What You Need to Know About Receptionists and Information Clerks

Receptionist or Information Clerk Example 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.

Life As a Receptionist or Information Clerk

• Perform duties, such as taking care of plants or straightening magazines to maintain lobby or reception area.
• Process and prepare memos, correspondence, travel vouchers, or other documents.
• Conduct tours or deliver talks describing features of public facilities, such as a historic site or national park.
• Enroll individuals to participate in programs and notify them of their acceptance.
• Perform administrative support tasks, such as proofreading, transcribing handwritten information, or operating calculators or computers to work with pay records, invoices, balance sheets, or other documents.
• File and maintain records.

What a Receptionist or Information Clerk Should Know

When polled, Receptionists and Information Clerks say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Types of Receptionist or Information Clerk Jobs

• Referral and Information Aide
• Policyholder Information Clerk
• Patient Registration Representative
• Telephone Quotation Clerk
• Hospital Receptionist

Is There Going to be Demand for Receptionists and Information Clerks?

There were about 1,053,700 jobs for Receptionists and Information Clerks in 2016 (in the United States).

New jobs are being produced at a rate of 9.1% which is lower than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 95,500 new jobs for Receptionists and Information Clerks by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 151,100 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Receptionists and Information Clerks are New York, Florida, and California.

Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Rhode Island, or Mississippi. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Salary for Receptionists and Information Clerks

The typical yearly salary for Receptionists and Information Clerks is somewhere between $20,600 and $41,660. The median salary is $29,140.

How much do Receptionists and Information Clerks make in each U.S. state?

Annual Mean Salary by State

State	Annual Mean Salary
District of Columbia	$38,290
Alaska	$35,310
Connecticut	$34,860
New York	$34,430
Washington	$33,990
Vermont	$33,750
Rhode Island	$33,670
California	$33,190
New Jersey	$33,120
Massachusetts	$32,960
Hawaii	$32,870
Colorado	$32,360
Oregon	$31,670
Minnesota	$31,150
New Hampshire	$31,080
Maryland	$30,720
Maine	$30,380
Illinois	$30,210
Virginia	$30,050
Arizona	$30,050
Michigan	$29,690
Wisconsin	$29,610
North Dakota	$29,480
Iowa	$29,410
Florida	$29,120
Wyoming	$29,000
Idaho	$28,900
Nebraska	$28,820
Pennsylvania	$28,700
Indiana	$28,520
Nevada	$28,440
North Carolina	$28,410
Oklahoma	$28,210
Tennessee	$27,990
Utah	$27,890
Ohio	$27,850
Georgia	$27,840
New Mexico	$27,690
South Carolina	$27,660
Missouri	$27,550
Kansas	$27,540
Montana	$27,450
Texas	$27,400
Kentucky	$27,390
South Dakota	$27,280
Arkansas	$27,200
Delaware	$27,160
West Virginia	$26,660
Mississippi	$26,370
Alabama	$26,320
Louisiana	$24,990

Tools & Technologies Used by Receptionists and Information Clerks

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Receptionists and Information Clerks:

• Google Docs
• Microsoft Word
• Data entry software
• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Medical condition coding software
• Microsoft Dynamics
• Microsoft Excel
• Google Drive
• IBM Notes

How to Become a Receptionist or Information Clerk

What kind of Receptionist or Information Clerk requirements are there?

How Long Does it Take to Become Receptionist or Information Clerk?

Who Employs Receptionists and Information Clerks?

Related Careers

Those thinking about becoming Receptionists and Information Clerks might also be interested in the following careers:

• Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop

Those who work as Receptionists and Information Clerks sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:

• Parts Salespersons
• Correspondence Clerks
• Bailiffs

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics

College Factual

O*NET Online

Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons