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Receptionist Salary by State (2026): Complete Table + FAQs
Receptionists are the first face of countless businesses, and their pay varies by state and industry. This state-by-state table from the latest official U.S. BLS OEWS release shows hourly, monthly and yearly wages.
Source: U.S. BLS OEWS (latest release) · Last verified: 2026-10-08 · Methodology
Receptionist pay by state at a glance
| State | Hourly | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $24.26 | $4,204 | $50,450 |
| California | $22.16 | $3,842 | $46,100 |
| Washington | $21.97 | $3,808 | $45,690 |
| New York | $21.56 | $3,737 | $44,840 |
| Alaska | $21.55 | $3,735 | $44,820 |
| Massachusetts | $21.13 | $3,663 | $43,950 |
| Hawaii | $20.88 | $3,619 | $43,430 |
| Connecticut | $20.65 | $3,580 | $42,960 |
| New Jersey | $20.65 | $3,579 | $42,950 |
| Maine | $20.56 | $3,563 | $42,760 |
| Colorado | $20.37 | $3,532 | $42,380 |
| Rhode Island | $20.35 | $3,528 | $42,330 |
| Oregon | $20.21 | $3,503 | $42,040 |
| Wisconsin | $19.68 | $3,412 | $40,940 |
| North Dakota | $19.61 | $3,399 | $40,790 |
| Maryland | $19.34 | $3,353 | $40,230 |
| Arizona | $19.28 | $3,342 | $40,100 |
| Illinois | $19.00 | $3,293 | $39,520 |
| New Hampshire | $18.85 | $3,268 | $39,210 |
| Vermont | $18.74 | $3,248 | $38,980 |
| Minnesota | $18.63 | $3,229 | $38,750 |
| Wyoming | $18.55 | $3,215 | $38,580 |
| Nevada | $18.51 | $3,208 | $38,500 |
| Michigan | $18.50 | $3,207 | $38,480 |
| South Dakota | $18.47 | $3,202 | $38,420 |
| Nebraska | $18.43 | $3,194 | $38,330 |
| Delaware | $18.34 | $3,180 | $38,160 |
| Virginia | $18.32 | $3,175 | $38,100 |
| Montana | $18.28 | $3,168 | $38,020 |
| Florida | $18.13 | $3,143 | $37,720 |
| Idaho | $18.07 | $3,132 | $37,580 |
| Iowa | $18.00 | $3,120 | $37,440 |
| Utah | $17.94 | $3,110 | $37,320 |
| Missouri | $17.81 | $3,087 | $37,040 |
| Pennsylvania | $17.78 | $3,082 | $36,980 |
| Indiana | $17.45 | $3,025 | $36,300 |
| Georgia | $17.38 | $3,013 | $36,150 |
| Kansas | $17.36 | $3,009 | $36,110 |
| Ohio | $17.32 | $3,003 | $36,030 |
| Texas | $17.17 | $2,977 | $35,720 |
| North Carolina | $17.04 | $2,954 | $35,450 |
| South Carolina | $16.99 | $2,944 | $35,330 |
| Tennessee | $16.98 | $2,943 | $35,310 |
| New Mexico | $16.90 | $2,929 | $35,150 |
| Arkansas | $16.75 | $2,904 | $34,850 |
| Oklahoma | $16.35 | $2,833 | $34,000 |
| Kentucky | $16.23 | $2,813 | $33,760 |
| West Virginia | $15.85 | $2,747 | $32,960 |
| Louisiana | $15.77 | $2,733 | $32,800 |
| Alabama | $15.65 | $2,713 | $32,560 |
| Mississippi | $15.46 | $2,680 | $32,160 |
The states that pay the most
Based on the data above, the top-paying states for this occupation are District of Columbia, California, Washington, New York, Alaska. Always compare pay against cost of living — a lower dollar wage in a cheaper state can win.
- District of Columbia — $50,450 a year
- California — $46,100 a year
- Washington — $45,690 a year
- New York — $44,840 a year
- Alaska — $44,820 a year
Frequently asked questions
Which state pays receptionists the most?
The table above ranks every published state and District of Columbia currently leads. Medical and legal offices tend to pay above retail front desks.
What is the average receptionist salary?
The U.S. mean receptionist wage is about $39,460 a year (about $18.97 per hour) in the latest BLS OEWS release, with a median near $38,010.
Is there room to grow from a receptionist role?
Frequently — admin roles lead to executive assistance or office management, which sit higher up the pay scale.
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Office Clerk salary by state · Customer Service Rep salary by state