Research Summary. Using a combination of public government and company data as well as data gathered from thousands of job postings, the Zippia data team has created average salary estimates for jobs across the US. Using that data set, the team has identified the types of front desk receptionists that are the highest paid based on their average annual salaries.
Here is a summary of our findings for the highest-paying types of front desk receptionists:
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Front Desk Administration is the highest-paid type of front desk receptionist with an average salary of $34,479 and an average hourly rate of $16.58.
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The second highest-paying type of front desk receptionist is dental receptionist, with an average salary of $34,359.
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The average front desk receptionist salary is $31,050 per year, and the average hourly pay is $14.93.
Table Of Contents: Background | Table | Methodology | FAQs
Background
Choosing a career path can be difficult, and while pay shouldn’t be the only thing you consider in your decision, it is a significant factor. So if you’d like to work as a front desk receptionist, it helps to have an idea of what the highest-paid types of front desk receptionists are so that you can plan your career progression.
Here are the top salaries for different types of front desk receptionists:
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Front Desk Administration
Average Salary: $34,479
A front desk administration professional is responsible for performing administrative duties related to the front desk reception of an organization. This professional must assist in conferences and meetings as well as maintain inventory and costs for building and office supplies. The administration must coordinate front desk operations and maintain customer relationships by interacting with them in a professional and courteous manner. This professional must also handle phone calls and important documents by scanning and placing them in their designated files.
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Dental Receptionist
Average Salary: $34,359
A dental receptionist is responsible for performing administrative and clerical duties to support dental office operations and ensure that the patients receive the highest quality care services. Dental receptionists manage and schedule the patients’ appointments, determine the availability of the dentist, process dental reports and service payments, and ensure the adequacy of dental inventories. They also organize the database system by updating patients’ information, sending referrals to medical specialists, pulling-up patient charts, and responding to the patients’ dental inquiries and concerns.
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Office Receptionist
Average Salary: $33,554
An office receptionist, or administrative assistant, performs various administrative tasks for an organization. These tasks may include answering phone calls, providing the public and customers with information, and warmly welcoming, greeting, and directing visitors or guests accordingly. Additionally, an office receptionist is responsible for maintaining security by issuing visitor badges, monitoring logbooks, and following procedures. Administrative assistants are also responsible for preparing and processing travel vouchers and other documents. Some employers prefer someone with a college or bachelor’s degree, telephone skills, and excellent communication skills.
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Medical Receptionist
Average Salary: $31,960
Medical receptionists work in hospitals, clinics, or other medical facilities. They are usually the first people that patients see upon entering the facility. They manage the office calendar and they also have visibility on patient schedules and appointments, as well as the doctors’ schedules. Medical receptionists welcome patients and check whether they have scheduled appointments. If the patients do not have scheduled appointments, medical receptionists would inform them of the available schedule and include them in the walk-in list. Aside from these, medical receptionists may also provide medical forms to patients and guide the patients in filling out these forms. They also ensure that everything the patient needs for their check-up is ready.
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Receptionist/Billing Clerk
Average Salary: $31,932
A receptionist/billing clerk is responsible for performing administrative and clerical duties as needed to maintain a smooth flow of operations for the business. Receptionist/billing clerks process the customers’ payment transactions, manage account payables, releasing invoices, and immediately resolve account discrepancies. A receptionist/billing clerk must have excellent communication and analytical skills, responding to customers’ inquiries and concerns, escalating high-level complaints to the billing management. They should also maintain records of financial documentation for reference and reconciliation as needed.
Below is a full table of the average pay for various front desk receptionist that pay the most followed by a more detailed explanation of our methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Front Desk Receptionists
Methodology
Zippia uses publicly published information from government sources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to create its salary estimates.
Our data science team also checks job postings and company-published resources for additional up-to-date salary information for front desk receptionists.
Once they’ve gathered the data, the team calculates a weighted average for each job title they’re estimating a salary for. For more details on our salary estimates, you can read the detailed methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Front Desk Receptionist Jobs FAQs
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What is the highest-paid front desk receptionist job?
The highest-paid front desk receptionist job is a front desk administration. Front Desk Administrations earn an average salary of $34,479, which is $ 16.58 hourly.
A front desk administration professional is responsible for performing administrative duties related to the front desk reception of an organization. This professional must assist in conferences and meetings as well as maintain inventory and costs for building and office supplies. The administration must coordinate front desk operations and maintain customer relationships by interacting with them in a professional and courteous manner. This professional must also handle phone calls and important documents by scanning and placing them in their designated files.
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What is a good salary for a front desk receptionist?
A good salary for a front desk receptionist is $31,050 or more. The average front desk receptionist salary is $31,050, so those making at least $31,050 are earning above-average paychecks.
Keep in mind, however, that the average front desk receptionist salary does fluctuate based on location, as companies will adjust their pay scales based on the cost of living in that area. Research what the average salary is in your area for someone of your expertise and experience level to get a more accurate view on how well you’re being paid.
In addition, if you’re just starting your career as a front desk receptionist, the average entry level salary is $25,012, so don’t base your opinion of your salary on the $31,050 average, as this includes all front desk receptionists of all skill and experience levels.
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Do Front Desk Receptionist jobs pay well?
No, front desk receptionist jobs don’t pay well. As in any industry, some front desk receptionist jobs pay better than others, but the average front desk receptionist salary of $31,050 is times the average national salary of about $44,225 per year.
In addition to this, many front desk receptionist jobs have high earning potential, with the top 10% of front desk receptionists earning $42,042 a year on average.
Front Desk Receptionists’ salaries will fluctuate based on their experience level, industry, and location, so pay attention to these factors when you’re looking for a job as a front desk receptionist. Do your research on the going rate for a front desk receptionist in your area with your expertise, and don’t be afraid to negotiate your salary based on that information.
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Where do front desk receptionists get paid the most?
Front Desk Receptionists get paid the most in Washington. In Washington, front desk receptionists earn an average annual salary of $41,591 and an average hourly wage of $20.00.
Following WA, the states with the highest-paid front desk receptionists are Maine, Alaska, and Connecticut, with average annual salaries of $34,369, $41,750, and $35,964 respectively.
The cities with the highest-paid front desk receptionist salaries are:
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Seattle, WA – $41,715
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Portland, OR – $39,020
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San Francisco, CA – $38,829
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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.
