Receptionists and Information Clerks

What Receptionists and Information Clerks do

You are the first person anyone sees or hears at a business, and you keep the front desk calm, organized, and moving.

Receptionists and information clerks sit at the front of an office, clinic, salon, or shop and handle whatever comes through the door or the phone line. You greet visitors, figure out why they came, and point them to the right person. You answer and forward calls, take messages, book appointments, and keep the calendar accurate. Many desks also take payments, sort mail, file records, and type up handwritten notes.

The work is indoors, in a heated and air-conditioned space, and mostly seated. You are part of a team and talk with coworkers all day, but the front desk is also yours to run, so you often make small decisions alone. Most people start with a high school diploma or equivalent and learn the job in a short training period on site.

A day in the life

You unlock the desk, check email, and look over the day's appointments. The phone rings while someone walks in, so you greet the visitor, ask what they need, then answer the call and forward it. Between people, you file paperwork, sort the mail, and confirm tomorrow's bookings. A customer arrives upset about a billing mistake. You listen, stay steady, and either fix it or find the person who can. You take a payment and record the receipt. Midday, a coworker asks you to scan and send a document. The afternoon brings a slow stretch where you catch up on typing and proofreading. You sit for most of it, but rarely for long without someone needing you.

How people get in

1. 1Finish high school or earn an equivalent diploma, which is the typical entry requirement.
2. 2Get comfortable with computers, email, scheduling calendars, and basic math, since you may handle payments and invoices (the bills a business sends or receives).
3. 3Build customer service experience anywhere you can, such as retail, food service, or volunteering at a front desk.
4. 4Apply for front desk openings at medical offices, salons, schools, gyms, and small businesses. Around 105,100 openings are projected each year.
5. 5Expect short-term training on site, where a supervisor or experienced coworker shows you the phone system, software, and office routines.
6. 6If you want extra preparation, look into a short receptionist program, including specialized ones such as veterinary reception.

Who tends to enjoy it

Official task list

Receptionists and Information Clerks 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. (O*NET)

• Operate telephone switchboard to answer, screen, or forward calls, providing information, taking messages, or scheduling appointments.
• Greet persons entering establishment, determine nature and purpose of visit, and direct or escort them to specific destinations.
• Receive payment and record receipts for services.
• Schedule appointments and maintain and update appointment calendars.
• Transmit information or documents to customers, using computer, mail, or facsimile machine.
• Hear and resolve complaints from customers or the public.
• File and maintain records.
• Provide information about establishment, such as location of departments or offices, employees within the organization, or services provided.

A typical day involves

How much Receptionists and Information Clerks make

The median pay for Receptionists and Information Clerks in the U.S. is $38,010 a year ($18.27 an hour). Most earn between $28,760 and $49,950. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025)

Pay depends a lot on where you live: the median is highest in District of Columbia ($49,060) and lowest in Puerto Rico ($22,890).

Where to study for this

College programs that commonly lead to this career, and how many US colleges offer each.

• Receptionist 20 colleges
• Veterinary Reception / Receptionist 1 colleges

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