Salary And Remuneration

How much does a receptionist earn?

Salaries and remuneration for a receptionist are mainly based on factors like their number of years of work experience, location of the work place, type of the industry they work in, size of the employer, duties, responsibilities and their skills sets.
These professionals are paid salaries on hourly basis.
On an average the hourly salary range paid for a receptionist in United States is $8.22- $15.25.
The total pays salary earnings per annum is $17,661- $34,914 in United States.
In addition to the basic salary range per annum additional income like bonus, overtime are provided by the employers to receptionists.
Almost all the receptionists are females and their hourly salary range $9.74- $13.33 and for males it is $9.74- $12.47.
Compared with all the types of industry law firm or law office the best hourly salary rate range of $8.42- $14.57 in United States.
Almost all the industry types pay the same hourly salary range.
A bonus range of $73.00- $2,076 is paid to a receptionist.
Experience is very crucial particularly for a receptionist.
As the number of years experience increases for the candidate the salary range also hikes proportionately.
With less than one year of work experience the candidate earns a salary range of $19,336- $36,093 per annum in United States.
One to four years of work experience the candidate gets a salary range package of $19,272- $36,274 per annum.
With five to nine years of work experience employers pay a salary range of $20,257- $41,341 per annum.
With ten to nineteen years of experience a salary ranges of $21,920- $43,200 per annum in United States.
Twenty years of experience and more, the candidate is expected to get a salary range of $22,689- $42,165 per annum in United States.
One of other major factor that decides the salaries of a receptionist is the work location of the candidate in United States.
San Francisco, California city pays the high salary range package of $24,240- $49,856 per annum.
Almost all the cities pay similar package ranges with slight differences in the values.
As per the candidate location in particular state in United States the salary range varies accordingly.
Illinois State pays the best salary range package of $23,583- $36,625 per annum in United States.
Another primary factor that majorly influences the salary ranges of a receptionist are as per the size of the company.
As the number of employers increase the salary range also increases as per the increase in employee’s number.
With employee’s number between 5000- 19999 receptionist salary range package is $29,504- $35,986 per annum.
Compared with other professionals bonus paid are somewhat less to a receptionist.
With less than one year of experience a bonus of $450 is paid by the employers to a receptionist.
One to four years of experience a bonus of $478.12 is earned by the receptionist.
With five to nine years of experience a bonus of $500 is obtained by the receptionist.
With ten to nineteen years of work experience, a bonus of $776 is earned by this professional in addition to the basic salaries in United States.
With twenty years of experience and more than it the candidate earns a bonus of $750 in salary.
The demand for these professionals is increasing day by day.
New companies also make sure of appointing a receptionist in their organization.

Skill Set Needed For The Job

Skills and aptitude required by a receptionist

Every receptionist requires some skills and talents to work efficiently.

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills are essential.
Time management with good sense of humor.
Managerial skills are required.
Must be confident while talking with the visitor.
Good understanding and listening skills are required to understand the query of the customer in phone.
Ability to handle pressure.
Must sometimes work in the weekends during the recruitment time of the company.
Good leadership qualities are desirable.
Sound knowledge on working with phones, printers and fax machines.
Knowledge on Private Branch Exchange (PBX) phones working.
Must be computer literate.
Excellent customer service skills are required.
Must be proficient in the usage of Microsoft Office tools like Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word.
Must be friendly with the visitors while interacting with them.
Typing skills are necessary.

What Are The Important Duties And Responsibilities?

What are the functions of a receptionist?

Duties and responsibilities of a receptionist vary as per the type of the employer and industry the candidate works in.

Duties of a receptionist professional

Greet and welcome visitors as soon as they enter the office or organization.
Must politely ask the reason for the visit to the office.
Answer the phone calls and clear the doubts of the customer or clients.
Perform all the administration activities.
Help and guide the visitors into the cabin of the person they wish to meet.
Provide temporary identification cards for visitors who visit the office.
Check in the database about the visitor who has taken prior appointment or schedule with an employee of the company.
In some companies these professionals also work as a cashier and perform bookkeeping functions.
In small companies a receptionist must provide coffee and drinking water to the visitors of the company.
Must update the information about materials outing and incoming.
Provide all the information to the customer correctly who enquiries on phone.
Prepare report on schedules and appointments.

Responsibilities of a receptionist

Ensure and alert security of the company if any unknown or suspicious persons enter the company premises.
Don’t send the visitor inside the office directly without taking the permission of the employee who the visitor wants to meet.
Must respond to the phone calls of the company very politely and patiently to answer their queries.
Ensure that all the front office activities run properly.
Keep an eye on the employees and check whether they are swiping their identification card during their every entry and exit in the office.
Everyday check the schedules and appointments of visitors.
Ensure that the reception and front lobby areas are neat and clean. If it is not clean then alert the cleaning staff of the company.
Don’t confuse the customer on the phone or make him/her angry.
Must be very keenly aware about all the activities happening in the reception or front office.
Maintain data record of the visitors who have visited the office.

What Are The Educational Requirements?

How to study for the job of a receptionist?

The candidate must have a high school diploma.
Mostly companies see the candidate’s basic education qualification while recruiting them as a receptionist.
A candidate with bachelor’s degree would be advantage in future.
To handle administrative activities of the company it is desirable that the candidate must have bachelor’s degree or an associate degree in any field.
For a receptionist, it is compulsory to have experience and excellent skills sets in addition to the basic educational qualifications.
Top employers and huge industries prefer candidates having a bachelor’s degree or an associate degree.

Certifications And Licensure

How to be certified as a receptionist? What licenses are needed?

Certification and licensure are not compulsory for some receptions like who work in small organizations or business establishments but certification is an added advantage for the career growth in future.
Certification programs are available for front office receptionists and receptionists who work in hospitals and health care centers.
Certification is compulsory for candidates who work in medical centers like hospitals and diagnostics centers.
Front office certification program is very helpful for these professionals to learn about how to interact with visitors and also how to interact with the customers in phone.
Certification types also vary as per the industry type the candidate works in.
Licensure is also required for front office and hospital receptionists.
Licensed receptionists are given prior preference by the employers during recruitment.
Employers while employing candidate for the post of receptionist check the candidate’s previous experience details and also licensure.
Licensure requirements for these professionals vary as per the industry or employer they work in.
To obtain these licensure candidates must pass exam conducted by the particular state where the candidate desires to work in.
These days’ certification and licensure are checked by the employers during their recruitment activities.

What Is The Job About?

Introduction to the job of a receptionist

Receptionist is a person who works in various types of organizations as a front office executive managing and supporting all the office or administrative activities of the organization. Receptionist plays a very important role in the business or an organization she is the face of the company. The main duty of this professional is to welcome and greet the visitors or clients who visit the company and also answer telephone calls. Mainly these professionals try to get opportunity in popular hotels and restaurants.

As a receptionist the candidate must be very passionate about the job and must interact with many customers and clients who visit the office daily welcoming and greeting them cordially. The duties and roles for a receptionist vary as per the company she works for. In some companies a receptionist is also responsible for bookkeeping and also work as a cashier.

In large organizations a receptionist also takes care of security access control functions by verifying the identification card of the employee and also issue temporary identification cards to visitors who want to meet employees of the company. Mostly all the receptionists are females and very few males are seen working as receptionists. The job of a receptionist is quiet hectic and stressful with many hours spent on the feet.