Question 1

How long does it take to become a Front Desk Receptionist?

Accepted Answer

It takes 2 years of professional experience to become a front desk receptionist. That is the time it takes to learn specific front desk receptionist skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education.

Question 2

How do I become a receptionist with no experience?

Accepted Answer

To become a receptionist with no experience involves having a good resume and cover letter, some prior work or volunteer experience, and meeting the right people. When creating a resume for a receptionist position, be sure to illustrate similar skills in past volunteer, extracurricular, or work experience.

Question 3

What are the duties of a receptionist?

Accepted Answer

The main duties of a receptionist are to receive visitors, answer phone calls, manage mail, do clerical work, organize meetings, and provide secretarial support.

Receive Visitors

greet visitors appropriately
determine visitor needs in a professional manner
maintain visitor register
offer refreshments to visitors where appropriate
direct visitors to the correct person
ensure back up when absent from reception desk

Question 4

What is the difference between the front desk and the receptionist?

Accepted Answer

The difference between the front desk and the receptionist has to do with the scope of responsibility. A receptionist is more focused on just answering calls and dealing with customer questions, while a front desk professional focuses on check-ins, check-outs, and reservations.

Question 5

What qualifications do I need to work as a receptionist?

Accepted Answer

The qualifications you need to work as a receptionist include a high school diploma, professionalism, soft skills such as communication, and hard skills such as a basic understanding of computers, including Microsoft and scheduling programs (e.g., Google calendar).

Question 6

What is a good starting salary for a Front Desk Receptionist?

Accepted Answer

A good starting salary for a front desk receptionist is $24,000 in the United States. That puts you in the 10th percentile of annual income for a front desk receptionist in the U.S., which is about what you would expect if you were new to the field. The average salary for front desk receptionists is $30,639, but that normally requires some level of experience to achieve. Furthermore, a good starting salary for a front desk receptionist can vary by state.

Question 7

How much does a front desk receptionist make?

Accepted Answer

A front desk receptionist makes $28,222 a year, on average ($13.57 an hour). The average entry-level position for a front desk receptionist is around $23,000 a year, while a mid-career front desk receptionist averages $34,000 a year. Other factors such as location and company type also impact how much a front desk receptionist can make.

Question 8

Can a front desk receptionist make 100k?

Accepted Answer

No, you cannot make $100,000 per year as a front desk receptionist. It is highly unlikely to earn over $100k because the average annual salary for a front desk receptionist is $30,639. Even front desk receptionists in higher-paid positions do not typically earn more than $37,000 per year.

Question 9

What skills do you need to be a front desk receptionist?

Accepted Answer

The skills you need to be a front desk receptionist encompass a wide variety of technical and interpersonal skills. To help break it down, we have compiled a list of the top nine skills needed to be a successful front desk receptionist.

Question 10

What percentage of Front Desk Receptionists are female?

Accepted Answer

83.3% of front desk receptionists are female in the United States. This is 2.8 percentage points higher than last year. Additionally, the percentage of female front desk receptionists has decreased by -0.4 percentage points since 2010. That means there are a total of 1,021,497 female front desk receptionists in the U.S. and 204,790 male front desk receptionists in the United States. Note that Zippia's estimate accounts only for the 1,226,287 people with the specific job title of front desk receptionist and doesn't include grouping similar job titles, or people with potentially similar credentialing.

Question 11

How do you write "front desk" on a resume?

Accepted Answer

You write "front desk" on a resume by highlighting all relevant skills and experience in professional front desk receptionist roles. Additionally, it will be important to note any certifications earned that are relevant to your future career goals.

Question 12

What are the duties of a front desk receptionist?

Accepted Answer

The duties of a front desk receptionist are to act as the gatekeeper for an office. They allow building access to other employees, answer phones, transfer calls, schedule appointments, answer questions, give directions, and manage the flow of traffic in the office. It is the front desk receptionist who greets anyone who enters the building.

Question 13

What should a front desk receptionist put on a resume?

Accepted Answer

A front desk receptionist should put all relevant skills and experience in professional front desk receptionists roles. Additionally, it will be important to note any certifications earned that are relevant to your future career goals.

Frequently asked questions about front desk receptionists

Questions about becoming a front desk receptionist