Receptionist
Receptionists run the front desk of an organisation, greeting visitors, answering calls and directing people to the right person.
- Median salary
- $63,900
3.9%vs last year, before tax
- People employed
- 181,300
0.7%vs last year
- Projected growth
- +8.3%
to 2035
- AI exposure*
- Moderate
- automation risk
- Average hours
- 40/wk
matches all-jobs average
- Shortage status
- Not in shortage
national
Receptionists work at the front desk of offices, clinics, hotels and community organisations. The role sits close to administration officer work, but a receptionist is judged mainly on how well they handle the desk and phones as they happen rather than on a project or a backlog of clerical work. Many of these jobs are in health care, hospitality, or arts and recreation settings, where the flow of visitors and calls rarely stops for long.
How much do receptionists earn?
The median full-time salary for a receptionist is $63,900 per annum, before tax, up $13,300 since 2018.
The setting moves reception pay more than experience does: health practices, hotels and large firms often pay above the award, and evening or weekend shifts in hotels and clinics carry penalty rates. Award coverage follows the industry, so a front desk in a law firm and one in a hotel sit under different agreements. Part-time and casual hours are common, which means two jobs with the same title can pay quite differently across a year.
What does a receptionist do day to day?
The list below is what fills most weeks; the exact mix shifts with seniority and whatever stage the current work is at.
- Greeting visitors and answering a multi-line phone at the same time, usually in the busiest part of the morning
- Booking, confirming and rearranging appointments across several staff calendars
- Working out what a caller actually needs and putting them through to the right person, including when they are unsure or already frustrated
- Sorting mail, couriers and deliveries in the gaps between calls and walk-ins
- Keeping the waiting area tidy, the visitor log up to date and the desk covered at all times
What skills do receptionists need?
Employers look for , backed by PABX telephone systems fluency and strong customer service.
Specialist skills
Software and tools
- PABX telephone systems
- Reception desk management software
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Email and calendar platforms
- Visitor management systems
General skills
- Customer service
- Written communication
- Attention to detail
- Time and deadline management
- Problem solving
- Stakeholder management
- Digital literacy
Is the job growing?
About 181,300 people work as receptionists in Australia, and employment is projected to grow 8.3% over the decade to 2035. That's modest growth: demand is steady rather than booming.
How do you become a receptionist?
Here's the path most receptionists take, step by step.
- 1Finish Year 12 or an equivalent
No formal qualification is required to start, and most receptionists working now finished school at Year 12 or below. School results matter less than a clear phone manner and reliable presentation, which is what interviewers test.
- 2Take a short course in business administration or medical reception
A certificate III in business (BSB30120) administration covers phone systems, booking software and records handling. A medical reception course helps if you are aiming at clinics, where patient privacy and billing systems come up at interview.
- 3Apply for a traineeship or an entry-level front desk role
Traineeships combine paid work with a certificate III, which suits school leavers who want to earn while they study. Temporary reception cover through a recruitment agency is another common way in, and short placements often turn into ongoing work.
- 4Learn the systems on the job
Switchboard and VoIP phones, booking and visitor management software and the Microsoft Office suite are usually picked up within the first few weeks. Confidence with them is what employers ask about when you move to a larger organisation.
Ready to apply as a receptionist?
Whether you're working toward becoming a receptionist or already are one and want a hand with the next step (sharpening your resume for ATS screening, tightening your cover letter, or knowing what you'll actually be asked at interview), here are examples grounded in this specific role, not generic templates.
What jobs can a receptionist move to?
Moving into Personal Assistant typically comes with the biggest pay rise, worth $31,400 a year more on average.
| Move to | Typical pay change | Overlap | Retraining |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Assistant Receptionists already manage diaries, correspondence and visitors, so they can step into personal assistant work with minimal retraining.Known move | +$31,400 | 86% | minimal |
| Executive Assistant Executive assistant work extends reception's diary and correspondence skills to senior leaders, requiring further training in executive support.Known move | +$31,400 | 38% | reskill |
| Office Manager Office management builds on reception's coordination and office systems, though a substantial course in management is needed.Known move | +$26,100 | 31% | reskill |
| Practice Manager Practice management uses reception's health admin and patient flow knowledge, with further study in practice operations.Known move | +$22,200 | 15% | reskill |
| Administration Officer Receptionists' scheduling, records and client liaison carry into general administration work, with a short course in office systems.Known move | −$5,700 | 60% | short course |
Moves are chosen from Jobs and Skills Australia's Data on Occupation Mobility, which follows income tax records between 2011-12 and 2020-21, together with entry requirements and skill overlap. A known move is one people were seen making in that data. Pay change compares median full-time pay for the two roles.
Who works as a receptionist?
The typical receptionist is 36 years old; 89% are women, 43% work full-time, and full-timers average 40 hours a week.
- 36
- Median age
- 89%
- Female share
- 43%
- Full-time
- +0h
- vs all-jobs avg
What's it like being a receptionist?
The day is shaped by whoever walks in or calls next, so reception work suits someone who likes being the fixed point everyone else moves around. The pace is set by interruptions rather than by a task list, and the skill is staying pleasant and organised while several things compete for attention at once. People who dislike being tied to one spot, or who need long stretches of uninterrupted work, tend to find the desk frustrating.
What people like
- You see how the place actually works. Sitting at the front means you learn who does what, which clients matter and how the day runs, which helps if you later move into administration, assistant or management work.
- You get to know people quickly. Regular visitors, patients and clients usually deal with the same receptionist each time, so the desk builds familiar relationships and a bit of standing in the organisation.
- The work stays at work. In most offices and clinics the front desk closes at a set time, and reception is one of the few client-facing roles that rarely follows you home.
- Clear wins by the end of the day. A booked appointment, a courier sorted, a caller put through to the right person: the results are visible and finished rather than carried into next week.
What people find hard
- You can't step away from the desk. The phones and the door need covering at all times, so breaks and lunch depend on someone else being free to take over.
- Two things at once, all day. Answering a call while a visitor waits at the counter is normal, and the pressure is to keep both of them feeling attended to.
- The same questions, repeatedly. Directions, opening hours and appointment policies come up many times a day, and answering them well every time is part of the job.
- The role can plateau. Reception is often an entry point rather than a destination, and responsibility tends to level off unless you move into administration, assistant or management work.
Based on our synthesis of professional-body surveys and public accounts of the role, not first-person verified reviews.
Which industries employ receptionists?
Health Care and Social Assistance employs the largest share of receptionists, followed by Accommodation and Food Services.
Top employing industries
- 1Health Care and Social Assistance
- 2Accommodation and Food Services
- 3Arts and Recreation Services
Ranked by employment share; the source doesn't publish an exact percentage per industry.
| Year 12 or below | 46.1% | |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate III/IV | 19.1% | |
| Diploma / Advanced Diploma | 12.9% | |
| Bachelor degree | 12.7% | |
| Postgraduate | 3.1% |
Will AI replace receptionists?
Automation has already taken over a real share of this job: automated phone menus, chatbots and online booking systems handle many routine calls and appointments that once came through the desk. What holds the role in place is the physical front desk, where someone has to meet a visitor, judge whether they need to wait or be announced, and deal with the caller whose problem does not fit a menu. The work is shifting towards managing those systems and handling the cases they cannot resolve, rather than answering every call personally.
Share of typical working time by exposure level
- Answering and routing phone callsAutomated menus and voice assistants now take simple enquiries such as opening hours or directions, but callers with an unclear or complicated request still need a person to work out where they should go.30%moderate
- Greeting visitors and running the front deskSomeone has to meet the visitor, check them in and decide whether they wait or are announced, which is why this part of the job keeps it tied to a physical place.25%low
- Booking and rescheduling appointmentsOnline booking and reminder systems already handle most routine appointments, leaving the receptionist the awkward changes, cancellations and clashes that the software cannot sort out.25%high
- Mail, deliveries and general office adminVisitor management software and digital mail logs replace some of the paperwork, though parcels and couriers still have to be received and physically handed on.20%moderate
Common questions about becoming a receptionist
Straight answers to the questions people ask most.
How much does a receptionist earn in Australia?
Full-time receptionists earn a median of $63,900 per year before tax. The setting moves that figure more than experience does, with health practices, hotels and corporate offices often paying above the award, and evening or weekend shifts attracting penalty rates. This figure describes full-time roles, and part-time work is common.
How do I become a receptionist?
Most receptionists start after Year 12 and learn the systems on the job, so no degree is needed. A certificate III in business (BSB30120) administration or a short medical reception course helps if you are targeting health, legal or corporate front desks. A paid traineeship is a practical option because you earn while you complete the qualification.
Are receptionists in demand in Australia?
Receptionists are currently not in shortage, and employment is projected to grow 8.3% over the decade to 2035. The role exists in almost every industry, so where you look matters as much as the overall number, with health care, hospitality and community organisations all keeping a front desk staffed.
Will AI replace receptionists?
Automated phone menus, chatbots and online booking already handle a share of the calls and appointments that used to come through the desk, and AI tools can draft messages and summarise enquiries. What stays with the receptionist is the visitor standing in front of them, the caller who needs to be read rather than routed, and the judgement about who gets through to whom. The job is changing shape more than disappearing, and comfort with the systems is becoming part of it.
What can a receptionist move into?
Personal assistant work builds on the same diary management and correspondence and pays $31,400 more. Office manager roles pay $26,100 more and executive assistant roles pay $31,400 more, though both need further training in management or executive support. People also come into reception from call centres and checkouts, which share the customer service side of the work.
Related roles
- Administration Officer
- Personal Assistant
- Office Manager
- Practice Manager
- Executive Assistant
- Call Centre Operator
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