Can you make a living being a receptionist?

The salary of a receptionist usually depends on the experience and skill level. When you are highly qualified, your starting salary will be generous even if you have minimal work experience. In Australia, the median remuneration package for a receptionist is $50,000 yearly. On the lower end, entry-level receptionists earn a median salary of $45,000 annually. Your salary can increase to over $55,000 yearly when you have extensive skills.

Most employers pay receptionists higher hourly rates for working overtime. You can also get year-end bonuses, which increase your salary prospects. While receptionists don't receive many extra allowances, most employers cover medical insurance costs and offer a car allowance.

how to increase your salary as a receptionist

The remuneration package of a receptionist often depends on the company size. When you work for a small start-up with limited resources, they may not afford to pay a high salary. However, working for a large organisation boosts your salary prospects. The complexity of the role and the company's extensive resources increase your remuneration.

Location can also influence your salary. For instance, working in metro areas and large cities improves your remuneration due to the high demand for receptionists. In smaller towns, the cost of living and lower need for receptionists lowers the average salary for workers.

Want to know what you will earn as a receptionist? Check out your real value with our salary checker.

A great career for those who are well-organised and good communicators.

What's it like to be a Receptionist?

Receptionists’ (sometimes called an Administrative Assistants) duties vary depending on the organisation they work for, but generally they perform office or administrative support roles.

Tasks and duties

  • Answering, screening, and forwarding telephone calls.
  • Greeting walk-in customers and other visitors and escorting them to specific destinations.
  • Copying, filing, and maintaining documents and records.

Read less

Receptionists often act as the first point of contact in an organisation, greeting people and attending to enquiries made by phone or in person.

Compare your salary

Find out how your salary compares with the average salary for Receptionists.

Enter your annual salary

Compare your salary

Latest Receptionist jobs on SEEK

Skills and experience employers are looking for

Hi there, have any of these? Add your skills directly to your SEEK Profile.

Reception

Phone Etiquette

Customer Service

Multitasking

Neat Personal Presentation

Microsoft Office

Computer Literacy

Organised

Data Entry

Time Management


Skills listed in your SEEK Profile


Based on your skills, here are some roles to explore

Roles where your skills are commonly valued by employers.

Sign in and add skills to your SEEK Profile, to see roles that match your skill-set

Did you find this helpful?

Source: SEEK job ads and SEEK Profile data

Upskill with an online short course

Get instant access to online training for these in-demand Receptionist skills

Is Receptionist the right role for me?


Job market trends for Receptionists

Source: SEEK job ads and SEEK role reviews

Latest Receptionist reviews

Latest reviews from 111 Receptionists surveyed on SEEK.

Good old fashioned customer service / helping people is what I love to do, it has its moments, but I won’t do anything else

Reviewer's Qualification

Certificate III in Business Administration

Organisation size

Small (1-19 employees)

Specialisation

Customer service

The good things

Very rewarding, being on the Front Desk of an organisation can be very stressful and some times exhausting, but so rewarding, knowing you have helped a patient feel better is really satisfying, team w...

The challenges

Good communication, time management and being organised is key, it’s such an important part of your role, being able to multitask, with accuracy is important also, the administration of caring for peo...

Read more

I love helping the company and know I make the most money for the practicing drs here

Reviewer's Qualification

Certificate I in Customer Service

Organisation size

Small (1-19 employees)

Specialisation

Receptionist

The good things

Love working with the public. Have a high skill of phone call to appointment ratio of at least 9.5/10

The challenges

Public can be forgetful and may blame the receptionist for their lack of time management

Read more

Want to share insights on your current role?

Leave a role review for your chance to win a $300 GiftPay card – it only takes a few minutes.

Write an anonymous review

Source: SEEK role reviews

Explore similar careers

Source: SEEK job ads and SEEK Profile data

Read more from SEEK

Is being a receptionist a good career?

Yes, being a receptionist is a good career. While it doesn't pay a lot, it can open the door to a lot of exciting opportunities. It has a good work-life balance, and you get to meet a lot of interesting people. One often overlooked benefit of being a receptionist is that they become the face of the company.

What type of receptionist gets paid the most?

The highest-paid receptionist job is a support clerk. Support Clerks earn an average salary of $35,159, which is $ 16.90 hourly.

Is being a receptionist a stressful job?

Yes, being a receptionist is a stressful job. This largely depends on the company you work for. However, a typical receptionist is usually on the go for most of the day. As a receptionist, you have to think on your feet, deal with multiple tasks at once, greet people, make bookings, emails, and take and make calls.

What are the disadvantages of being a receptionist?

Cons: Restricted movement at times. Handling too many demands and tasks at once. Trying to meet the demands of an impatient staff and patients all the time. Insular management and preference given to staff of a certain type.