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.

Also Known As:

Clerk Specialist Front Desk Receptionist Greeter Information Assistant (Info Assistant) Medical Receptionist Member Services Representative (Member Services Rep) Office Assistant Receptionist Registration Clerk Scheduler

Wages

Hourly

Annual wages for Receptionists and Information Clerks in United States

Job Outlook Bright

New job opportunities are very likely in the future

United States 2034 Projected Employment

1,007,600

0% Change From 2024

Explore File Clerks video

Tasks you might complete in a day.

File and maintain records.
Receive payment and record receipts for services.
Transmit information or documents to customers, using computer, mail, or facsimile machine.
Perform administrative support tasks, such as proofreading, transcribing handwritten information, or operating calculators or computers to work with pay records, invoices, balance sheets, or other documents.
Provide information about establishment, such as location of departments or offices, employees within the organization, or services provided.
Operate telephone switchboard to answer, screen, or forward calls, providing information, taking messages, or scheduling appointments.
Collect, sort, distribute, or prepare mail, messages, or courier deliveries.
Enroll individuals to participate in programs and notify them of their acceptance.
Hear and resolve complaints from customers or the public.
Analyze data to determine answers to questions from customers or members of the public.
Schedule appointments and maintain and update appointment calendars.
Take orders for merchandise or materials and send them to the proper departments to be filled.
Greet persons entering establishment, determine nature and purpose of visit, and direct or escort them to specific destinations.
Calculate and quote rates for tours, stocks, insurance policies, or other products or services.
Perform administrative support tasks, such as proofreading, transcribing handwritten information, or operating calculators or computers to work with pay records, invoices, balance sheets, or other documents.
Schedule space or equipment for special programs and prepare lists of participants.
Operate telephone switchboard to answer, screen, or forward calls, providing information, taking messages, or scheduling appointments.
Keep a current record of staff members' whereabouts and availability.
Collect, sort, distribute, or prepare mail, messages, or courier deliveries.
Perform duties, such as taking care of plants or straightening magazines to maintain lobby or reception area.
Take orders for merchandise or materials and send them to the proper departments to be filled.
Process and prepare memos, correspondence, travel vouchers, or other documents.

Subject areas you may need to master.

Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Fine Arts - Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
Philosophy and Theology - Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Building and Construction - Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Physics - Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
Foreign Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
History and Archeology - Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Personnel and Human Resources - Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Economics and Accounting - Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
Administrative - Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
Geography - Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
Telecommunications - Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Food Production - Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Strengths you may need in this role.

Judgment and Decision Making - Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
Learning Strategies - Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
Active Learning - Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
Science - Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
Coordination - Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
Service Orientation - Looking for ways to help people.
Programming - Writing computer programs.
Quality Control Analysis - Testing how well a product or service works.
Systems Analysis - Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
Persuasion - Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
Technology Design - Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
Time Management - Managing your time and the time of other people.
Management of Personnel Resources - Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
Systems Evaluation - Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
Mathematics - Using math to solve problems.
Social Perceptiveness - Understanding people's reactions.
Writing - Writing things for co-workers or customers.
Reading Comprehension - Reading work-related information.
Active Listening - Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
Equipment Selection - Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
Installation - Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
Operations Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
Complex Problem Solving - Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
Operations Analysis - Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
Troubleshooting - Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
Management of Material Resources - Managing equipment and materials.
Instructing - Teaching people how to do something.
Equipment Maintenance - Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
Negotiation - Bringing people together to solve differences.
Operation and Control - Using equipment or systems.
Management of Financial Resources - Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
Critical Thinking - Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
Speaking - Talking to others.
Monitoring - Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
Stamina - Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.
Gross Body Equilibrium - Keeping your balance or staying upright.
Far Vision - Seeing details that are far away.
Selective Attention - Paying attention to something without being distracted.
Multilimb Coordination - Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
Static Strength - Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.
Spatial Orientation - Knowing where things are around you.
Time Sharing - Doing two or more things at the same time.
Response Orientation - Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.
Oral Comprehension - Listening and understanding what people say.
Information Ordering - Ordering or arranging things.
Memorization - Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
Fluency of Ideas - Coming up with lots of ideas.
Number Facility - Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
Trunk Strength - Using your lower back and stomach.
Night Vision - Seeing at night or under low light.
Sound Localization - Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
Hearing Sensitivity - Telling the difference between sounds.
Visualization - Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
Control Precision - Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
Speed of Limb Movement - Quickly moving your arms and legs.
Speech Recognition - Recognizing spoken words.
Flexibility of Closure - Seeing hidden patterns.
Explosive Strength - Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.
Inductive Reasoning - Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
Written Comprehension - Reading and understanding what is written.
Oral Expression - Communicating by speaking.
Category Flexibility - Grouping things in different ways.
Gross Body Coordination - Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.
Glare Sensitivity - Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.
Finger Dexterity - Putting together small parts with your fingers.
Written Expression - Communicating by writing.
Mathematical Reasoning - Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
Problem Sensitivity - Noticing when problems happen.
Speed of Closure - Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
Arm-Hand Steadiness - Keeping your arm or hand steady.
Rate Control - Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
Speech Clarity - Speaking clearly.
Deductive Reasoning - Using rules to solve problems.
Perceptual Speed - Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
Visual Color Discrimination - Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
Wrist-Finger Speed - Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
Manual Dexterity - Holding or moving items with your hands.
Reaction Time - Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.
Originality - Creating new and original ideas.
Extent Flexibility - Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Dynamic Flexibility - Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Dynamic Strength - Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
Peripheral Vision - Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.
Depth Perception - Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
Auditory Attention - Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
Near Vision - Seeing details up close.