Careers / Receptionists and Information Clerks

Receptionists and Information Clerks — Career Decision Dashboard

United States

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Median annual wage

$38,010

United States, 2025

Employment

910,180

United States, 2025

Typical education

High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)

Job Zone 2

Skills identified

35

10 related careers

Career overview

Answer inquiries and provide information to the general public, customers, visitors, and other interested parties regarding activities conducted at establishment and location of departments, offices, and employees within the organization.

O*NET code
43-4171.00
Job zone
2
Experience required
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years

Typical tasks

  • Operate telephone switchboard to answer, screen, or forward calls, providing information, taking messages, or scheduling appointments.
  • Greet persons entering establishment, determine nature and purpose of visit, and direct or escort them to specific destinations.
  • Receive payment and record receipts for services.
  • Schedule appointments and maintain and update appointment calendars.
  • Transmit information or documents to customers, using computer, mail, or facsimile machine.
  • Hear and resolve complaints from customers or the public.
  • File and maintain records.
  • Provide information about establishment, such as location of departments or offices, employees within the organization, or services provided.

Choose a location

Salary analysis — United States

$28,760
10th
$33,960
25th
$38,010
Median
$45,130
75th
$49,950
90th

10th percentile

$28,760

25th percentile

$33,960

75th percentile

$45,130

90th percentile

$49,950

Most important skills

  • Speaking3.9
  • Active Listening3.8
  • Service Orientation3.6
  • Social Perceptiveness3.1
  • Reading Comprehension3.1
  • Critical Thinking3.1
  • Writing3.0
  • Coordination3.0
  • Monitoring2.9
  • Time Management2.9
  • Complex Problem Solving2.8
  • Active Learning2.8

What skills do you need?

Select the skills you already have

Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.

Skill coverage

0%

0 of 8 identified skills

Matched

0

Missing

8

Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.

Skills to develop

SkillImportanceRequired levelYour levelGap
Service Orientation3.63.3Not selected3.3
Active Listening3.83.1Not selected3.1
Speaking3.93.0Not selected3.0
Reading Comprehension3.13.1Not selected3.1
Critical Thinking3.13.0Not selected3.0
Writing3.03.0Not selected3.0
Social Perceptiveness3.12.9Not selected2.9
Coordination3.02.9Not selected2.9

Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.

Related careers

How salary varies by location

LocationMedianEmploymentYear
San Francisco, CA$49,4508,5102025
DC$49,0602,0002025
Fairbanks, AK$47,2601602025
San Jose, CA$47,1303,9902025
Napa, CA$46,8502802025
Barnstable Town, MA$45,8206702025
Seattle, WA$45,82014,2602025
Hanford, CA$45,6501802025
Santa Rosa, CA$45,5501,1602025
Vallejo, CA$45,5007202025
Sheboygan, WI$45,4306102025
Sacramento, CA$45,1404,5702025
Mount Vernon, WA$45,0604502025
Santa Cruz, CA$44,9805102025
San Luis Obispo, CA$44,8906902025
Portland, ME$44,7701,7302025
AK$44,7201,5302025
WA$44,71026,5002025
New York, NY$44,69074,1902025
Anchorage, AK$44,6308902025
All locations with published data

Career transition paths

Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Receptionists and Information Clerks to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.

Build a transition comparison

Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0.

Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).

Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.