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Job outlook for receptionists in the United States
Receptionist job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected receptionist job growth rate is 0% from 2018-2028.
About 4,300 new jobs for receptionists are projected over the next decade.
Receptionist salaries have increased 11% for receptionists in the last 5 years.
There are over 1,532,853 receptionists currently employed in the United States.
There are 65,671 active receptionist job openings in the US.
The average receptionist salary is $30,571.
Are receptionist jobs in demand?
Receptionist job and salary trends over time
Receptionist jobs over time
Receptionist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,532,853 | 0.45% |
| 2020 | 1,567,208 | 0.47% |
| 2019 | 1,689,745 | 0.51% |
| 2018 | 1,681,839 | 0.51% |
| 2017 | 1,654,650 | 0.50% |
Average receptionist salary over time
Receptionist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $30,571 | $14.70 | +3.5% |
| 2025 | $29,529 | $14.20 | +3.1% |
| 2024 | $28,635 | $13.77 | +2.6% |
| 2023 | $27,898 | $13.41 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | $27,436 | $13.19 | +2.3% |
Receptionist jobs by state
Most common states for receptionists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 564 | 18% |
| 2 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,111 | 12% |
| 3 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 121 | 12% |
| 4 | Florida | 20,984,400 | 2,221 | 11% |
| 5 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 751 | 11% |
| 6 | Delaware | 961,939 | 103 | 11% |
| 7 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 706 | 10% |
| 8 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 549 | 10% |
| 9 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 655 | 9% |
| 10 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 335 | 9% |
| 11 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 264 | 9% |
| 12 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 168 | 9% |
| 13 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 117 | 9% |
| 14 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 114 | 9% |
| 15 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 80 | 9% |
| 16 | Alaska | 739,795 | 65 | 9% |
| 17 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 65 | 9% |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 972 | 8% |
| 19 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 319 | 8% |
| 20 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 90 | 8% |
Most common cities for receptionists
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burlington | 11 | 45% | $34,229 |
| 2 | Newton | 21 | 24% | $34,240 |
| 3 | Medford | 14 | 24% | $34,237 |
| 4 | Arlington | 10 | 23% | $34,236 |
| 5 | Cambridge | 15 | 14% | $34,240 |
| 6 | Orlando | 17 | 6% | $26,082 |
| 7 | Boston | 31 | 5% | $34,245 |
| 8 | Miami | 22 | 5% | $25,560 |
| 9 | San Francisco | 22 | 3% | $34,223 |
| 10 | Atlanta | 15 | 3% | $25,970 |
| 11 | Tampa | 13 | 3% | $26,045 |
| 12 | San Diego | 23 | 2% | $32,814 |
| 13 | Jacksonville | 18 | 2% | $26,592 |
| 14 | Seattle | 13 | 2% | $34,095 |
| 15 | Houston | 21 | 1% | $26,659 |
| 16 | Los Angeles | 20 | 1% | $33,266 |
| 17 | Phoenix | 20 | 1% | $28,876 |
| 18 | Chicago | 17 | 1% | $29,337 |
| 19 | Austin | 13 | 1% | $26,913 |
| 20 | New York | 24 | 0% | $33,735 |
Receptionist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of receptionist experts
Ohio University
Stanton University
What skills stand out on Receptionist resumes?
Allison White: Knowledge of spreadsheets software such as MS Excel is a commonly sought-after skill. Employers want word processing and spreadsheet skills but often say they want high school graduates and pay accordingly. These skills aren't always taught in high school. Those in the field should seek these skills. Additionally, medical and legal assistants have highly sought after. Terminology courses for these specialized areas are sometimes offered at the vocational schools but are usually offered at the post-secondary level.
What soft skills should all Receptionists possess?
Allison White: Employers have told me repeatedly that soft skills are often the most important. They will ask for my reference after I've gotten to know a student and been able to identify their communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills. They want someone to take the initiative yet know when to ask questions. Customer service skills and confidentiality were also voiced by our internship supervisors. Verbal and non-verbal communication is a must. The applicant must be able to write well!!
What's a good job out of college for Receptionists?
Dr. Louna Al Hallak: After the Covid-19 pandemic, what's the best job out of college you should be looking for?
There is an increasing demand for tax specialists in the United States, especially during the tax season (January - mid-April).
And one of the reasons why tax specialists demand tax is that taxes in the United States will be complicated after the Covid-19 pandemic. Businesses and companies will recruit more tax specialists to help complete all tax compliance processes, including paycheck protection program loans.
Besides companies and businesses, individuals will also need some help filing their returns because most withdrew from the retirement account without any penalties.
The number of job posting looking for tax specialists increased 22 times between December 2020 and January 2020
The demand for receptionists is also growing steadily. Yes, most businesses weren't in business in most parts of 2020, but they are now back. Most companies are looking for a post-pandemic recovery, and they are actively looking for receptionists.
However, you need to note that tax specialists demand might surge, especially after the tax season comes to an end. You can still dive into other career opportunities like receptionist roles and scale from there.