by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 15 U.S. colleges awarded 97 degrees and certificates in Receptionist. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 80% of graduates. Graduates earn a median $24,528 one year after completing, rising to $34,269 after four years.
A major in Receptionist covers Receptionist. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Perform Frontline Public Relations Duties For A Business, Organization, Or Answering Service. Includes Instruction In Telephone Answering Techniques, Responding To Information Requests, Keeping Caller And/or Visitor Records, Placing Business Calls, Operating Telephone Switchboards And/or Other Communications Equipment, Relaying Incoming And Interoffice Calls, Schedule Maintenance, And Public Relations Skills.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, receptionist draws strong interest, with 97 degrees awarded annually. 15 colleges award receptionist degrees, an average of 6 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 18.
By level, the 97 awards include 10 certificates and 78 master’s degrees.
Women earned 88% of receptionist degrees and certificates in the latest year (85 of 97). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (50) and Hispanic or Latino (20).
The most common receptionist credential is the master’s degree: 78 of the 97 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to receptionist call most for Active Listening, Speaking and Service Orientation, and for knowledge of Customer and Personal Service, English Language and Administrative, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Speech Recognition.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a receptionist degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 10 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 78 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to receptionist, at 55.1%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 55.1% |
| Some college courses | 15.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 13.3% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 8.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 6.8% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to Receptionist, with an average median salary of $54,555; the strongest outlook belongs to Receptionists and Information Clerks, at 11.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Member Services Representative (Member Services Rep), Customer Care Representative (CCR), Hub Associate and Trouble Clerk.
The occupation related to receptionist with the most projected jobs is Customer Service Representatives, at 2,156,323.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Customer Service Representatives | 2,156,323 | 9.4% |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | 1,848,074 | 11.4% |
| Order Clerks | 1,247,994 | -0.5% |
Receptionist graduates earn a median $24,528 one year after completing their program, $34,269 after four years and $31,354 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $24,528 |
| 4 years | $34,269 |
| 5 years | $31,354 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to receptionist, with a median salary of $62,906.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Customer Service Representatives | $62,906 |
| Order Clerks | $58,253 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $42,506 |
Receptionist has 8 similar majors in the Business, Management & Marketing field, which together award 14,798 degrees a year; the largest are Administrative Assistant and Secretarial Science, General (7,105), Customer Service Support/Call Center/Teleservice Operation (2,464) and Business/Office Automation/Technology/Data Entry (2,125). Browse all Business, Management & Marketing majors or the full list of college majors.
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