Front desk receptionist vs front desk attendant

The differences between front desk receptionists and front desk attendants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a front desk receptionist has an average salary of $31,050, which is higher than the $26,874 average annual salary of a front desk attendant.

The top three skills for a front desk receptionist include patients, check-in and phone calls. The most important skills for a front desk attendant are reservations, customer service, and cleanliness.

Front desk receptionist vs front desk attendant overview

	Front Desk Receptionist	Front Desk Attendant
Yearly salary	$31,050	$26,874
Hourly rate	$14.93	$12.92
Growth rate	-	-
Number of jobs	82,593	107,058
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 33%	Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Average age	42	37
Years of experience	2	-

What does a front desk receptionist do?

Front desk receptionists are usually the first contact of clients or visitors in an office or building. They are responsible for welcoming and receiving guests, documenting guests' arrival and updating the visitor logbook, informing hosts and other involved employees that the guests have arrived, and directing the guests to where they should go next. They also man telephone lines, schedule appointments, receive packages or mails, and answer office visitors' questions. Front desk receptionists are expected to be personable, knowledgeable on office-related activities, and familiar with everyone.

What does a front desk attendant do?

A front desk attendant serves as the primary point of contact in a building or establishment, ensuring customer satisfaction. Their duties mainly revolve around greeting visitors, responding to inquiries, handling calls and correspondence, arranging appointments, and coordinating with various building offices and departments. Moreover, a front desk attendant's responsibilities will vary on the line of work or one's industry of employment. There are instances in a hotel setting where they must handle check-in and check-out processes, make reservations, and offer amenities.

Front desk receptionist vs front desk attendant salary

Front desk receptionists and front desk attendants have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Front Desk Receptionist	Front Desk Attendant
Average salary	$31,050	$26,874
Salary range	Between $24,000 And $39,000	Between $20,000 And $35,000
Highest paying City	Seattle, WA	Anaheim, CA
Highest paying state	Alaska	California
Best paying company	SightMD	Lone Star Circle of Care
Best paying industry	Government	Education

Differences between front desk receptionist and front desk attendant education

There are a few differences between a front desk receptionist and a front desk attendant in terms of educational background:

	Front Desk Receptionist	Front Desk Attendant
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 33%	Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Front desk receptionist vs front desk attendant demographics

Here are the differences between front desk receptionists' and front desk attendants' demographics:

	Front Desk Receptionist	Front Desk Attendant
Average age	42	37
Gender ratio	Male, 15.4% Female, 84.6%	Male, 35.1% Female, 64.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 23.9% Asian, 6.4% White, 53.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%	Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 6.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 9.5% White, 55.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%
LGBT Percentage	6%	13%

Differences between front desk receptionist and front desk attendant duties and responsibilities

Front desk receptionist example responsibilities.

Accomplish computer work using a PMS system; OperaXpress.
Collect and distribute mail and packages, prepare FedEx shipments and manage online postage machine.
Use EMR software to manage patient records and files; reinforce and uphold patient confidentiality as required by HIPAA and clinic
Acquire knowledge of ICD-9 and CPT codes and achieve up-to-date knowledge of medical record practices, standards, and regulations.
Manage patients records by keeping all medical history, insurance and personal information update and verify abiding by HIPAA protocols.
Assist office management and staff with administrative projects/responsibilities such as managing time-sensitive projects, filing, copying, and collating materials.

Front desk attendant example responsibilities.

Manage confidential information and documentation, including financial data, and credit card information and payroll checks.
Perform extensive customer service, including communicating with members, scheduling reservations, and fielding complaints.
Count and identify clothing to charge correctly on POS system, rack clothing in order on conveyor belt.
Serve guests in a timely and professional manner, handle money/make change, and work with a POS system.
Monitor cleanliness and organization of yoga studio and lobby areas.
Assist on special projects consisting of transferring reservations to new internal booking system and balancing advance deposits

Front desk receptionist vs front desk attendant skills

Common front desk receptionist skills

Patients, 23%
Check-In, 12%
Phone Calls, 10%
Reservations, 10%
Customer Service, 10%
Appointment Scheduling, 5%

Common front desk attendant skills

Reservations, 17%
Customer Service, 10%
Cleanliness, 10%
Phone Calls, 9%
Work Ethic, 8%
Guest Satisfaction, 5%

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Office and Administrative Industry
Front Desk Receptionist
Front Desk Receptionist vs Front Desk Attendant

Updated January 8, 2025

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