Research Summary. After thorough analysis by the Zippia data science team, we have compiled the latest information regarding receptionist salaries across the United States for 2026:
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Massachusetts leads the nation with the highest average receptionist salary of $34,278.
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Mississippi has the lowest average salary for receptionists at $23,209.
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The national average salary for receptionists stands at $30,571.
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On an hourly basis, receptionists earn an average of $14.70.
You can read more about the specific methodology used in our research.
Background
Consistently identified as the most critical factor in job satisfaction, salary remains the primary concern for most individuals seeking employment. People often ask, “How much do receptionists earn in my area?”
While numerous factors influence individual earning potential, we provide reliable data on average salaries for receptionists by state, categorized by experience level. Although local salaries may vary from state averages, these figures offer a solid benchmark for what to expect.
Massachusetts ranks as the state with the highest average salary for receptionists following our adjustments.
Here’s a quick overview of the top ten states for receptionist salaries:
Let’s delve deeper into the data and explore a comprehensive ranking of all the states.
Highest-Paid Receptionists By State
| Rank | State | Average Receptionist Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $34,278 | $27,000 | $42,000 |
| 2 | Washington | $33,951 | $26,000 | $43,000 |
| 3 | New York | $33,807 | $26,000 | $42,000 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $33,702 | $26,000 | $42,000 |
| 5 | California | $33,454 | $26,000 | $42,000 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $33,120 | $26,000 | $41,000 |
| 7 | Vermont | $32,535 | $26,000 | $39,000 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $32,262 | $25,000 | $40,000 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $32,018 | $26,000 | $39,000 |
| 10 | Alaska | $31,677 | $26,000 | $38,000 |
| 11 | Maine | $31,310 | $25,000 | $37,000 |
| 12 | Hawaii | $31,194 | $26,000 | $36,000 |
| 13 | Oregon | $30,869 | $24,000 | $39,000 |
| 14 | Maryland | $30,594 | $24,000 | $38,000 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $29,867 | $23,000 | $37,000 |
| 16 | Colorado | $29,719 | $23,000 | $37,000 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $29,358 | $23,000 | $37,000 |
| 18 | Illinois | $29,282 | $23,000 | $36,000 |
| 19 | Nevada | $28,941 | $22,000 | $36,000 |
| 20 | Arizona | $28,873 | $22,000 | $36,000 |
| 21 | Michigan | $28,106 | $22,000 | $35,000 |
| 22 | Missouri | $27,986 | $22,000 | $35,000 |
| 23 | North Dakota | $27,900 | $22,000 | $34,000 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $27,842 | $22,000 | $34,000 |
| 25 | Delaware | $27,299 | $21,000 | $34,000 |
| 26 | Utah | $27,299 | $21,000 | $34,000 |
| 27 | Virginia | $27,239 | $21,000 | $34,000 |
| 28 | Iowa | $27,091 | $21,000 | $34,000 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $27,037 | $21,000 | $34,000 |
| 30 | Texas | $26,965 | $21,000 | $34,000 |
| 31 | North Carolina | $26,689 | $21,000 | $33,000 |
| 32 | Kansas | $26,669 | $21,000 | $33,000 |
| 33 | Indiana | $26,644 | $21,000 | $33,000 |
| 34 | New Mexico | $26,621 | $21,000 | $33,000 |
| 35 | Wyoming | $26,501 | $20,000 | $33,000 |
| 36 | Kentucky | $26,286 | $20,000 | $33,000 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $26,168 | $20,000 | $32,000 |
| 38 | Ohio | $26,007 | $20,000 | $32,000 |
| 39 | Florida | $25,992 | $20,000 | $33,000 |
| 40 | Georgia | $25,869 | $20,000 | $32,000 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $25,849 | $20,000 | $32,000 |
| 42 | Idaho | $25,741 | $20,000 | $32,000 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $25,710 | $20,000 | $32,000 |
| 44 | Montana | $25,659 | $20,000 | $32,000 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $25,622 | $20,000 | $32,000 |
| 46 | West Virginia | $25,496 | $20,000 | $32,000 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $24,635 | $19,000 | $31,000 |
| 48 | Alabama | $24,039 | $19,000 | $30,000 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $24,030 | $19,000 | $30,000 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $23,209 | $18,000 | $29,000 |
Methodology: Receptionist Salary By State
To gain insight into receptionist compensation by state, Zippia has compiled data from various reputable sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. This information is then augmented with actual salaries from job postings. The data science team computes a weighted average of these inputs to determine average pay for receptionists in each state.
We ranked each state based on the average annual salary data for receptionists derived from these estimates, with the highest salary ranking at the top.
Receptionist Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for receptionists?
The highest-paid state for receptionists is Massachusetts, with an average salary of $34,278 per year.
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What city pays receptionists the most?
Washington, DC, offers the highest average salary for receptionists at $34,708 per year.
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What is the worst state for receptionists?
Mississippi is the lowest-paying state for receptionists, with an average salary of $23,209 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.
