Office and administrative support
Receptionists and information clerks
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.
Median pay
$38,010
Growth to 2035
−2%
little or no change
Openings a year
105,100
Time to qualify*
1 month
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Receptionists and information clerks
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
Calculate your switch to receptionists and information clerks
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Exposure to disease
Receptionists and information clerks: 2% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core 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.
Also called: Clerk Specialist · Front Desk Receptionist · Greeter · Information Assistant (Info Assistant) · Medical Receptionist · Member Services Representative (Member Services Rep) · Office Assistant · Receptionist
Outlook and AI
Receptionists and information clerks held 947,500 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 931,600 by 2035 (−2%, little or no change; all jobs: +3.5%).
Capital/labor substitution - share decreases as companies use computer software, enhanced with artificial intelligence (AI) technology, to automate data collection, document preparation, and other tasks performed by clerks.
Compare with
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- Receptionists and information clerks vs. Customer service representative
- Receptionists and information clerks vs. Administrative assistant
- Receptionists and information clerks vs. Switchboard operators, including answering service
- Receptionists and information clerks vs. Interviewers, except eligibility and loan
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- Receptionists and information clerks vs. Health technologists and technicians, all other
- Receptionists and information clerks vs. Correspondence clerk