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Telephone Receptionist Salary in the United States

How much does a Telephone Receptionist make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Telephone Receptionist in the United States is $41,381 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $20.

However, a Telephone Receptionist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $48,348
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $37,512 to $45,028
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $33,990
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Telephone Receptionist Salaries

A Telephone Receptionist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Do Telephone Receptionist Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Telephone Receptionists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $45,817.
  • California: $45,643.
  • Massachusetts: $45,035.

Top Paying Cities for Telephone Receptionists

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $52,193
  • San Francisco: $51,622
  • Oakland: $50,534

What Skills Can Increase a Telephone Receptionist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 25.18% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Data Entry (Mentioned in 2.27% Job Postings): Transcribing information into an electronic medium such as a computer or other electronic device.
  • Patient Care (Mentioned in 1.32% Job Postings): Patient care refers to the prevention, treatment, and management of illness and the preservation of physical and mental well-being through services offered by health professionals.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 25.18%
Data Entry 2.27%
Patient Care 1.32%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Telephone Receptionist's salary.

  • Point of Sale: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Patient Care: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Coordination: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Point of Sale $43,450
5%
Patient Care $43,036
4%
Coordination $43,036
4%
Get Latest Data

Telephone Receptionist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Telephone Receptionist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Telephone Receptionist positions in Retail & Wholesale or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Telephone Receptionist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Telephone Receptionist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$51,726$25.025%
Pharmaceuticals$49,657$24.020%
Software & Networking$49,657$24.020%
Financial Services$47,588$23.015%
Insurance$47,588$23.015%

How Education impacts a Telephone Receptionist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Telephone Receptionists enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Telephone Receptionist with a No Diploma is between $38,497 and $40,896).

Telephone Receptionist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Telephone Receptionist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.6%
High School 52.4%
Associates 19.1%
Bachelors 25.4%
Masters 1.5%
Doctorate 0.1%
View as Graph

Telephone Receptionist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Telephone Receptionist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on October 01, 2026
$37,512
Average $41,381/year
$45,028
$3,126
Average $3,448/month
$3,752
$721
Average $796/week
$866
$18
Average $20/hour
$22
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $45,028 $3,752 $866 $22
Average $41,381 $3,448 $796 $20
25th Percentile $37,512 $3,126 $721 $18

Most common benefits for Telephone Receptionist

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Telephone Receptionist

Here are companies hiring for Telephone Receptionist and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Telephone Receptionist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Telephone Receptionist?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Telephone Receptionist roles, with salaries approximately 25% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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