 USD to 27,900 USD. About 20% of salaries are below the 20,600 USD mark, while 10% fall within the range of 27,900 USD to 31,300 USD. Only 5% of individuals have salaries exceeding 31,300 USD.
Salary Comparison by Years of Experience / Receptionist / United States
How do experience and age affect pay?
| 0 - 2 Years | 21,200 USD | |
| 2 - 5 Years | +23% | 26,000 USD |
| 5 - 10 Years | +42% | 36,900 USD |
| 10 - 15 Years | +17% | 43,100 USD |
| 15 - 20 Years | +10% | 47,400 USD |
| 20+ Years | +6% | 50,200 USD |
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 21,200 USD.
While someone with an experience level between two and five years is expected to earn 26,000 USD, 23% more than someone with less than two year's experience.
Moving forward, an experience level between five and ten years lands a salary of 36,900 USD, 42% 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 43,100 USD, 17% 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 47,400 USD, 10% more than someone with ten to fifteen years of experience.
Lastly, employees with more than twenty years of professional experience get a salary of 50,200 USD, 6% more than people with fifteen to twenty years of experience.
Typical Salary Progress for Most Careers
Salary Comparison By Education / Receptionist / United States
How do education levels affect salaries?
Displayed below is the average salary variance between different education levels of professionals working as Receptionist.
| High School | 26,000 USD | |
| Certificate or Diploma | +40% | 36,400 USD |
| Bachelor's Degree | +42% | 51,500 USD |
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.
Level 1: High School
Employees at this education level have an average salary of 26,000 USD.
Level 2: Certificate or Diploma
At this level, the average salary becomes 36,400 USD, 40% more than the previous level.
Level 3: Bachelor's Degree
At this level, the average salary becomes 51,500 USD, 42% more than the previous level.
Typical Salary Difference by Education for Most Careers
Salary and Compensation Comparison By Gender / Receptionist / United States
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 United States, the average difference between the salary of male and female employees is 5%.
| Male | 33,800 USD | |
| Female | +6% | 35,700 USD |
Salary Comparison By Gender in United States for all Careers
Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage / Receptionist / United States
How much are annual salary increments in United States for individuals working as Receptionist? How often do employees get salary raises?
Individuals working as Receptionist in United States are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 9% every 16 months. The national average annual increment for all professions combined is 8% granted to employees every 16 months.
United States / All Professions
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.
How to calculate the salary increment percentage?
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
Worldwide Salary Raises: All Countries and All Jobs
Salary Packages and Schemes
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.
Bonus and Incentive Rates / Receptionist / United States
How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?
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73% of surveyed staff reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 27% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.
Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 1% to 3% of their annual salary.
| Received Bonus | 27% | |
| No Bonus | 73% |
Types of Bonuses Considered
Individual Performance-Based BonusesThe 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.
Bonuses Are Not Commissions!
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.
What makes a position worthy of good bonuses and a high salary?
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.
Bonus Comparison by Seniority Level
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.
Average Hourly Wage / Receptionist / United States
17 USD per hourThe average hourly wage (pay per hour) for individuals working as Receptionist in United States is 17 USD.This is the rate they get paid for every worked hour.
About The Hourly Pay Rate
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.
What is the minimum hourly rate of pay?
The minimum pay rate per hour for people working as Receptionist in United States is 9 USD. This is the minimum as per the gathered data in the salary survey not the minimum hourly rate mandated by law.
Salary comparison with similar jobs
| Job Title | Average Salary |
| Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering |  -100% | |
| Airbnb Property Manager | 107,000 USD |  +210% |
| All Rounder | 38,600 USD | +11% |
| Assistant Executive Housekeeper | 28,500 USD | -18% |
| Assistant Food and Beverage Controller | 58,000 USD | +67% |
| Assistant Food and Beverage Director | 119,000 USD | +240% |
| Assistant Hospitality Manager | 132,000 USD | +280% |
| Assistant Storekeeper | 25,200 USD | -28% |
| Assistant Tour Manager | 62,700 USD | +80% |
| Baker and Pastrycook | 34,500 USD | -1% |
| Bakery Manager | 71,500 USD | +110% |
| Bakery Superintendent | 46,100 USD | +32% |
| Banquet Captain | 38,100 USD | +9% |
| Banquet Manager | 50,400 USD | +45% |
| Banquet Server | 32,100 USD | -8% |
| Bar Attendant | 32,600 USD | -6% |
| Bar Manager | 67,300 USD | +93% |
| Bar Supervisor | 43,200 USD | +24% |
| Barista | 38,000 USD | +9% |
| Bartender | 35,800 USD | +3% |
| Bellman | 31,000 USD | -11% |
| Beverage Manager | 75,300 USD | +120% |
| Bistro Attendant | 31,400 USD | -10% |
| Buffet Chef | 57,000 USD | +64% |
| Buffet Host | 31,400 USD | -10% |
| Buffet Manager | 72,200 USD | +110% |
| Butcher and Slaughterer | 25,200 USD | -28% |
| Cafeteria Assistant | 31,800 USD | -9% |
| Cafeteria Manager | 59,200 USD | +70% |
| Cafeteria Supervisor | 43,800 USD | +26% |
| Cake Decorator | 37,500 USD | +8% |
| Casino Shift Manager | 111,000 USD | +220% |
| Chain Store Customer Support | 48,300 USD | +39% |
| Chef | 57,400 USD | +65% |
| Chef De Cuisine | 86,200 USD | +150% |
| Club Manager | 111,000 USD | +220% |
| Cluster Director | 148,000 USD | +330% |
| Cluster Revenue Manager | 108,000 USD | +210% |
| Cocktail Server | 30,500 USD | -12% |
| Coffee Shop Manager | 107,000 USD | +210% |
| Concierge | 28,700 USD | -18% |
| Confectionery Baker | 36,800 USD | +6% |
| Conference and Sales Coordinator | 55,500 USD | +59% |
| Conference Services Manager | 70,100 USD | +100% |
| Cook | 52,100 USD | +50% |
| Corporate Sous Chef | 88,600 USD | +150% |
| Corporate Travel Consultant | 88,900 USD | +160% |
| Croupier | 41,500 USD | +19% |
| Culinary Assistant | 28,200 USD | -19% |
| Culinary Associate | 26,300 USD | -24% |
| Culinary Tour Guide | 71,400 USD | +110% |
| Demi Chef | 57,800 USD | +66% |
| Dietary Aide | 58,700 USD | +69% |
| Dining Room Supervisor | 54,300 USD | +56% |
| Dishwasher | 25,000 USD | -28% |
| Duty Manager | 75,000 USD | +120% |
| Events Coordinator | 46,100 USD | +32% |
| Executive Chef | 70,400 USD | +100% |
| Executive Pastry Chef | 54,700 USD | +57% |
| Fast Food Cook | 50,600 USD | +45% |
| Fast Food Shift Supervisor | 54,000 USD | +55% |
| Fine Dining Cook | 83,200 USD | +140% |
| Fine Dining Restaurant Chef | 90,500 USD | +160% |
| Fleet Manager | 150,000 USD | +330% |
| Food and Beverage Manager | 112,000 USD | +220% |
| Food and Beverage Trend Analyst | 77,200 USD | +120% |
| Food Consultant | 94,700 USD | +170% |
| Food Photographer | 59,200 USD | +70% |
| Food Policy Analyst | 81,900 USD | +140% |
| Food Safety Auditor | 78,500 USD | +130% |
| Food Safety Compliance Manager | 93,400 USD | +170% |
| Food Safety Coordinator | 72,000 USD | +110% |
| Food Server | 29,600 USD | -15% |
| Food Service Director | 115,000 USD | +230% |
| Food Service Manager | 119,000 USD | +240% |
| Food Service Sales | 76,200 USD | +120% |
| Food Service Worker | 30,000 USD | -14% |
| Food Stylist | 48,700 USD | +40% |
| Food Sustainability Consultant | 88,500 USD | +150% |
| Front Desk Agent | 34,800 USD | -0% |
| Front Desk Clerk | 34,300 USD | -1% |
| Front Office Manager | 65,800 USD | +89% |
| Gastronomy Consultant | 68,400 USD | +96% |
| Guest Service Executive | 101,000 USD | +190% |
| Guest Service Representative | 39,000 USD | +12% |
| Head Chef | 70,800 USD | +100% |
| Head Concierge | 48,100 USD | +38% |
| Hospitality Director | 176,000 USD | +410% |
| Hospitality Technology Specialist | 77,700 USD | +120% |
| Hostess / Host | 34,100 USD | -2% |
| Hotel Desk Clerk | 33,800 USD | -3% |
| Hotel Maid | 26,600 USD | -24% |
| Hotel Manager | 172,000 USD | +390% |
| Hotel Revenue Manager | 102,000 USD | +190% |
| Hotel Sales Manager | 135,000 USD | +290% |
| Hotel Service Supervisor | 99,500 USD | +190% |
| Hotel Staff | 32,300 USD | -7% |
| Inventory Coordinator | 37,100 USD | +7% |
| Kitchen Manager | 56,300 USD | +62% |
| Kitchen Staff | 31,800 USD | -9% |
| Kitchen Supervisor | 51,000 USD | +47% |
| Line Cook | 56,400 USD | +62% |
| Luggage Porter | 25,800 USD | -26% |
| Molecular Gastronomist | 86,800 USD | +150% |
| Motel Manager | 98,300 USD | +180% |
| Pastry Chef | 49,400 USD | +42% |
| Pastrycooking and Baking Assistant | 34,400 USD | -1% |
| Personal Chef | 68,500 USD | +97% |
| Production Operator | 48,900 USD | +40% |
| Quality, Health and Safety Coordinator | 56,500 USD | +62% |
| Receptionist | 34,800 USD | -0% |
| Regional Restaurant Manager | 133,000 USD | +280% |
| Restaurant Manager | 116,000 USD | +230% |
| Restaurant Server | 30,300 USD | -13% |
| Room Reservations Manager | 118,000 USD | +240% |
| Room Service Manager | 105,000 USD | +200% |
| Sous Chef | 69,300 USD | +99% |
| Special Events Coordinator | 67,200 USD | +93% |
| Supervisor of Food Services | 79,400 USD | +130% |
| Sustainable Catering Coordinator | 72,000 USD | +110% |
| Sustainable Tourism Consultant | 75,000 USD | +120% |
| Tour Consultant | 86,300 USD | +150% |
| Tour Guide | 55,600 USD | +60% |
| Tour Manager | 75,400 USD | +120% |
| Travel Agent | 61,300 USD | +76% |
| Travel Consultant | 88,200 USD | +150% |
| Virtual / Augmented Reality Tourism Specialist | 74,900 USD | +120% |
| Waiter / Waitress | 31,500 USD | -10% |
| Wedding Planner | 94,300 USD | +170% |
Salary Comparison By City
| City | Average Salary |
| Boston | 37,100 USD |
| Chicago | 41,600 USD |
| Houston | 43,000 USD |
| Las Vegas | 35,100 USD |
| Los Angeles | 43,200 USD |
| New York | 42,600 USD |
| San Francisco | 39,900 USD |
| San Jose | 38,100 USD |
Salary Comparison By State
| State | Average Salary |
| Alabama | 38,600 USD |
| Alaska | 32,900 USD |
| Arizona | 38,000 USD |
| Arkansas | 34,200 USD |
| California | 42,000 USD |
| Colorado | 36,900 USD |
| Connecticut | 34,900 USD |
| Delaware | 31,500 USD |
| District of Columbia | 33,200 USD |
| Florida | 40,200 USD |
| Georgia | 38,400 USD |
| Hawaii | 35,300 USD |
| Idaho | 34,400 USD |
| Illinois | 39,600 USD |
| Indiana | 36,700 USD |
| Iowa | 36,600 USD |
| Kansas | 35,600 USD |
| Kentucky | 35,700 USD |
| Louisiana | 34,700 USD |
| Maine | 34,400 USD |
| Maryland | 37,800 USD |
| Massachusetts | 36,800 USD |
| Michigan | 41,100 USD |
| Minnesota | 37,800 USD |
| Mississippi | 34,700 USD |
| Missouri | 36,200 USD |
| Montana | 34,400 USD |
| Nebraska | 34,600 USD |
| Nevada | 34,400 USD |
| New Hampshire | 32,100 USD |
| New Jersey | 40,100 USD |
| New Mexico | 34,700 USD |
| New York | 39,400 USD |
| North Carolina | 37,300 USD |
| North Dakota | 32,800 USD |
| Ohio | 39,400 USD |
| Oklahoma | 34,900 USD |
| Oregon | 37,500 USD |
| Pennsylvania | 40,600 USD |
| Rhode Island | 32,400 USD |
| South Carolina | 35,300 USD |
| South Dakota | 33,900 USD |
| Tennessee | 38,400 USD |
| Texas | 39,900 USD |
| Utah | 32,900 USD |
| Vermont | 32,900 USD |
| Virginia | 38,800 USD |
| Washington | 37,400 USD |
| West Virginia | 35,700 USD |
| Wisconsin | 38,100 USD |
| Wyoming | 31,400 USD |
Government vs Private Sector Salary Comparison
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 United States is 5% on average across all career fields.
| Private Sector | 92,800 USD | |
| Public Sector | +5% | 97,500 USD |
Salary Statistics and Calculation Guide
What is considered to be a good and competitive salary for the job title Receptionist in United States?
A good and competitive compensation would range anywhere between 31,400 USD and 35,500 USD. This is a very rough estimate. Experience and education play a very huge part in the final earnings.
Gross Salary (before tax) and Net Salary (after tax)
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.
Base / Basic Salary
The base salary for a careers like Receptionist in United States ranges from 18,500 USD to 26,100 USD. 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.
What is the difference between the median and the average salary?
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
