How to hire a front desk clerk

Front desk clerk hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring front desk clerks in the United States:

In the United States, the median cost per hire a front desk clerk is $1,633.
It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new front desk clerk to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a front desk clerk, step by step

To hire a front desk clerk, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire a front desk clerk, you should follow these steps:

Here's a step-by-step front desk clerk hiring guide:

Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
Step 3: Make a budget
Step 4: Write a front desk clerk job description
Step 5: Post your job
Step 6: Interview candidates
Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new front desk clerk
Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a front desk clerk do?

Front desk clerks are responsible for welcoming office guests and accommodating any questions they may have. As their designation suggests, they are usually stationed at the entrance or front of the office. They are often the first company employee that a guest encounters upon reaching the office area. Front desk clerks should be familiar with the office space and the employees of the company so that they can effectively direct guests or visitors. Front desk clerks should also have a copy of the general schedule of appointments or meetings in the office so that they can let in guests accordingly. They also often do most of the administrative or clerical activities needed by the front office. They should have great interpersonal skills, patience, and communication skills.

Learn more about the specifics of what a front desk clerk does

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Identify your hiring needs

First, determine the employments status of the front desk clerk you need to hire. Certain front desk clerk roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

Determine employee vs contractor status

Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

A front desk clerk's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, front desk clerks from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

This list presents front desk clerk salaries for various positions.

Type of Front Desk Clerk	Description	Hourly rate
Front Desk Clerk	Information clerks perform routine clerical duties such as maintaining records, collecting data, and providing information to customers.	$10-15
Receptionist	Receptionists are employees assigned at the entrances or lobbies of offices. They welcome guests, check identification, issue visitor badges, attend to questions or inquiries, and direct guests to where they are supposed to go... Show more	$11-18
Data Entry Operator	A data entry operator is someone responsible for entering collected information into a database using different computer software. Data entry duties include updating customer data, transcribing information, and entering accounting records... Show more	$11-19

Create an ideal candidate profile
Common skills:
- Reservations
- Customer Service
- Night Audit
- Computer System
- Room Availability
- Guest Service
- Guest Satisfaction
- Hotel Services
- Guest Complaints
- Telephone Calls
- Room Rates
- Hotel Guests
- Scheduling Appointments
- Guest Accounts
Check all skills
Responsibilities:
- Manage customer service issues with ease and charm and train other co workers in daily operations.
- Deliver messages and run errands.
- Job responsibilities consist of being a cashier, bagging groceries, assisting customers, stocking, cleaning, etc.
- Cross-Train and provide back-up for PBX representatives when necessary.
- Follow emergency procedures for evacuating property safely via PBX phone.
- Advertise Ramada facilities by creating fliers, arranging promotions, and facilitating group reservations.
More front desk clerk duties

Make a budget

Including a salary range in your front desk clerk job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A front desk clerk salary can vary based on several factors:

Location. For example, front desk clerks' average salary in kansas is 40% less than in hawaii.
Seniority. Entry-level front desk clerks earn 36% less than senior-level front desk clerks.
Certifications. A front desk clerk with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a front desk clerk's salary.

Average front desk clerk salary

$12.82hourly

$26,669 yearly

Entry-level front desk clerk salary

$21,000 yearly salary

Updated December 19, 2025

Average front desk clerk salary by state

Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
1	California	$33,840	$16
2	New York	$31,329	$15
3	Colorado	$29,867	$14
4	District of Columbia	$29,570	$14
5	Nevada	$28,091	$14
6	Arizona	$27,611	$13
7	Texas	$26,997	$13
8	Florida	$26,644	$13
9	Illinois	$25,547	$12
10	Nebraska	$25,231	$12
11	Georgia	$24,932	$12
12	South Carolina	$24,702	$12
13	Utah	$24,677	$12
14	Mississippi	$24,666	$12
15	Ohio	$23,935	$12
16	North Carolina	$23,694	$11
17	Missouri	$23,404	$11
18	Alaska	$23,311	$11
19	Pennsylvania	$23,110	$11
20	Indiana	$23,055	$11

Average front desk clerk salary by company

Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
1	Hilton Grand Vacations	$33,559	$16.13	59
2	Hyatt Hotels	$33,467	$16.09	119
3	DoubleTree by Hilton Portland	$32,776	$15.76	14
4	Uline	$31,834	$15.30	6
5	Lone Star Circle of Care	$31,831	$15.30	3
6	Compass Group USA	$31,634	$15.21	122
7	Gastro Health	$31,479	$15.13	30
8	Foundation Communities	$31,109	$14.96	3
9	Delaware North	$31,091	$14.95	14
10	Hotel Services	$31,023	$14.91	21
11	Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Resort	$30,926	$14.87
12	Touro College	$30,896	$14.85
13	Hampton	$30,501	$14.66	120
14	Mount Snow	$30,400	$14.62
15	Hof's Hut Restaurant & Bakery	$30,321	$14.58	21
16	Laguna Development Corporation	$30,192	$14.52	1
17	AMSURG	$30,113	$14.48	9
18	L3Harris	$29,946	$14.40	5
19	University	$29,784	$14.32	2
20	Kampgrounds of America	$29,719	$14.29

Writing a front desk clerk job description
A front desk clerk job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a front desk clerk job description:
Front desk clerk job description example
We are a hotel that values and respects our team members . We pay our Front Desk Night Clerks a competitive wage of $14 - $16/hour . Our team also enjoys great benefits , including Hilton rates as low as $35/night at any Hilton/Western States property for our team members worldwide . Additionally, we offer our full-time team medical, dental, a 401(k), and paid time off (PTO) . Plus, we make it easy to apply with our initial quick mobile-optimized application . If we have your attention, please continue reading!

ABOUT TRU ST. GEORGE

Surrounded by natural beauty, historic landmarks, and a thriving arts scene, we are Tru-ly spoiled here! Our hotel guests enjoy free build-your-own breakfast, free wifi, and all of our modern amenities. Located near Zion National Park, Snow Canyon State Park, and the Tuachan Center, all who come and visit have the opportunity to create remarkable memories.

Our incredible team members provide extraordinary hospitality. We enjoy a strong, close-knit culture - one in which everyone helps each other out. We work hard to be here for our team - we appreciate you and want you here long-term!

ARE YOU A GOOD FIT?

Ask yourself: Is accuracy important to you? Do you have the ability to manage your time and tasks efficiently? Can you provide hospitality with a smile? If so, please consider applying for this full- or part-time graveyard position today!

YOUR LIFE AS A FRONT DESK NIGHT CLERK

This full- or part-time position typically works the graveyard shift sometime during the hours of 11:00 pm - 7:00 am, Monday - Sunday.

As a Front Desk Night Clerk, you are the face of hospitality for our hotel during the graveyard shift. You determine a guest's reservation status, identify how long they'll stay, and help them to complete the registration process. Hospitality-driven, you ensure our guests receive world-class customer service at registration, during their stay, and upon check out. While on shift, you answer phones, make wake-up calls, clean the lobby, and fold laundry. You follow the checklists provided to complete any needed tasks before morning.

You prepare the housekeeper's report, listing the status of check-outs, stay, over, vacant, and out-of-order rooms for the night. Additionally, you prepare a "cash only" list for restaurants and lounges. Always meticulous, you audit guest accounts and complete paperwork for the next day. Meeting guests and providing them with top-of-the-line hospitality makes you feel great, and that is why you're perfect for this job!

WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU
- 1 year or more of experience working in a hotel
- Computer skills
If you can meet these requirements and perform this full- or part-time job as described above, we would be happy to have you as part of our graveyard team!

Location: 84790

Job Posted by ApplicantPro
Post your job
There are various strategies that you can use to find the right front desk clerk for your business:
- Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
- Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
- Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
- Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.
Post your job online:
- Post your front desk clerk job on Zippia to find and recruit front desk clerk candidates who meet your exact specifications.
- Use field-specific websites.
- Post a job on free websites.
Interview candidates
Your first interview with front desk clerk candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.
Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.
The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.
Send a job offer and onboard your new front desk clerk
Once you've selected the best front desk clerk candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.
It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.
To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.
Go through the hiring process checklist
- Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
- Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
- Define job responsibilities and requirements
- Establish budget and timeline
- Determine hiring decision makers for the role
- Write job description
- Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
- Promote the job internally
- Process applications through applicant tracking system
- Review resumes and cover letters
- Shortlist candidates for screening
- Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
- Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
- Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
- Conduct background checks on top candidates
- Check references of top candidates
- Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
- Extend offer to top candidate(s)
- Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
- Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
- Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
- Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a front desk clerk?

Before you start to hire front desk clerks, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire front desk clerks pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

Front desk clerks earn a median yearly salary is $26,669 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find front desk clerks for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $10 and $15.

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Updated December 19, 2025

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How to hire a front desk clerk