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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.
Other titles employers use
Clerk Specialist · Front Desk Receptionist · Greeter · Information Assistant (Info Assistant) · Medical Receptionist · Member Services Representative (Member Services Rep) · Office Assistant · Receptionist
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to organizing, persuading and helping work.
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
- Persuading
- Leading, selling, starting projects, or making a case
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Service Orientation
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Social Perceptiveness
Subjects to know
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administrative
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
Useful strengths
- Oral Expression
- Oral Comprehension
- Speech Recognition
- Speech Clarity
- Written Comprehension
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 3.3 | Shared rooms, but not shoulder to shoulder |
| On your feet | 2.4 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 4.4 | A regular part of the day |
| Working with your hands | 3.6 | Some of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a high school diploma. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- High school or less 50%
- A certificate or some college 46%
- A two-year degree 4%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Word processing software
- Electronic mail software
- Accounting software
- Office suite software
- Spreadsheet software
- Presentation software
- Operating system software
- Data base user interface and query software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 117,840
- Job openings each year
- 16,030
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 10.6%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 117,840 | 16,030 | 10.6% |
| New York | 85,950 | 1,440 | 20.1% |
| Florida | 81,590 | 11,060 | 8.8% |
| California | 80,700 | 10,890 | 6.6% |
| New Jersey | 54,670 | 7,350 | 5.3% |
| North Carolina | 43,560 | 5,910 | 9.0% |
| Illinois | 42,650 | 5,650 | — |
| Georgia | 40,520 | 5,490 | 8.3% |
| Pennsylvania | 36,490 | 4,830 | −1.5% |
| Ohio | 35,200 | 4,640 | −2.7% |
| Arizona | 32,070 | 4,400 | 14.6% |
| Washington | 31,980 | 4,870 | 15.9% |
| Wisconsin | 29,950 | 4,010 | 3.3% |
| Virginia | 28,610 | 3,830 | 3.4% |
| Michigan | 26,400 | 3,500 | −1.2% |
| Tennessee | 21,120 | 2,870 | 10.8% |
| Indiana | 19,290 | 2,570 | 1.8% |
| Maryland | 19,200 | 2,570 | 3.4% |
| Alabama | 18,930 | 2,540 | 5.0% |
| Colorado | 18,270 | 2,460 | 6.5% |
| Missouri | 17,850 | 2,370 | — |
| South Carolina | 16,460 | 2,230 | 9.4% |
| Oregon | 15,620 | 2,120 | 8.7% |
| Utah | 15,390 | 2,140 | 23.2% |
| Minnesota | 15,130 | 2,010 | — |
| Connecticut | 15,010 | 2,020 | 6.0% |
| Louisiana | 14,500 | 1,930 | — |
| Arkansas | 14,270 | 1,930 | 7.4% |
| Kentucky | 13,390 | 1,790 | 1.9% |
| Oklahoma | 11,050 | 1,460 | −1.3% |
| Nevada | 9,890 | 1,330 | 5.3% |
| Idaho | 9,750 | 1,340 | 14.0% |
| Kansas | 9,580 | 1,270 | — |
| Massachusetts | 8,130 | 1,090 | 2.7% |
| South Dakota | 7,040 | 950 | 5.4% |
| West Virginia | 6,760 | 900 | 3.2% |
| Mississippi | 6,670 | 890 | — |
| Iowa | 6,160 | 820 | 1.3% |
| Nebraska | 6,030 | 810 | 3.6% |
| New Mexico | 5,690 | 780 | 16.8% |
| Rhode Island | 5,160 | 690 | 2.4% |
| New Hampshire | 4,580 | 610 | 1.3% |
| Maine | 4,450 | 580 | −4.9% |
| District of Columbia | 3,100 | 410 | 2.3% |
| Alaska | 2,870 | 390 | 8.3% |
| Puerto Rico | 2,560 | 340 | 3.2% |
| North Dakota | 2,440 | 330 | 3.4% |
| Delaware | 2,400 | 320 | 1.3% |
| Wyoming | 1,770 | 240 | 6.6% |
| Montana | 1,410 | 190 | 6.8% |
| Vermont | 1,230 | 160 | 2.5% |
| Guam | 320 | 40 | 3.2% |
| Virgin Islands | 150 | 20 | −6.3% |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Valdosta State University
- Degrees each year
- 22
- Admit rate
- 83%
- Annual cost after aid
- $12,000
The University of Tampa
- Degrees each year
- 16
- Admit rate
- 41%
- Annual cost after aid
- $32,000
Northwest Missouri State University
- Degrees each year
- 2
- Admit rate
- 86%
- Annual cost after aid
- $14,000
Compare every college offering veterinary administrative services