How To Become an Office Receptionist

To become an office receptionist, you usually need a bachelor's degree and 1-2 years of experience. The most common jobs before becoming an office receptionist are cashier, receptionist, and customer service representative. Hiring managers expect an office receptionist to have soft skills such as communication skills, computer skills, and integrity. Once you have all the required skills and experience, it takes an average of less than 1 month of job training to become an office receptionist.

The national average salary for office receptionists is $33,554, but with the right certifications and experience, they can make up to $41,000. Getting a certification as a Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) will help you to earn more as an office receptionist.

Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 5% and produce 59,300 job opportunities across the U.S.

How to become an Office Receptionist in 5 steps:

  • Step 1: Explore office receptionist education
  • Step 2: Develop office receptionist skills
  • Step 3: Complete relevent training/internship
  • Step 4: Research office receptionist duties
  • Step 5: Prepare your resume

Key Steps To Become an Office Receptionist

  1. Explore Office Receptionist Education

    If you're interested in becoming an office receptionist, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 35.9% of office receptionists have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 2.3% of office receptionists have master's degrees. Even though some office receptionists have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.

    Choosing the right major is always an important step when researching how to become an office receptionist. When we researched the most common majors for an office receptionist, we found that they most commonly have business, psychology and health care administration.

    Office Receptionist Degrees

    Bachelors

    35.9 %

    High School Diploma

    25.3 %

    Associate

    23.1 %

    Office Receptionist MajorPercentages
    Business24.00%
    Psychology8.40%
    Health Care Administration7.30%
    General Studies7.10%
    Other Degrees52.90%

  2. Develop Office Receptionist Skills

    It'll be a good idea to develop office receptionist skills before applying for a job. Here are some skills commonly requested in office receptionist job descriptions:

    SkillsPercentages
    Patients20.12%
    Customer Service14.88%
    Phone Calls12.20%
    Data Entry8.84%
    Front Desk5.95%
    Show More

  3. Complete Relevent Training/Internship

    Office receptionists spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. During this time, new office receptionists learn the skills and techniques required for their specific job and employer. The chart below shows how much time it takes to gain competency as an office receptionist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real office receptionist resumes.

    Average Amount Of Time At Training

    None

    Less than 1 month

    1-3 months

    3-6 months

    6-12 months

    1-2 years

  4. Research Office Receptionist Duties

    When you decide to become an office receptionist, It's important to know what duties and responsibilities are required for this position. Some common responsibilities are a part of most office receptionist jobs. Here is a list of the main duties that define the role:

    • 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.

  5. Prepare Your Resume

    Finally, when you already have checked the skills and responsibilities for this role, you can start creating your resume. Everything that goes into creating a perfect resume can take hours, days, or even weeks. No worries, we created a resume builder to make this process as easy as possible with tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and a summary.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Office Receptionist Resume templates

    Build a professional Office Receptionist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Office Receptionist resume.

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  6. Apply For an Office Receptionist Job

    With your ready resume, it's time to start searching for a new job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

    Office Receptionist Jobs

    7. How To Become an Office Receptionist
    How To Become an Office Receptionist Career Overview
Top Office Receptionist Jobs Near You

Average Salary for an Office Receptionist

Office Receptionists in America make an average salary of $33,554 per year or $16 per hour. The top 10 percent makes over $41,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent under $27,000 per year.
Average Office Receptionist Salary
$33,554 Yearly
$16.13 hourly
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Updated November 18, 2022