# Receptionists and Information Clerks

> Answer inquiries and provide information to the general public, customers, visitors, and other interested parties regarding activities conducted at establishment and location of departments, offices, and employees within the organization.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/receptionists-and-information-clerks
- SOC code: 43-4171.00
- Career family: Office and administrative support
- Median annual pay: $38,010 (10th percentile $28,760, 90th percentile $49,950)
- Projected growth: Decline, -1.7%
- Openings a year: 105,100
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code CES)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 16 |
| Investigative (I) | 13 |
| Artistic (A) | 2 |
| Social (S) | 43 |
| Enterprising (E) | 54 |
| Conventional (C) | 88 |

## What you'd do

- Working with Computers (importance 89/100)
- Getting Information (importance 84/100)
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public (importance 82/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 79/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 73/100)
- Assisting and Caring for Others (importance 67/100)
- Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others (importance 67/100)
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization (importance 65/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 65/100)
- Processing Information (importance 64/100)

## Skills

Speaking, Active Listening, Service Orientation, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Writing, Monitoring, Time Management

## Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service, Administrative, English Language, Computers and Electronics, Mathematics, Public Safety and Security, Administration and Management, Telecommunications, Personnel and Human Resources, Communications and Media

## Also called

Appointment Clerk, Appointment Scheduler, Appointment Setter, Automobile Club Information Clerk (Auto Club Info Clerk), Bilingual Receptionist, Call Center Agent, Call Center Operator, Call Center Representative (Call Center Rep), Call Taker, Clerk Specialist

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Business Operations Support and Assistant Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5204) (CIP 5204, 758 colleges)
- Veterinary Administrative Services (CIP 0182, 3 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Bellevue University-Nebraska](https://www.collegesref.com/college/bellevue-university-nebraska-206) | Business Operations Support and Assistant Services | $67,452 | $83,581 | $19,499 |
| [Valdosta State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/valdosta-state-university-3105) | Business Operations Support and Assistant Services | $42,670 | $60,715 | $25,991 |

## Related careers

- [Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/medical-secretaries-and-administrative-assistants): $45,930 median pay
- [Office Clerks, General](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/office-clerks-general): $45,010 median pay
- [Customer Service Representatives](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/customer-service-representatives): $44,770 median pay
- [Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/secretaries-and-administrative-assistants-except-legal-medical-and-executive): $47,540 median pay
- [Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/switchboard-operators-including-answering-service): $38,630 median pay
- [Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/interviewers-except-eligibility-and-loan): $45,920 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.