Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between clerks typist 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 clerk typist and an office receptionist. Additionally, an office receptionist has an average salary of $33,554, which is higher than the $31,746 average annual salary of a clerk typist.
The top three skills for a clerk typist include data entry, customer service and telephone calls. The most important skills for an office receptionist are patients, customer service, and phone calls.
| Clerk Typist | Office Receptionist | |
| Yearly salary | $31,746 | $33,554 |
| Hourly rate | $15.26 | $16.13 |
| Growth rate | -5% | - |
| Number of jobs | 102,211 | 80,143 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 29% | Bachelor's Degree, 36% |
| Average age | 47 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A clerk typist is responsible for data entry procedures and document transcriptions, alongside other clerical and administrative duties as required by the employer. Clerk typists create reports and presentation materials, transcribe audio meetings, write business drafts, and send documents to appropriate office personnel or clients. A clerk-typist must show excellent organizational and time-management skills, especially with handling various typing tasks under strict deadlines and minimal supervision. They also respond and take calls from clients and customers, assisting with their inquiries and concerns.
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.
Clerks typist and office receptionists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Clerk Typist | Office Receptionist | |
| Average salary | $31,746 | $33,554 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $39,000 | Between $27,000 And $41,000 |
| Highest paying City | Saint Paul, MN | Minneapolis, MN |
| Highest paying state | Colorado | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES | Dairy Farmers of America |
| Best paying industry | Education | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a clerk typist and an office receptionist in terms of educational background:
| Clerk Typist | Office Receptionist | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 29% | Bachelor's Degree, 36% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Western Carolina University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between clerks typist' and office receptionists' demographics:
| Clerk Typist | Office Receptionist | |
| Average age | 47 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 8.8% Female, 91.2% | Male, 9.5% Female, 90.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 19.7% Asian, 8.3% White, 55.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | 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 Percentage | 6% | 6% |