Research Summary. After comprehensive analysis by the Zippia data science team, we present the latest insights into front desk agent salaries across the United States in 2026:
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Washington offers the highest front desk agent salary at $38,982
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Georgia has the lowest front desk agent salary at $24,973
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The national average salary for front desk agents is $31,008
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The national hourly wage for front desk agents is $14.91
You can read more about the specific methodology.
Background
Salary remains a key factor in job satisfaction, as confirmed by surveys conducted across various demographics. Prospective front desk agents often inquire about potential earnings in their local markets.
While individual earnings can vary based on numerous factors, such as experience and location, there’s solid data available on average salaries for front desk agents by state, categorized by seniority level. Although some cities may have slight deviations from state averages, these figures provide a clear indication of what candidates can expect.
As of 2026, Washington stands out as the state with the highest salary for front desk agents.
Here’s a quick overview of the top ten states for front desk agent salaries:
Let’s delve deeper into these findings with a complete ranking of all the states.
Highest-Paid Front Desk Agents By State
| Rank | State | Average Front Desk Agent Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $38,982 | $32,000 | $46,000 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $36,546 | $31,000 | $42,000 |
| 3 | California | $36,529 | $29,000 | $44,000 |
| 4 | New York | $36,440 | $29,000 | $44,000 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $35,997 | $29,000 | $43,000 |
| 6 | Colorado | $35,916 | $29,000 | $43,000 |
| 7 | Oregon | $35,880 | $29,000 | $43,000 |
| 8 | Wyoming | $35,855 | $29,000 | $43,000 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $35,691 | $30,000 | $42,000 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $35,127 | $29,000 | $41,000 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $34,968 | $28,000 | $42,000 |
| 12 | Vermont | $34,101 | $28,000 | $40,000 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $33,881 | $27,000 | $41,000 |
| 14 | Delaware | $33,575 | $27,000 | $40,000 |
| 15 | Maine | $33,437 | $28,000 | $39,000 |
| 16 | Montana | $33,352 | $27,000 | $39,000 |
| 17 | Maryland | $33,132 | $27,000 | $40,000 |
| 18 | West Virginia | $32,607 | $27,000 | $39,000 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $31,953 | $26,000 | $38,000 |
| 20 | New Jersey | $31,949 | $26,000 | $38,000 |
| 21 | Nevada | $31,734 | $26,000 | $38,000 |
| 22 | Idaho | $31,494 | $26,000 | $38,000 |
| 23 | Utah | $31,289 | $25,000 | $37,000 |
| 24 | Alaska | $30,897 | $27,000 | $34,000 |
| 25 | Illinois | $30,198 | $25,000 | $36,000 |
| 26 | Arizona | $29,913 | $24,000 | $36,000 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $29,423 | $24,000 | $35,000 |
| 28 | Michigan | $29,040 | $24,000 | $35,000 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $28,939 | $24,000 | $34,000 |
| 30 | Ohio | $28,859 | $23,000 | $34,000 |
| 31 | Iowa | $28,829 | $24,000 | $34,000 |
| 32 | Virginia | $28,649 | $23,000 | $34,000 |
| 33 | Florida | $28,579 | $23,000 | $35,000 |
| 34 | Pennsylvania | $28,208 | $23,000 | $34,000 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $28,036 | $23,000 | $33,000 |
| 36 | Mississippi | $28,016 | $23,000 | $33,000 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $27,412 | $23,000 | $32,000 |
| 38 | Missouri | $27,298 | $22,000 | $32,000 |
| 39 | Indiana | $27,008 | $22,000 | $32,000 |
| 40 | Alabama | $26,909 | $22,000 | $32,000 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $26,735 | $22,000 | $32,000 |
| 42 | Kansas | $26,715 | $22,000 | $31,000 |
| 43 | Texas | $26,578 | $21,000 | $32,000 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $26,441 | $21,000 | $31,000 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $26,387 | $21,000 | $31,000 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $26,362 | $21,000 | $31,000 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $26,010 | $21,000 | $31,000 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $25,847 | $21,000 | $31,000 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $25,422 | $21,000 | $30,000 |
| 50 | Georgia | $24,973 | $20,000 | $30,000 |
Methodology: Front Desk Agent Salary By State
To comprehensively analyze front desk agent compensation by state, Zippia has compiled data from various reputable sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. We also incorporate actual salary listings from job postings. Our data science team calculates a weighted average to determine the average pay for front desk agents by state.
We ranked each state based on the average annual salary data for front desk agents derived from these estimates, highlighting the state with the highest average salary.
Front Desk Agent Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for front desk agents?
The highest-paid state for front desk agents is Washington, with an average salary of $38,982 per year.
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What city pays front desk agents the most?
Seattle, WA offers the highest average salary for front desk agents at $39,059 per year.
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What is the worst state for front desk agents?
The lowest-paying state for front desk agents is Georgia, with an average salary of $24,973 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.
