Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
Click a state. States: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Receptionists and information clerks (SOC 43-4171) employed 910,180 people in May 2025. The median pay is $38,010 a year ($18.27 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $28,760 and the highest-paid 10% more than $49,950. BLS projects its employment to change by -1.7% between 2025 and 2035 (about 105,100 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest median pay: District of Columbia ($49,060), Alaska ($44,720), Washington ($44,710). Most jobs: California (82,470), Texas (78,330), New York (65,010).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,760 | $13.83 |
| 25th percentile | $33,960 | $16.33 |
| Median | $38,010 | $18.27 |
| Mean | $39,460 | $18.97 |
| 75th percentile | $45,130 | $21.70 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $49,950 | $24.01 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 947,500 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 931,600 |
| Change in jobs | -16,000 |
| Percent change | -1.7% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 105,100 |
| Self-employed share | 0.7% |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Short-term on-the-job training |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 10,460 | 0.85 | $32,590 | $22,830 | $40,730 | -14% | 40% |
| Alaska | 1,530 | 0.80 | $44,720 | $32,810 | $57,360 | +18% | 39% |
| Arizona | 23,220 | 1.22 | $38,730 | $32,130 | $47,930 | +2% | 52% |
| Arkansas | 10,870 | 1.42 | $34,840 | $27,610 | $43,930 | -8% | 34% |
| California | 82,470 | 0.77 | $44,100 | $36,410 | $58,800 | +16% | 57% |
| Colorado | 11,020 | 0.66 | $42,010 | $33,200 | $51,490 | +11% | 52% |
| Connecticut | 14,980 | 1.51 | $40,630 | $34,120 | $54,170 | +7% | 46% |
| Delaware | 2,880 | 1.01 | $36,310 | $31,200 | $47,610 | -4% | 51% |
| District of Columbia | 2,000 | 0.49 | $49,060 | $37,050 | $64,270 | +29% | 47% |
| Florida | 63,280 | 1.09 | $36,810 | $28,850 | $46,480 | -3% | 59% |
| Georgia | 26,080 | 0.91 | $36,100 | $24,920 | $47,190 | -5% | 50% |
| Hawaii | 3,510 | 0.96 | $41,600 | $35,050 | $55,310 | +9% | 56% |
| Idaho | 5,340 | 1.06 | $36,810 | $28,500 | $47,100 | -3% | 45% |
| Illinois | 40,370 | 1.13 | $37,400 | $31,200 | $48,350 | -2% | 42% |
| Indiana | 17,360 | 0.93 | $36,160 | $24,410 | $47,310 | -5% | 37% |
| Iowa | 4,660 | 0.51 | $37,330 | $26,740 | $47,610 | -2% | 32% |
| Kansas | 7,290 | 0.87 | $36,050 | $27,390 | $45,690 | -5% | 36% |
| Kentucky | 9,290 | 0.79 | $32,940 | $23,720 | $44,270 | -13% | 36% |
| Louisiana | 12,820 | 1.13 | $32,750 | $21,420 | $44,410 | -14% | 39% |
| Maine | 3,440 | 0.92 | $42,440 | $35,880 | $49,140 | +12% | 34% |
| Maryland | 18,390 | 1.14 | $38,100 | $31,750 | $49,180 | +0% | 54% |
| Massachusetts | 18,970 | 0.89 | $43,870 | $35,790 | $54,270 | +15% | 51% |
| Michigan | 25,230 | 0.98 | $37,470 | $29,480 | $48,280 | -1% | 37% |
| Minnesota | 11,800 | 0.68 | $37,510 | $28,320 | $50,540 | -1% | 41% |
| Mississippi | 6,920 | 1.02 | $31,160 | $22,310 | $42,990 | -18% | 38% |
| Missouri | 18,890 | 1.10 | $35,740 | $29,230 | $46,660 | -6% | 36% |
| Montana | 1,280 | 0.43 | $37,360 | $27,240 | $47,420 | -2% | 38% |
| Nebraska | 6,750 | 1.13 | $37,860 | $29,070 | $47,350 | -0% | 35% |
| Nevada | 10,650 | 1.17 | $37,050 | $29,340 | $47,790 | -3% | 55% |
| New Hampshire | 5,320 | 1.33 | $38,160 | $26,800 | $53,370 | +0% | 49% |
| New Jersey | 42,060 | 1.68 | $41,650 | $33,420 | $54,290 | +10% | 52% |
| New Mexico | 5,650 | 1.11 | $35,140 | $26,970 | $44,210 | -8% | 38% |
| New York | 65,010 | 1.15 | $43,080 | $34,740 | $59,140 | +13% | 46% |
| North Carolina | 20,080 | 0.69 | $35,440 | $23,270 | $46,210 | -7% | 45% |
| North Dakota | 1,930 | 0.77 | $39,530 | $29,570 | $52,220 | +4% | 30% |
| Ohio | 30,850 | 0.95 | $35,920 | $26,070 | $46,840 | -5% | 36% |
| Oklahoma | 9,380 | 0.94 | $34,560 | $24,700 | $44,760 | -9% | 36% |
| Oregon | 13,590 | 1.18 | $40,900 | $33,970 | $49,660 | +8% | 47% |
| Pennsylvania | 37,830 | 1.07 | $36,810 | $24,820 | $48,310 | -3% | 41% |
| Rhode Island | 4,270 | 1.45 | $42,620 | $32,940 | $50,020 | +12% | 40% |
| South Carolina | 11,280 | 0.84 | $35,510 | $22,710 | $46,750 | -7% | 43% |
| South Dakota | 5,760 | 2.15 | $38,280 | $27,920 | $47,860 | +1% | 31% |
| Tennessee | 11,460 | 0.60 | $34,910 | $25,400 | $45,980 | -8% | 44% |
| Texas | 78,330 | 0.95 | $35,210 | $24,700 | $47,380 | -7% | 50% |
| Utah | 12,020 | 1.18 | $36,960 | $27,870 | $47,210 | -3% | 52% |
| Vermont | 1,160 | 0.65 | $38,370 | $30,830 | $46,810 | +1% | 41% |
| Virginia | 23,360 | 0.97 | $37,060 | $28,800 | $47,220 | -2% | 53% |
| Washington | 26,500 | 1.28 | $44,710 | $36,730 | $57,840 | +18% | 49% |
| West Virginia | 5,470 | 1.33 | $31,920 | $23,690 | $42,740 | -16% | 33% |
| Wisconsin | 25,580 | 1.49 | $41,150 | $29,530 | $50,030 | +8% | 33% |
| Wyoming | 1,540 | 0.94 | $37,480 | $28,580 | $49,570 | -1% | 32% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 8,510 | $49,450 | $37,610 | $76,070 | 0.61 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 3,990 | $47,130 | $40,060 | $68,640 | 0.60 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | 670 | $45,820 | $36,610 | $54,620 | 1.22 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 14,260 | $45,820 | $37,570 | $60,520 | 1.17 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 1,160 | $45,550 | $38,140 | $69,770 | 0.96 |
| Vallejo, CA | 720 | $45,500 | $37,170 | $76,090 | 0.86 |
| Sheboygan, WI | 610 | $45,430 | $28,930 | $48,250 | 1.73 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 4,570 | $45,140 | $35,380 | $76,550 | 0.72 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | 450 | $45,060 | $36,330 | $59,400 | 1.46 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 510 | $44,980 | $36,410 | $62,360 | 0.89 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 690 | $44,890 | $36,260 | $65,450 | 0.97 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 1,730 | $44,770 | $36,480 | $49,510 | 1.02 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 74,190 | $44,690 | $35,060 | $59,720 | 1.34 |
| Anchorage, AK | 890 | $44,630 | $32,130 | $57,030 | 0.86 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 4,780 | $44,610 | $35,070 | $55,840 | 2.02 |
| Modesto, CA | 890 | $44,610 | $36,050 | $72,390 | 0.78 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 6,690 | $44,390 | $35,520 | $56,330 | 0.74 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 1,020 | $44,270 | $36,260 | $54,670 | 0.86 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | 920 | $44,130 | $36,670 | $54,180 | 1.68 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 14,320 | $43,930 | $34,870 | $55,750 | 0.91 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | 470 | $43,710 | $38,100 | $59,700 | 1.09 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 5,480 | $43,680 | $35,090 | $54,900 | 0.58 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 8,340 | $43,630 | $35,570 | $51,410 | 1.18 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 1,510 | $43,610 | $35,270 | $54,740 | 0.80 |
| Madison, WI | 3,170 | $43,600 | $29,990 | $50,460 | 1.33 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 1,080 | $43,530 | $35,510 | $55,110 | 1.43 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | 750 | $43,410 | $29,680 | $47,600 | 1.68 |
| Bellingham, WA | 810 | $43,400 | $36,250 | $54,780 | 1.52 |
| Salinas, CA | 620 | $43,300 | $36,590 | $55,190 | 0.56 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 35,000 | $43,280 | $37,120 | $52,600 | 0.95 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 7,200 | $42,920 | $29,900 | $51,820 | 1.50 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | 1,070 | $42,910 | $35,780 | $54,960 | 1.41 |
| Kenosha, WI | 750 | $42,900 | $30,210 | $48,370 | 1.69 |
| New Haven, CT | 2,680 | $42,880 | $34,170 | $60,060 | 1.63 |
| Bend, OR | 890 | $42,840 | $34,510 | $49,060 | 1.40 |
| Boulder, CO | 980 | $42,800 | $34,670 | $50,500 | 0.87 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 920 | $42,710 | $35,680 | $69,110 | 0.54 |
| Pittsfield, MA | 360 | $41,890 | $34,490 | $51,040 | 1.09 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 6,880 | $41,800 | $35,360 | $52,920 | 0.69 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 2,370 | $41,800 | $34,890 | $51,000 | 1.58 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | 410 | $41,770 | $35,460 | $51,860 | 1.06 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 5,550 | $41,720 | $33,850 | $49,680 | 1.33 |
| Worcester, MA | 1,940 | $41,720 | $35,460 | $51,440 | 0.95 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | 780 | $41,700 | $28,450 | $49,160 | 1.42 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | 440 | $41,410 | $35,270 | $52,040 | 1.48 |
| Eau Claire, WI | 990 | $41,310 | $29,180 | $48,650 | 1.96 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 17,920 | $41,240 | $33,600 | $54,790 | 0.98 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | 1,550 | $41,050 | $34,010 | $49,920 | 1.65 |
| Yakima, WA | 890 | $40,990 | $34,650 | $48,120 | 1.57 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | 300 | $40,790 | $35,670 | $54,660 | 1.25 |
| Springfield, MA | 1,240 | $40,770 | $35,190 | $50,450 | 1.05 |
| Green Bay, WI | 1,330 | $40,760 | $30,020 | $49,370 | 1.30 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | 960 | $40,700 | $32,190 | $48,980 | 0.97 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | 780 | $40,640 | $31,030 | $50,730 | 1.58 |
| Medford, OR | 910 | $40,630 | $34,450 | $46,570 | 1.75 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 1,980 | $40,550 | $33,250 | $53,940 | 1.41 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | 470 | $40,390 | $28,530 | $46,750 | 1.81 |
| Appleton, WI | 1,170 | $40,300 | $28,210 | $47,990 | 1.61 |
| Chico, CA | 370 | $40,070 | $35,010 | $50,610 | 0.81 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 2,410 | $39,960 | $34,000 | $55,310 | 0.92 |
The median is $38,010 a year ($18.27 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $28,760 and the highest-paid tenth over $49,950 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
910,180 in May 2025, and BLS projects -1.7% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS).
District of Columbia, with a median of $49,060 (among states with published figures).