Receptionists and Information Clerks Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Receptionists and Information Clerks — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$38,010
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$18.27
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$49,950
entry level starts ~$28,760
Pay Grade
C
below-average pay · 910,000 employed

How much do Receptionists and Information Clerks make?

Receptionists and Information Clerks earn a median annual salary of $38,010 in the United States, which works out to roughly $18.27 per hour for full-time work. Most earn between $28,760 at the entry level and $49,950 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $33,960 and $45,130 a year.

That is $23,380 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Receptionists and Information Clerks salary range by percentile

Half of all Receptionists and Information Clerks earn between $33,960 and $45,130 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$28,760$13.83
25th percentile (early career)$33,960$16.33
50th percentile (median)$38,010$18.27
75th percentile (experienced)$45,130$21.70
90th percentile (top earners)$49,950$24.01

Highest-paying states for Receptionists and Information Clerks

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. District of Columbia leads the country for Receptionists and Information Clerks pay at $49,060 a year, followed by Alaska ($44,720) and Washington ($44,710). At the other end, Mississippi posts the lowest median at $31,160 — a gap of $17,900 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1District of Columbia$49,060$23.59+29%
2Alaska$44,720$21.50+18%
3Washington$44,710$21.50+18%
4California$44,100$21.20+16%
5Massachusetts$43,870$21.09+15%

Workforce and education

About 910,000 people work as Receptionists and Information Clerks in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $39,460 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Receptionists and Information Clerks make in the United States?
The median Receptionists and Information Clerks salary in the United States is $38,010 per year, or about $18.27 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $28,760, while the top 10% of earners make $49,950 or more.
How does Receptionists and Information Clerks pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C (below-average pay), the Receptionists and Information Clerks median of $38,010 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Receptionists and Information Clerks the most?
District of Columbia is the highest-paying state for Receptionists and Information Clerks, with a median salary of $49,060 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
What education do Receptionists and Information Clerks need?
For most positions, a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, according to O*NET occupation data from the U.S. Department of Labor.
How many Receptionists and Information Clerks work in the United States?
About 910,000 people were employed as Receptionists and Information Clerks in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.