General office worker vs office receptionist

The differences between general office workers 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 general office worker and an office receptionist. Additionally, an office receptionist has an average salary of $33,554, which is higher than the $29,182 average annual salary of a general office worker.

The top three skills for a general office worker include data entry, direct calls and office equipment. The most important skills for an office receptionist are patients, customer service, and phone calls.

General office worker vs office receptionist overview

	General Office Worker	Office Receptionist
Yearly salary	$29,182	$33,554
Hourly rate	$14.03	$16.13
Growth rate	-5%	-
Number of jobs	126,332	80,143
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 35%	Bachelor's Degree, 36%
Average age	47	42
Years of experience	2	2

General office worker vs office receptionist salary

General office workers and office receptionists have different pay scales, as shown below.

	General Office Worker	Office Receptionist
Average salary	$29,182	$33,554
Salary range	Between $23,000 And $36,000	Between $27,000 And $41,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	Minneapolis, MN
Highest paying state	Alaska	Alaska
Best paying company	Valmont Industries	Dairy Farmers of America
Best paying industry	Transportation	Manufacturing

Differences between general office worker and office receptionist education

There are a few differences between a general office worker and an office receptionist in terms of educational background:

	General Office Worker	Office Receptionist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 35%	Bachelor's Degree, 36%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Western Carolina University	University of Pennsylvania

General office worker vs office receptionist demographics

Here are the differences between general office workers' and office receptionists' demographics:

	General Office Worker	Office Receptionist
Average age	47	42
Gender ratio	Male, 26.6% Female, 73.4%	Male, 9.5% Female, 90.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 21.7% Asian, 7.5% White, 56.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%	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%

Differences between general office worker and office receptionist duties and responsibilities

General office worker example responsibilities.

Use EMR software to manage patient records and files; reinforce and uphold patient confidentiality as required by HIPAA and clinic.
Perform basic tasks using QuickBooks software.
Prepare and submit weekly payroll for processing.
Assist in payroll preparation by calculating time sheets and relate duties.
Prepare for upcoming alumni events.
Create professional sales presentations in PowerPoint.

Office receptionist example responsibilities.

Verify insurance information and manage medical records while ensuring confidentiality according to HIPAA requirements.
Answer phones, make copies, Microsoft, PowerPoint, scheduling, greet and interact with clients, filing and mailing.
Complete and audit payroll for accuracy.
Process payroll and monthly/quarterly sales tax liabilities.
Stock exam rooms, sterilize instruments and occasionally assist physician with patients.
Provide high-quality customer-service to patients by treating them respectfully and t with discretion.

General office worker vs office receptionist skills

Common general office worker skills

Data Entry, 20%
Direct Calls, 18%
Office Equipment, 15%
Computer Programs, 15%
Adjudication Process, 8%
Customer Service, 5%

Common office receptionist skills

Patients, 20%
Customer Service, 15%
Phone Calls, 12%
Data Entry, 9%
Front Desk, 6%
Appointment Scheduling, 5%

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Office and Administrative Industry
General Office Worker
General Office Worker vs Office Receptionist

Updated January 8, 2025

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