Receptionist job description in the United States
Duties, requirements, interview questions, and a ready-to-use template so you can post your job today.
Job summary
A receptionist is the first person visitors, callers, and delivery drivers deal with, and the one who decides where each of them goes next. The role answers and routes calls, greets and registers visitors, manages the front desk calendar, and keeps mail and packages moving. A reliable receptionist protects the image of the business, saves time for the rest of the team, and keeps the entrance organized and secure.
Main duties
- Greet visitors, register their entry, issue badges, and notify the person they came to see
- Answer the main phone line and transfer calls or take accurate, complete messages
- Manage meeting room reservations and keep the shared calendar free of conflicts
- Receive, log, and distribute mail, packages, and documents delivered by couriers
- Respond to general inquiries by email, chat, or messaging apps, or forward them to the right area
- Keep the reception area and waiting room neat and stocked with what visitors need
- Schedule appointments and confirm them with clients or patients the day before
- Support the administrative team with filing, data entry, and ordering office supplies
Typical requirements
- High school diploma or equivalent; administrative or secretarial training is a plus
- At least six months of experience in reception, front desk, or customer service
- Comfortable using a multi-line phone, email, calendars, and office software
- Clear spoken and written communication; a second language where the clientele requires it
- Punctuality and availability to cover the full front desk schedule
- Verifiable references from previous employers
Key skills
Salary in the United States
Based on jobs posted on Saplic over the last 6 months. This is a market benchmark, not an official figure.
Job posting template ready to copy
Replace the fields in brackets with your company's details.
Market benchmark: $3,897 per month (median of the jobs posted on Saplic over the last 6 months).
Receptionist — [Company name]
At [Company name], we are looking for a receptionist to be the face and voice of our office in [City]. The person in this role will welcome visitors, handle incoming calls, coordinate meeting rooms and deliveries, and support the administrative team so that every day runs smoothly.
Responsibilities
- Greet visitors, register their entry, issue badges, and notify the person they came to see
- Answer the main phone line and transfer calls or take accurate, complete messages
- Manage meeting room reservations and keep the shared calendar free of conflicts
- Receive, log, and distribute mail, packages, and documents delivered by couriers
- Respond to general inquiries by email, chat, or messaging apps, or forward them to the right area
- Keep the reception area and waiting room neat and stocked with what visitors need
- Schedule appointments and confirm them with clients or patients the day before
- Support the administrative team with filing, data entry, and ordering office supplies
Requirements
- High school diploma or equivalent; administrative or secretarial training is a plus
- At least six months of experience in reception, front desk, or customer service
- Comfortable using a multi-line phone, email, calendars, and office software
- Clear spoken and written communication; a second language where the clientele requires it
- Punctuality and availability to cover the full front desk schedule
- Verifiable references from previous employers
What we offer
- Salary: [Salary]
- Benefits: [Benefits]
- Location: [City]
Interested in this job? Apply today.
How to hire a receptionist
Call candidates before meeting them
A five-minute phone screen is the most honest test for this role. Tone, clarity, and how the candidate handles a simple question on the phone predict daily performance better than the resume.
State the exact schedule
The front desk cannot sit empty. The posting should give the precise hours, lunch coverage, and whether Saturdays are included, because a schedule that turns out different from what was advertised is a common reason receptionists quit in the first months.
Simulate simultaneous demands
A short role-play with a ringing phone, a visitor waiting, and a courier needing a signature shows how the candidate prioritizes and whether courtesy holds up under pressure.
Be honest about the extra tasks
If the role includes filing, invoicing, or buying supplies, it should be listed. Hiding administrative work behind a simple reception title leads to frustration within the first month.
Check writing, not only speech
Receptionists write messages, emails, and chat replies all day. Asking the candidate to draft a short message from a voicemail reveals spelling, completeness, and judgment about what matters.
Interview questions for receptionist candidates
What would you do if two phone lines rang while a visitor was standing in front of you?
What to look for: A clear order of priority, acknowledgment of everyone waiting, and no one left ignored.
How did you handle a visitor who was upset or demanded to see someone without an appointment?
What to look for: Calm tone, firmness with the access policy, and offering a real alternative rather than a flat refusal.
Could you describe how you organized your tasks on a busy day at the front desk?
What to look for: A concrete system such as a log, checklist, or calendar, rather than relying on memory.
What information would you write down when taking a message for someone who is out?
What to look for: Name, company, phone number, reason, urgency, and time of the call, with the details read back to confirm.
How would you respond if someone asked for a coworker's personal phone number?
What to look for: Discretion: declining to share private data and offering to pass the message along instead.
Which office tools and phone systems have you used?
What to look for: Specific tools, such as switchboards, shared calendars, and spreadsheets, and ease in learning new ones.
What did you do the last time a package or document went missing?
What to look for: Use of a delivery log, tracing steps, and ownership of the problem until it was resolved.
How did you keep track of which visitors were still in the building at the end of the day?
What to look for: A sign-in log checked against sign-outs, badges collected, and anything unusual reported to the person responsible for the building.
Screen better with the Saplic ATS
Posting the job is the first step. The Saplic recruiting system organizes everything that comes after.
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Open receptionist jobs in the United States
ATENCION AL PUBLICO EN ESPAÑOL🏢 LEADERSHIP GROUP💰 $3,897/month📍 United States💼 On-site⏰ Full Time📋 Permanent Contract
SOLICITUD DE PERSONAL PARA COORDINADOR DE SERVICIO AL CLIENTE Y OFICINISTA EN ESPAÑOL🏢 rumy inca💰 $3,897/month📍 Northwest Freeway, United States💼 On-site⏰ Full Time📋 Permanent Contract🏷️ Customer Service and Call CenterRelated roles
Frequently asked questions
How much does a receptionist make in the United States?
The median of the jobs posted on Saplic over the last 6 months is $3,897 per month, and the typical range runs from $3,897 to $3,950. This is a market benchmark, not an official figure.
What requirements are typical for a receptionist in the United States?
The most common ones in job postings are: high school diploma or equivalent; administrative or secretarial training is a plus; at least six months of experience in reception, front desk, or customer service; comfortable using a multi-line phone, email, calendars, and office software.
Is previous experience necessary to hire a receptionist?
Not always. For a small office, a candidate with strong communication, punctuality, and customer service experience in retail or hospitality usually adapts quickly. Experience matters more in high-traffic settings such as clinics, hotels, or corporate buildings, where the receptionist handles scheduling systems, access control, and many simultaneous demands.
What should a receptionist be trained on during the first week?
The essentials are the phone system and extensions, who handles what in each department, the visitor and delivery procedure, the scheduling tool, and what to do in an emergency. A one-page written guide with frequently asked questions and key contacts shortens the learning curve and reduces interruptions to the rest of the team.
How much does it cost to post receptionist jobs on Saplic?
Nothing. Posting the job is free and no credit card is required. The recruiting system for organizing the people who apply is free too.