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Clerical staff vs office receptionist

The differences between clerical staff and office receptionists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a clerical staff and an office receptionist. Additionally, an office receptionist has an average salary of $33,554, which is higher than the $32,118 average annual salary of a clerical staff.

The top three skills for a clerical staff include data entry, patients and clerical support. The most important skills for an office receptionist are patients, customer service, and phone calls.

Clerical staff vs office receptionist overview

Clerical StaffOffice Receptionist
Yearly salary$32,118$33,554
Hourly rate$15.44$16.13
Growth rate-5%-
Number of jobs85,81180,143
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 42%Bachelor's Degree, 36%
Average age4742
Years of experience22

Clerical staff vs office receptionist salary

Clerical staff and office receptionists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Clerical StaffOffice Receptionist
Average salary$32,118$33,554
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $40,000Between $27,000 And $41,000
Highest paying CityOxnard, CAMinneapolis, MN
Highest paying stateCaliforniaAlaska
Best paying companyContra Costa CollegeDairy Farmers of America
Best paying industryInsuranceManufacturing

Differences between clerical staff and office receptionist education

There are a few differences between a clerical staff and an office receptionist in terms of educational background:

Clerical StaffOffice Receptionist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 42%Bachelor's Degree, 36%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Clerical staff vs office receptionist demographics

Here are the differences between clerical staff' and office receptionists' demographics:

Clerical StaffOffice Receptionist
Average age4742
Gender ratioMale, 19.7% Female, 80.3%Male, 9.5% Female, 90.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.8% Asian, 7.9% White, 57.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 22.6% Asian, 6.4% White, 55.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between clerical staff and office receptionist duties and responsibilities

Clerical staff example responsibilities.

  • Manage the receptionist area, including greeting visitors and responding to telephone and in-person requests for information.
  • Assist in accounts payable, payroll, and process OR/Rec room charges for the billing department.
  • Supervise clerical staff, prepare payroll, maintain accounts payable, and order medical and office supplies ensuring sufficient stock.
  • Follow all request for medical records by abiding the HIPPA regulation and scan appropriate medical documents to the client's charts.
  • Comply with confidentiality; adhere to all HIPPA guidelines/ regulations.
  • Manage the receptionist area, including greeting visitors and responding to telephone and in-person requests for information.
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Office receptionist example responsibilities.

  • Verify insurance information and manage medical records while ensuring confidentiality according to HIPAA requirements.
  • Answer phones, make copies, Microsoft, PowerPoint, scheduling, greet and interact with clients, filing and mailing.
  • Complete and audit payroll for accuracy.
  • Process payroll and monthly/quarterly sales tax liabilities.
  • Stock exam rooms, sterilize instruments and occasionally assist physician with patients.
  • Provide high-quality customer-service to patients by treating them respectfully and t with discretion.
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Clerical staff vs office receptionist skills

Common clerical staff skills
  • Data Entry, 30%
  • Patients, 17%
  • Clerical Support, 9%
  • Database Management, 6%
  • Front Desk, 5%
  • Payroll, 3%
Common office receptionist skills
  • Patients, 20%
  • Customer Service, 15%
  • Phone Calls, 12%
  • Data Entry, 9%
  • Front Desk, 6%
  • Appointment Scheduling, 5%

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