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Clerical worker vs receptionist

The differences between clerical workers and 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 worker and a receptionist. Additionally, a clerical worker has an average salary of $31,390, which is higher than the $30,571 average annual salary of a receptionist.

The top three skills for a clerical worker include data entry, scheduling appointments and customer service. The most important skills for a receptionist are patients, phone calls, and customer service.

Clerical worker vs receptionist overview

Clerical WorkerReceptionist
Yearly salary$31,390$30,571
Hourly rate$15.09$14.70
Growth rate-5%-
Number of jobs68,94765,671
Job satisfaction-3
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 41%High School Diploma, 33%
Average age4742
Years of experience22

Clerical worker vs receptionist salary

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

Clerical WorkerReceptionist
Average salary$31,390$30,571
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $39,000Between $24,000 And $38,000
Highest paying City-Washington, DC
Highest paying state-Massachusetts
Best paying company-Gensler
Best paying industry-Finance

Differences between clerical worker and receptionist education

There are a few differences between a clerical worker and a receptionist in terms of educational background:

Clerical WorkerReceptionist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 41%High School Diploma, 33%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of Pennsylvania-

Clerical worker vs receptionist demographics

Here are the differences between clerical workers' and receptionists' demographics:

Clerical WorkerReceptionist
Average age4742
Gender ratioMale, 23.0% Female, 77.0%Male, 8.4% Female, 91.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 20.6% Asian, 7.7% White, 55.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 23.5% Asian, 6.1% White, 54.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between clerical worker and receptionist duties and responsibilities

Clerical worker example responsibilities.

  • Manage filing, photocopying, collating, and faxing public and seal case documents.
  • Handle customers at the front windows
  • Schedule contracts of windows sell with installers.
  • Prepare court subpoenas and criminal dockets for court.
  • Update files by using QuickBooks and answer the telephone and take brief messages.
  • Type, format, proofread, and edit correspondence and other documents, using computers or typewriters.
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Receptionist example responsibilities.

  • Manage invoicing with QuickBooks, taking customer calls and helping with any issues, parts and equipment delivery/pickup/ordering.
  • Manage multiple employee/resident databases utilizing an EMR system.
  • Verify insurance information and manage medical records while ensuring confidentiality according to HIPAA requirements.
  • Manage desk operations for the YMCA, organizing and documenting members' payments and collating operational documents
  • Assist office management and staff with administrative projects/responsibilities such as managing time-sensitive projects, filing, copying, and collating materials.
  • Bill patients for medical services provide by various doctors using ICD-9 and CPT-4 coding.
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Clerical worker vs receptionist skills

Common clerical worker skills
  • Data Entry, 24%
  • Scheduling Appointments, 18%
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • Telephone Calls, 8%
  • Database Systems, 5%
  • Front Desk, 4%
Common receptionist skills
  • Patients, 17%
  • Phone Calls, 14%
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • Data Entry, 9%
  • Telephone Calls, 8%
  • Front Desk, 8%

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