Key takeaways
- BLS counted 1,007,200 receptionists and information clerks in 2024 and projects 1,007,600 in 2034.
- The May 2024 median was $17.90 per hour, or $37,230 per year.
- The occupation is projected to add only 300 jobs, but replacement needs produce 128,500 projected openings per year.
- Healthcare and social assistance employed 45 percent of receptionists in 2024.
- OEWS does not include self-employed workers, so employee wage data does not set a virtual-reception contractor rate.
Table of contents
What receptionists and information clerks employment and wage statistics show in 2026
BLS counted 1,007,200 receptionists and information clerks in 2024. Median pay was $17.90 per hour, or $37,230 per year. The occupation covers workers who answer inquiries and provide information about an establishment, its activities, and the location of departments or employees.
The title of SOC 43-4171 includes information clerks, but it is a specific occupation. It should not be added to the broader information-clerks total shown in a separate BLS profile.
National pay is a baseline. A useful hiring range also accounts for local wages, industry, schedule, visitor volume, appointment work, access-control duties, and privacy requirements.
| Statistic | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Employment, 2024 | 1,007,200 | BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook |
| Projected employment, 2034 | 1,007,600 | BLS Occupational Projections |
| Projected change, 2024 to 2034 | 300 (0.0%) | BLS Occupational Projections |
| Projected annual openings | 128,500 | BLS Occupational Projections |
| Median hourly wage, May 2024 | $17.90 | BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook |
| Median annual wage, May 2024 | $37,230 | BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook |
| Lowest 10 percent, May 2024 | Less than $13.60 per hour | BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook |
| Highest 10 percent, May 2024 | More than $23.49 per hour | BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook |
| Healthcare and social assistance share, 2024 | 45% | BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook |
Receptionist wage distribution and benchmark limits
The lowest 10 percent earned less than $13.60 per hour in May 2024. The highest 10 percent earned more than $23.49. That spread matters when a role combines greeting and call routing with billing, insurance, security, or sensitive records.
The median is the midpoint of employee wages, not a universal offer. Employers should compare the job's actual duties and labor market with current state or metropolitan OEWS profiles.
OEWS excludes self-employed workers. A business buying virtual reception coverage must therefore assess the service scope, coverage model, tools, and contract separately from employee wage data.
Industry concentration, schedules, and duties
Healthcare and social assistance employed 45 percent of receptionists in 2024. Professional, scientific, and technical services employed 11 percent, personal care services 7 percent, membership organizations 4 percent, and administrative and support services 3 percent.
BLS lists phone answering, message handling, appointment scheduling, visitor greeting, check-in, database entry, document maintenance, and correspondence among common duties. Hospitals and medical offices may also collect personal information, while some corporate and government offices assign visitor-access tasks.
Most receptionists work full time, but facilities that operate evenings and weekends may require those shifts. A role brief should state coverage hours and handoffs explicitly.
Employment outlook and replacement demand
BLS projects 1,007,600 jobs in 2034, only 300 more than in 2024. The rounded outlook is little or no change.
Despite the flat total, BLS projects 128,500 openings per year. Most are expected to replace workers who change occupations or leave the labor force.
BLS says software, websites, mobile applications, and consolidated administrative functions will constrain demand. The projection does not remove the need for staffed intake where visitors, patients, security, or complex questions require a person.
Hiring and onboarding implications for reception work
A receptionist brief should distinguish public-facing intake from back-office administration. It should state call volume, visitor flow, scheduling ownership, data fields, payment or insurance duties, access-control authority, and the escalation route.
O*NET task statements are useful screening inputs, but employers should select only the tasks the job requires. A medical front desk needs different privacy and terminology checks than a general virtual reception role.
Onboarding should rehearse greetings, identity checks, appointment changes, message accuracy, difficult interactions, privacy rules, and emergency escalation. These controls matter more than copying a broad list of receptionist duties into a job ad.
Sources and methodology
This report uses the latest BLS receptionist profile available on the verification date for 2024 employment, median pay, wage percentiles, industry shares, and the 2024 to 2034 outlook. The BLS projections table independently states the SOC 43-4171 base and projected employment figures. The information-clerks profile supplies category context without being combined into the receptionist total. Current OEWS release, FAQ, and methods pages define how the wage estimates should be read. O*NET supplies occupational duties. Census commuting guidance is used only to explain why an economy-wide work-from-home measure is not a receptionist remote-work rate.
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, ReceptionistsAugust 28, 2025. 2024 employment, pay, wage distribution, industry shares, duties, and outlook
- BLS Occupational Projections and Worker CharacteristicsAugust 28, 2025. SOC 43-4171 employment, projections, annual openings, education, and training
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Information ClerksAugust 28, 2025. Context for the broader information-clerk group and detailed occupations
- BLS May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wages releaseMay 15, 2026. Current OEWS release scope and national estimation context
- BLS May 2025 occupation profilesMay 15, 2026. Official current OEWS occupation, industry, state, and area profile entry point
- BLS OEWS Frequently Asked QuestionsCurrent through 2026. OEWS coverage, estimate interpretation, and exclusions
- BLS OEWS Handbook of MethodsCurrent through 2026. Survey scope, design, and estimation methodology
- O*NET OnLine, Receptionists and Information Clerks 43-4171.00Updated 2026. Occupation summary, tasks, skills, work activities, and technology
- O*NET OnLine, Receptionists and Information Clerks task detailsUpdated 2026. Detailed task statements for screening and onboarding plans
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS commuting guidanceSeptember 22, 2025. Work-from-home commuting measure and 2024 ACS context
Source count: 10. Last verification date: August 3, 2026.
Related research
FAQ
What is the median wage for receptionists and information clerks?
BLS reports a May 2024 median of $17.90 per hour and $37,230 per year for SOC 43-4171.
How many receptionist jobs were there in 2024?
The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook reports 1,007,200 jobs in 2024.
How many receptionist openings are projected each year?
BLS projects about 128,500 openings per year from 2024 to 2034, mostly from replacement needs.
Which industry employs the most receptionists?
Healthcare and social assistance employed 45 percent of receptionists in 2024, according to BLS.
Are virtual reception service prices included in OEWS?
No. OEWS excludes self-employed workers and measures employee wages, not service or contractor prices.
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