Research Summary. After thorough analysis conducted by the Zippia data science team, we present the latest information on front desk receptionist salaries across the United States for 2026:
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Alaska retains the top spot for front desk receptionist salaries at $41,750.
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South Carolina has the lowest front desk receptionist salary, averaging $24,732.
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The national average salary for front desk receptionists stands at $31,050.
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The national hourly wage for front desk receptionists is $14.93.
For more details, explore our specific methodology.
Background
Salary continues to be a top priority for job seekers, with many people asking: how much do front desk receptionists earn in my area?
While individual salaries can vary based on multiple factors, we provide robust data on average front desk receptionist salaries by state, which is categorized by experience level. Although your city may differ from state averages, these insights offer a reliable expectation for your potential earnings.
Currently, Alaska ranks as the best-paying state for front desk receptionists.
Here’s an overview of the top ten states for front desk receptionist salaries:
Now, let’s delve deeper into the complete ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Front Desk Receptionists By State
| Rank | State | Average Front Desk Receptionist Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $41,750 | $35,000 | $49,000 |
| 2 | Washington | $41,591 | $33,000 | $52,000 |
| 3 | Oregon | $39,016 | $30,000 | $49,000 |
| 4 | California | $36,996 | $29,000 | $47,000 |
| 5 | New York | $36,351 | $28,000 | $45,000 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $35,964 | $28,000 | $45,000 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $35,779 | $28,000 | $44,000 |
| 8 | Vermont | $35,122 | $28,000 | $42,000 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $34,724 | $27,000 | $43,000 |
| 10 | Hawaii | $34,463 | $28,000 | $41,000 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $34,377 | $27,000 | $43,000 |
| 12 | Maine | $34,369 | $28,000 | $42,000 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $34,261 | $27,000 | $42,000 |
| 14 | Colorado | $33,643 | $26,000 | $41,000 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $33,268 | $27,000 | $40,000 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | $33,022 | $26,000 | $41,000 |
| 17 | Illinois | $32,738 | $26,000 | $41,000 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $32,556 | $26,000 | $40,000 |
| 19 | South Dakota | $32,320 | $25,000 | $40,000 |
| 20 | Michigan | $32,305 | $25,000 | $40,000 |
| 21 | Arizona | $31,981 | $25,000 | $40,000 |
| 22 | Maryland | $31,832 | $25,000 | $40,000 |
| 23 | Montana | $31,000 | $24,000 | $38,000 |
| 24 | Nevada | $30,832 | $24,000 | $39,000 |
| 25 | Idaho | $30,806 | $24,000 | $38,000 |
| 26 | Iowa | $30,793 | $24,000 | $38,000 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $30,728 | $24,000 | $38,000 |
| 28 | Kansas | $30,257 | $24,000 | $37,000 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $30,109 | $23,000 | $38,000 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $30,063 | $24,000 | $37,000 |
| 31 | Virginia | $30,040 | $23,000 | $38,000 |
| 32 | Indiana | $29,729 | $23,000 | $37,000 |
| 33 | Utah | $29,647 | $23,000 | $37,000 |
| 34 | Kentucky | $29,252 | $23,000 | $36,000 |
| 35 | Missouri | $29,188 | $23,000 | $36,000 |
| 36 | Mississippi | $28,851 | $22,000 | $36,000 |
| 37 | New Mexico | $28,850 | $22,000 | $36,000 |
| 38 | Delaware | $28,587 | $22,000 | $36,000 |
| 39 | Texas | $28,510 | $22,000 | $36,000 |
| 40 | Ohio | $28,421 | $22,000 | $36,000 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $28,312 | $22,000 | $35,000 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $27,624 | $22,000 | $34,000 |
| 43 | Georgia | $27,483 | $21,000 | $34,000 |
| 44 | Florida | $27,427 | $21,000 | $35,000 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $27,369 | $21,000 | $34,000 |
| 46 | West Virginia | $27,225 | $21,000 | $34,000 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $26,102 | $20,000 | $32,000 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $25,679 | $20,000 | $32,000 |
| 49 | Alabama | $25,011 | $19,000 | $31,000 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $24,732 | $19,000 | $31,000 |
Methodology: Front Desk Receptionist Salary By State
To provide an accurate overview of front desk receptionist pay by state, Zippia has compiled data from various reliable sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. We enhance this data with actual salary listings from job postings. Our data science team then calculates a weighted average based on these sources to establish an average salary for front desk receptionists in each state.
We ranked all states according to the average annual salary of front desk receptionists, identifying Alaska as the state with the highest average salary.
Front Desk Receptionist Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for front desk receptionists?
The highest-paid state for front desk receptionists is Alaska, with an average salary of $41,750 per year.
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What city pays front desk receptionists the most?
Seattle, WA offers the highest salary for front desk receptionists, averaging $41,715 per year.
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What is the worst state for front desk receptionists?
The state with the lowest average salary for front desk receptionists is South Carolina, at $24,732 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
