Best states for a receptionist

Q: What is the best state for receptionists?

The best state to be a receptionist is Washington based on receptionist salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for receptionists?

The highest paying state for receptionists is Mississippi based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for receptionists?

The worst state for receptionists is Mississippi, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

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Receptionist opportunities vary in different parts of the country. In order to help you determine the best states for receptionists, we ranked all fifty states from best to worst for receptionists.Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of receptionists in America is $38,000.

We figured that the best places for receptionist jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.If you are currently seeking employment as a receptionist, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.

10 best states for receptionists in 2025

1. Washington
Total receptionist jobs: 655
Average annual salary: $33,951
Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000
Location Quotient:
1.06
Receptionist jobs in Washington
2. Connecticut
Total receptionist jobs: 335
Average annual salary: $33,702
Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000
Location Quotient:
1.19
Receptionist jobs in Connecticut
3. New York
Total receptionist jobs: 1,248
Average annual salary: $33,807
Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000
Location Quotient:
1.15
Receptionist jobs in New York
4. Massachusetts
Total receptionist jobs: 751
Average annual salary: $34,278
Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000
Location Quotient:
0.97
Receptionist jobs in Massachusetts
5. Maine
Total receptionist jobs: 114
Average annual salary: $31,310
Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $37,000
Location Quotient:
1.01
Receptionist jobs in Maine
6. New Jersey
Total receptionist jobs: 1,111
Average annual salary: $32,262
Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000
Location Quotient:
1.65
Receptionist jobs in New Jersey
7. Rhode Island
Total receptionist jobs: 90
Average annual salary: $33,120
Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000
Location Quotient:
0.87
Receptionist jobs in Rhode Island
8. Alaska
Total receptionist jobs: 65
Average annual salary: $31,677
Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $38,000
Location Quotient:
0.92
Receptionist jobs in Alaska
9. New Hampshire
Total receptionist jobs: 117
Average annual salary: $32,018
Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000
Location Quotient:
0.79
Receptionist jobs in New Hampshire
10. Pennsylvania
Total receptionist jobs: 972
Average annual salary: $29,358
Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $37,000
Location Quotient:
0.99
Receptionist jobs in Pennsylvania

Receptionist jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a receptionist

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a receptionist

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Washington	$33,951	$26,000	7,405,743	655
2	Connecticut	$33,702	$26,000	3,588,184	335
3	New York	$33,807	$26,000	19,849,399	1,248
4	Massachusetts	$34,278	$27,000	6,859,819	751
5	Maine	$31,310	$25,000	1,335,907	114
6	New Jersey	$32,262	$25,000	9,005,644	1,111
7	Rhode Island	$33,120	$26,000	1,059,639	90
8	Alaska	$31,677	$26,000	739,795	65
9	New Hampshire	$32,018	$26,000	1,342,795	117
10	Pennsylvania	$29,358	$23,000	12,805,537	972
11	California	$33,454	$26,000	39,536,653	2,429
12	Arizona	$28,873	$22,000	7,016,270	706
13	Michigan	$28,106	$22,000	9,962,311	672
14	Nevada	$28,941	$22,000	2,998,039	178
15	Minnesota	$29,867	$23,000	5,576,606	549
16	Vermont	$32,535	$26,000	623,657	36
17	Oregon	$30,869	$24,000	4,142,776	319
18	Iowa	$27,091	$21,000	3,145,711	564
19	Hawaii	$31,194	$26,000	1,427,538	74
20	Missouri	$27,986	$22,000	6,113,532	491
21	South Dakota	$27,842	$22,000	869,666	80
22	Illinois	$29,282	$23,000	12,802,023	941
23	District of Columbia	$34,694	$27,000	693,972	65
24	Utah	$27,299	$21,000	3,101,833	264
25	Colorado	$29,719	$23,000	5,607,154	425
26	Texas	$26,965	$21,000	28,304,596	1,687
27	Indiana	$26,644	$21,000	6,666,818	536
28	Wisconsin	$27,037	$21,000	5,795,483	421
29	Maryland	$30,594	$24,000	6,052,177	448
30	North Dakota	$27,900	$22,000	755,393	38
31	Tennessee	$25,710	$20,000	6,715,984	520
32	Delaware	$27,299	$21,000	961,939	103
33	Kansas	$26,669	$21,000	2,913,123	230
34	Kentucky	$26,286	$20,000	4,454,189	297
35	Florida	$25,992	$20,000	20,984,400	2,221
36	Montana	$25,659	$20,000	1,050,493	121
37	Ohio	$26,007	$20,000	11,658,609	726
38	West Virginia	$25,496	$20,000	1,815,857	103
39	North Carolina	$26,689	$21,000	10,273,419	544
40	New Mexico	$26,621	$21,000	2,088,070	114
41	Virginia	$27,239	$21,000	8,470,020	570
42	Nebraska	$26,168	$20,000	1,920,076	168
43	Wyoming	$26,501	$20,000	579,315	30
44	Georgia	$25,869	$20,000	10,429,379	810
45	Oklahoma	$25,622	$20,000	3,930,864	182
46	South Carolina	$25,849	$20,000	5,024,369	279
47	Idaho	$25,741	$20,000	1,716,943	107
48	Arkansas	$24,635	$19,000	3,004,279	135
49	Alabama	$24,039	$19,000	4,874,747	250
50	Louisiana	$24,030	$19,000	4,684,333	175
51	Mississippi	$23,209	$18,000	2,984,100	121

Highest paying states for receptionists

Rank	State	Avg. Receptionist Salary
1	Washington	$33,951
2	Connecticut	$33,702
3	New York	$33,807
4	Massachusetts	$34,278
5	Maine	$31,310
6	New Jersey	$32,262
7	Rhode Island	$33,120
8	Alaska	$31,677
9	New Hampshire	$32,018
10	Pennsylvania	$29,358
11	California	$33,454
12	Arizona	$28,873
13	Michigan	$28,106
14	Nevada	$28,941
15	Minnesota	$29,867
16	Vermont	$32,535
17	Oregon	$30,869
18	Iowa	$27,091
19	Hawaii	$31,194
20	Missouri	$27,986
21	South Dakota	$27,842
22	Illinois	$29,282
23	District of Columbia	$34,694
24	Utah	$27,299
25	Colorado	$29,719
26	Texas	$26,965
27	Indiana	$26,644
28	Wisconsin	$27,037
29	Maryland	$30,594
30	North Dakota	$27,900
31	Tennessee	$25,710
32	Delaware	$27,299
33	Kansas	$26,669
34	Kentucky	$26,286
35	Florida	$25,992
36	Montana	$25,659
37	Ohio	$26,007
38	West Virginia	$25,496
39	North Carolina	$26,689
40	New Mexico	$26,621
41	Virginia	$27,239
42	Nebraska	$26,168
43	Wyoming	$26,501
44	Georgia	$25,869
45	Oklahoma	$25,622
46	South Carolina	$25,849
47	Idaho	$25,741
48	Arkansas	$24,635
49	Alabama	$24,039
50	Louisiana	$24,030
51	Mississippi	$23,209

Receptionist best states FAQs

What is the best state for receptionists?

What is the highest paying state for receptionists?

What is the worst state for receptionists?

Have more questions? See all answers to common office and administrative questions.

Search for receptionist jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse office and administrative jobs

Total receptionist jobs:	655
Average annual salary:	$33,951
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$26,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$43,000
Location Quotient:	1.06

Best states for a receptionist

10 best states for receptionists in 2025

1. Washington

2. Connecticut

3. New York

4. Massachusetts

5. Maine

6. New Jersey

7. Rhode Island

8. Alaska

9. New Hampshire

10. Pennsylvania