Receptionist Jobs, Salary & How to start your Career?

Various types of receptionist jobs are available, from dental care to bank or hotel receptionist. The work is not easy as it involves handling customers or clients, managing schedules and bookings, handling paperwork and other duties as assigned. But the job has perks, too, like a good pay scale and scope for career growth.

To start your career as a receptionist, you will need at least a high school diploma or equivalent. In addition, some employers may require you to have experience in customer service or office administration. Many vocational and community colleges offer receptionist training courses to help land many receptionist jobs. You can also look for online courses to gain the necessary skills. Here is what you need to know to kickstart your career as a front desk receptionist.

What is a Receptionist?

A receptionist is a professional responsible for handling customer inquiries, managing schedules, and performing office administrative tasks. The job involves interacting with people daily, so excellent communication skills are necessary. Receptionists should also be well-organized and detail-oriented to handle the various tasks.

What Does a Receptionist Do?

The duties of a receptionist vary depending on the type of organization they work for. However, some of the everyday responsibilities include:

• Greeting customers or clients and directing them to the appropriate person or department
• Answering phone calls and taking messages
• Scheduling appointments and managing calendars
• Managing incoming and outgoing mail
• Maintaining records and filing documents
• Making travel arrangements
• Assisting with office administration tasks

How much does a receptionist make?

The average salary of a receptionist is $30,000 per year. However, this may vary depending on the type of industry, experience, location and other factors.

What does a receptionist do?

The receptionist duties are vast and ever-changing. They might include handling customer inquiries, managing schedules, performing office administrative tasks, greeting customers or clients, answering phone calls and taking messages, scheduling appointments, maintaining records and filing documents, making travel arrangements, and assisting with office administration tasks.

How to Become a Receptionist?

Bet it a hotel receptionist or a law firm receptionist, the position might have different responsibilities, but the educational requirements remain more or less the same. Although a high school diploma is a minimum requirement to become a receptionist, many employers prefer candidates with some postsecondary education, such as an Associate’s degree, a certificate in office administration, or a related field.

Many vocational schools, community colleges, and online courses offer receptionist training. These programs usually last for a few months and cover customer service, office procedures, telephone etiquette, and computer applications. Candidates can also gain the required skills by completing an internship program at a company of their choice.

Also read about these 12 Receptionist Interview Questions.

Receptionist Salary Structure

A receptionist salary varies from company to company, as you can see on a classified website like indeed or Glassdoor. The following is the breakup of the average salary of a receptionist in the United States:

• Hourly Wage: $14.26
• Monthly Salary: $2,584
• Annual Salary: $31,008

The hourly wage is the national median wage for all workers. The monthly salary is based on a 40-hour workweek. The annual salary is calculated by multiplying the monthly salary by 12.

How much does a front desk receptionist make?

The average salary for a Front Desk Receptionist is $12.14 per hour in the United States. However, this may vary depending on the type of industry, experience, location and other factors.

How much does a dental receptionist make?

The average dental receptionist salary in the United States is $32,580 per year or $15.73 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $24,460 annually, while most experienced workers make up to $43,140 annually. As a dental receptionist, your responsibilities include:

• Scheduling appointments
• Answering phones
• Greeting patients
• Updating patient records
• Billing and insurance processing

In addition to these administrative duties, you may also be responsible for sterilizing dental instruments, setting up equipment, and assisting the dentist during procedures. A successful dental receptionist is organized, detail-oriented, and can multitask efficiently.

Excellent customer service skills are also essential in this role, as you will be the patients’ first point of contact. Having previous experience working in a dental or medical office would be a great asset.

How much does a hotel receptionist make?

In the United States, the average wage of a hotel receptionist is $14.30 per hour plus gratuities. However, the amount they make will vary depending on the size of the hotel, the location, and the amount of experience they have.

The key duties of a hotel receptionist include:

• Greeting guests and checking them in
• Answering phone calls and addressing guest queries
• Handling payments and bookings
• Maintaining cleanliness and organization at the front desk
• Assisting with other tasks as needed, such as luggage handling or concierge duties.

As guests’ first contact point, hotel receptionists play a vital role in ensuring customer satisfaction. Therefore, they must be professional and courteous and have excellent communication and customer service skills. Being organized and efficient is also essential, as is working well under pressure.

How much does a medical receptionist make?

The average medical receptionist salary in the United States is $29,460 per year or $14.21 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $25,170 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $36,280 per year.

The difference between a hotel receptionist and a medical receptionist is that medical receptionists require more training and education to understand medical terminology and procedures. Medical receptionists have more responsibilities than hotel receptionists, such as scheduling appointments, handling insurance paperwork, and maintaining patient records.

How much does a veterinary receptionist make?

The average salary for a veterinary receptionist is $30,000 per year. However, salaries can range from $20,000 to $40,000 per year, depending on experience and location. In addition, a veterinary receptionist doesn’t usually receive gratuities. As a front desk receptionist at a veterinary office, your key responsibilities include:

• Answering phone calls
• Scheduling appointments
• Checking clients in and out
• Collecting payments
• Maintaining client records

The hours for a veterinary receptionist are typically 9:00 am to 5:00 pm but may vary depending on the practice’s needs. Some evening and weekend work may be required. A high school diploma is usually the minimum education requirement for this position, although some employers may prefer candidates with some college coursework or an associate’s degree.

Previous experience working in a customer service role is also helpful. Veterinary receptionists must have excellent people skills, be detail-oriented, and be able to handle a fast-paced environment. Multi-tasking and stress management skills are also essential.

How to make a receptionist resume?

If you want to make a resume for the receptionist position, there are certain things you need to include in your resume.

The first thing that you need to do is to identify receptionist skills and qualifications. Receptionists are usually responsible for handling customer inquiries, scheduling appointments, and providing general administrative support. To be eligible for the job, you should have excellent communication and customer service skills.

It is also essential to highlight your ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously. For example, as a receptionist, you must juggle several tasks at once. Therefore, you must show that you can handle multiple tasks at a given point of time.

Another essential thing to include in your receptionist resume is your ability to work under pressure. Receptionists are often required to work under tight deadlines. Therefore, you should be able to demonstrate that you can work under pressure and still meet the required standards.

When writing your receptionist resume, it is essential to mention your willingness to learn new things. As a receptionist, you will be exposed to much new information daily. Therefore, you should be willing to learn new things so that you can keep up with the latest trends in the industry.

Last but not least, you should also highlight your ability to handle customer complaints professionally. As a receptionist, you will be the first point of contact for customers who have complaints about the services that they have received. Therefore, you should be able to handle customer complaints professionally and efficiently.

By following these tips, you should be able to create a receptionist resume that will help you get the job that you want.

What are high paying receptionist jobs in the United States?

There are many high-paying receptionist jobs in the United States. These jobs may include working at a law firm, hospital, or other medical facilities. Other high-paying receptionist jobs may be in the corporate sector or private businesses. Salaries for these positions can range from $30,000 to $50,000 per year.

The first stage to crack any job is to prepare with the right set of interview questions for receptionist jobs. The most crucial factors that can help you find high-paying jobs are your experience and educational background. If you have several years of experience working as a receptionist, you will likely be able to find a higher-paying position than someone just starting. Additionally, if you have a degree from an accredited college or university, you may also be able to command a higher salary.

Many online job boards and websites list high-paying receptionist jobs in the United States. You can search for these positions using keyword phrases such as “high-paying receptionist jobs” or “receptionist jobs with high salaries.” Additionally, you can contact local businesses and ask if they are currently hiring receptionists. Many companies always need qualified individuals to fill these types of positions.

Conclusion

Working as a receptionist can be a gratifying and challenging career. However, you can find high-paying receptionist jobs in the United States with the right qualifications. With a little bit of research, you should be able to find several great job opportunities that fit your skills and experience.