14101 – Receptionists

Lead statement

Receptionists greet people arriving at offices, hospitals and other establishments, direct visitors to appropriate persons and services, answer and forward telephone calls, take messages, schedule appointments and perform other clerical duties.

Main duties

• Greet people coming into offices and other establishments, direct them to the appropriate contacts or services, provide general information in person and by phone, and may perform clerical duties and maintain front desk security and security access lists
• Schedule appointments, using manual or computerized systems
• Record bookings, handle credit card checks, receive payment, issue receipts.
• Interview patients to obtain and process information required to provide hospital and medical services
• Greet patients, schedule appointments, using manual or computerized systems, receive and record payment for services, and direct patients to appropriate areas.
• Operate a telephone system or switchboard to answer, screen and forward telephone calls, take messages and provide information as required, and may perform clerical duties
• Answer telephones and record and relay messages.
• Operate telephone systems to advance and complete customers' telephone calls such as long distance, pay telephone, mobile radio/telephone and person to person calls, arrange teleconferences, provide relay phone service to persons with disabilities, and may calculate and record billing information.

Employment requirements

• Completion of secondary school is usually required.
• On-the-job training may be provided.

Example job titles

receptionist-clerk · reception clerk · receptionist · business receptionist · office receptionist · hospital admitting clerk · hospital admissions clerk · hospital receptionist · dental hygiene coordinator · telephone answering service operator · answering service operator · switchboard operator · clerk switchboard operator · telephone operator · long distance telephone operator · toll operator · telephone service analyst · chief telephone operator

Wages (per hour)

Source: Job Bank wages, 2025 release (ESDC). Low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles.