by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 37 U.S. colleges awarded 962 degrees and certificates in Medical Reception/Receptionist. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 41% of graduates. Graduates earn a median $35,689 one year after completing, rising to $45,915 after four years.
A major in Medical Reception/Receptionist involves the study of Medical Reception/receptionist. A Program That Prepares Individuals, Under The Supervision Of Office Managers, Nurses, Or Physicians, To Provide Customer Service, Visitor Reception, And Patient Intake And Discharge Services. Includes Instruction In Medical Office And Health Care Facility Procedures, Medical Terminology, Interpersonal Skills, Record-Keeping, Customer Service, Telephone Skills, Data Entry, Interpersonal Communications Skills, And Applicable Policies And Regulations. Examples: [Veterinary Receptionist].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, medical reception/receptionist is a widely-pursued major, with 962 degrees awarded annually. 37 colleges award medical reception/receptionist degrees, an average of 26 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 229.
By level, the 962 awards include 112 certificates and 390 master’s degrees.
Women earned 91% of medical reception/receptionist degrees and certificates in the latest year (872 of 962). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (349) and Hispanic or Latino (276), and international students earned 13.
The most common medical reception/receptionist credential is the master’s degree: 390 of the 962 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to medical reception/receptionist call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of Customer and Personal Service, Administration and Management and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Comprehension, Oral Expression and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a medical reception/receptionist degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 112 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 390 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to medical reception/receptionist, at 32.8%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 32.8% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 27.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 16.1% |
| Some college courses | 12.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 8.2% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 2.1% |
| Master’s degree | 0.8% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Medical Reception/Receptionist, with an average median salary of $44,424; the strongest outlook belongs to Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, at 6.9% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Typists Supervisor, Office Manager, Dispatch Manager and Customer Manager.
The occupation related to medical reception/receptionist with the most projected jobs is First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers, at 1,904,234.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | 1,904,234 | -0.4% |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | 1,326,215 | 6.9% |
Medical Reception/Receptionist graduates earn a median $35,689 one year after completing their program, $45,915 after four years and $40,536 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $35,689 |
| 4 years | $45,915 |
| 5 years | $40,536 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to medical reception/receptionist, with a median salary of $61,212.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $61,212 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $27,636 |
Medical Reception/Receptionist has 23 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 88,043 degrees a year; the largest are Health/Health Care Administration/Management (28,683), Health Information/Medical Records Technology/Technician (12,262) and Medical Insurance Specialist/Medical Biller (11,432). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
More about our data sources and methodologies.