Career Trends: Receptionists

Receptionists perform administrative tasks, such as answering phones, receiving visitors, and providing general information about their organization to the public and customers.

Although receptionists are employed in nearly every industry, many work in healthcare, veterinary, and personal care services. About 3 in 10 worked part time in 2014.

Receptionists typically need a high school diploma and good communication skills.

Employment of receptionists is projected to grow 10 percent from 2014 to 2024, faster than the average for all occupations. Overall job opportunities should be very good. Those with related work experience and experience using computers should have the best job prospects.

This occupation supported 1,006,700 jobs in 2012 and 1,028,599 jobs in 2014, reflecting an increase of 2.2%. In 2012, this occupation was projected to increase by 13.5% in 2022 to 1,142,600 jobs. As of 2014, to keep pace with prediction, the expected number of jobs was 1,033,800, compared with an observed value of 1,028,599, 0.5% lower than expected. This indicates current employment trends are about on track with the 2012 trend within this occupation. In 2014, this occupation was projected to increase by 9.7% in 2024 to 1,126,300 jobs. Linear extrapolation of the 2012 projection for 2022 results in an expected number of 1,169,700 jobs for 2024, 3.9% higher than the 2014 projection for 2024. This indicates expectations for future employment trends are worse than the 2012 trend within this occupation.