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The role of a front desk receptionist is vital in various industries, serving as the first point of contact for clients and visitors. As of October 2025, the average salary for this position is approximately $31,050 annually, or $15 per hour. However, this figure can differ based on location, experience, and industry sector.
For instance, front desk receptionists in states like California and New York often command higher salaries due to higher demand and cost of living. In contrast, states with lower living costs may offer salaries closer to the national average.
Entry-level receptionists may start at lower salaries, while those with several years of experience can see significant increases in their earnings. The best-paying positions are often found in healthcare and corporate environments.
To maximize earning potential, receptionists should consider pursuing certifications, gaining experience, and seeking opportunities in higher-paying industries. By understanding the salary landscape, you can make informed career decisions.
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The average front desk receptionist salary in Alaska, Washington, and Oregon are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average front desk receptionist salary states are Tennessee, West Virginia, and Arkansas.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $41,591 | $20.00 |
| 2 | Maine | $34,369 | $16.52 |
| 3 | Alaska | $41,750 | $20.07 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $35,964 | $17.29 |
| 5 | Oregon | $39,016 | $18.76 |
| 6 | New York | $36,351 | $17.48 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $34,724 | $16.69 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $34,377 | $16.53 |
| 9 | Michigan | $32,305 | $15.53 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $34,261 | $16.47 |
| 11 | Wisconsin | $33,022 | $15.88 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $32,556 | $15.65 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $35,779 | $17.20 |
| 14 | Iowa | $30,793 | $14.80 |
| 15 | Arizona | $31,981 | $15.38 |
| 16 | California | $36,996 | $17.79 |
| 17 | Vermont | $35,122 | $16.89 |
| 18 | Hawaii | $34,463 | $16.57 |
| 19 | Montana | $31,000 | $14.90 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $30,109 | $14.48 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $33,268 | $15.99 |
| 22 | South Dakota | $32,320 | $15.54 |
| 23 | Illinois | $32,738 | $15.74 |
| 24 | Nevada | $30,832 | $14.82 |
| 25 | District of Columbia | $37,212 | $17.89 |
| 26 | Indiana | $29,729 | $14.29 |
| 27 | Colorado | $33,643 | $16.17 |
| 28 | Utah | $29,647 | $14.25 |
| 29 | Wyoming | $30,728 | $14.77 |
| 30 | Kentucky | $29,252 | $14.06 |
| 31 | Maryland | $31,832 | $15.30 |
| 32 | Kansas | $30,257 | $14.55 |
| 33 | Missouri | $29,188 | $14.03 |
| 34 | Ohio | $28,421 | $13.66 |
| 35 | Idaho | $30,806 | $14.81 |
| 36 | Mississippi | $28,851 | $13.87 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $30,063 | $14.45 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $27,369 | $13.16 |
| 39 | Texas | $28,510 | $13.71 |
| 40 | Virginia | $30,040 | $14.44 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $27,624 | $13.28 |
| 42 | Florida | $27,427 | $13.19 |
| 43 | West Virginia | $27,225 | $13.09 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $28,850 | $13.87 |
| 45 | Delaware | $28,587 | $13.74 |
| 46 | North Carolina | $28,312 | $13.61 |
| 47 | Georgia | $27,483 | $13.21 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $25,679 | $12.35 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $26,102 | $12.55 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $24,732 | $11.89 |
| 51 | Alabama | $25,011 | $12.02 |
The highest-paying cities for front desk receptionists are Seattle, WA, Portland, OR, and San Francisco, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $41,715 | $20.06 |
| 2 | Portland, OR | $39,020 | $18.76 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $38,829 | $18.67 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $37,216 | $17.89 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $36,188 | $17.40 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $35,835 | $17.23 |
| 7 | Portland, ME | $34,368 | $16.52 |
| 8 | Minneapolis, MN | $34,295 | $16.49 |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $33,724 | $16.21 |
| 10 | Chicago, IL | $32,836 | $15.79 |
| 11 | Madison, WI | $32,708 | $15.72 |
| 12 | Phoenix, AZ | $32,020 | $15.39 |
| 13 | Alexandria, VA | $31,118 | $14.96 |
| 14 | Las Vegas, NV | $30,524 | $14.68 |
| 15 | El Paso, TX | $29,975 | $14.41 |
| 16 | Pittsburgh, PA | $29,579 | $14.22 |
| 17 | Indianapolis, IN | $29,546 | $14.20 |
| 18 | Albuquerque, NM | $28,929 | $13.91 |
| 19 | Raleigh, NC | $28,401 | $13.65 |
| 20 | Columbus, OH | $27,989 | $13.46 |
Front Desk Receptionists are the most in-demand in these five cities:
A front desk receptionist's salary ranges from $24,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $39,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
| 75th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
| Average | $31,050 | $2,588 | $15 |
| 25th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $24,000 | $2,000 | $12 |
The highest paying types of front desk receptionists are front desk administration, dental receptionist, and office receptionist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receptionist/Customer Service | $30,604 | $2,550 | $14.71 | 216,587 |
| Receptionist/Billing Clerk | $31,932 | $2,661 | $15.35 | 129,530 |
| Receptionist Secretary | $29,343 | $2,445 | $14.11 | 61,892 |
| Front Desk Coordinator | $31,667 | $2,639 | $15.22 | 119,803 |
| Front Desk Attendant | $26,874 | $2,239 | $12.92 | 107,058 |
| Front Desk Clerk | $26,669 | $2,222 | $12.82 | 141,042 |
Top companies hiring front desk receptionists now:
Front desk receptionist salaries at SightMD and University of California, Berkeley are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average front desk receptionist salary at companies like Tesoro and Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SightMD | $44,106 | $21.20 |
| 2 | University of California-Berkeley | $41,017 | $19.72 |
| 3 | Tesoro | $39,246 | $18.87 |
| 4 | Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy | $39,135 | $18.81 |
| 5 | Rosin Eyecare | $39,042 | $18.77 |
| 6 | Waters | $38,877 | $18.69 |
| 7 | Community Health Connections | $38,766 | $18.64 |
| 8 | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center | $38,050 | $18.29 |
| 9 | eyecarecenter | $37,901 | $18.22 |
| 10 | Long Island, FQHC, Inc | $37,894 | $18.22 |
| 11 | New York Eye | $37,498 | $18.03 |
| 12 | Ortho Montana | $37,280 | $17.92 |
| 13 | Open Advanced MRI | $37,174 | $17.87 |
| 14 | Univ Of Colorado-Colorado Spgs | $36,972 | $17.77 |
| 15 | Beacon Hill Staffing Group | $36,612 | $17.60 |
| 16 | PROLIM | $36,513 | $17.55 |
| 17 | Gastro Health | $36,503 | $17.55 |
| 18 | Treasure Coast Community Health | $35,992 | $17.30 |
| 19 | Clinica Sierra Vista | $35,954 | $17.29 |
| 20 | Susquehanna International Group | $35,839 | $17.23 |
The average front desk receptionist salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Government | $31,038 | $14.92 |
| 2 | Manufacturing | $30,770 | $14.79 |
| 3 | Hospitality | $30,255 | $14.55 |
| 4 | Health Care | $29,650 | $14.25 |
| 5 | Professional | $29,227 | $14.05 |
The average front desk receptionist salary has risen by $5,409 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average front desk receptionist earned $25,641 annually, but today, they earn $31,050 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for front desk receptionists over the last decade.
Compare front desk receptionist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare front desk receptionist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $31,100 | $14.93 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | $30,000 | $14.42 | +3.0% |
| 2023 | $29,100 | $13.98 | +2.6% |
| 2022 | $28,300 | $13.62 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | $27,900 | $13.40 | +2.2% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utah Valley University | Front Desk Receptionist, Chss Advising Center | Orem, UT | 06/30/2025 | $24,230 |
| Ou Health | Front Desk Receptionist-Student (Summer) | Norman, OK | 06/29/2025 | $22,957 |
| Fabulous | Front Desk Receptionist | Queensbury, NY | 06/29/2025 | $35,479 |
| European Wax Center | Front Desk Receptionist/Sales | Tucson, AZ | 06/29/2025 | $27,131 |
| National Indoor RV Centers | Front Desk Receptionist | North Las Vegas, NV | 06/29/2025 | $41,740 |
| Wiseup Creative | Front Desk Receptionist | Fine, NY | 06/29/2025 | $46,958 |
| Medical Assistant In Patchogue, New York | Front Desk Medical Receptionist | Commack, NY | 06/29/2025 | $41,281 |
| Overlake Terrace Retirement Community | Front Desk Receptionist-Weekends 9Am-6Pm Shift | Redmond, WA | 06/29/2025 | $48,001 |
| Think Academy Us | Front Desk Receptionist-Bellevue Office | Bellevue, WA | 06/29/2025 | $37,566 |
| San Francisco Bay University | Front Desk Receptionist | Fremont, CA | 06/28/2025 | $52,175 |
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