SOC 4216 Secretarial and related occupations

Receptionists Salary

Median salary £18,152 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £18,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For receptionists, £24,678 is the typical (median) pay. That is well below the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -37% versus the national average. Experienced receptionists (top 25%) earn over £24,212.

About this role

Receptionists manage front-of-house operations and office administration. They greet visitors, handle telephone and email enquiries, coordinate administrative functions and ensure the workplace runs efficiently and professionally.

Key responsibilities

Greeting visitors and managing front-of-house operations
Handling telephone calls, emails and general enquiries
Managing office supplies, facilities and administrative systems
Coordinating meetings, bookings and room management
Supporting wider administrative and business functions

Qualifications and entry routes

Relevant experience and strong communication skills are the primary requirements. Administrative qualifications and IT proficiency are valued.

Career outlook

Automation is reducing some routine administrative roles, but demand remains for skilled administrators who can manage complex workflows and support senior teams.

Key skills

Customer service Communication IT skills Multi-tasking Organisation

Common industries

All sectors
Professional services
Healthcare
Hospitality
Education

Data coverage

SOC code 4216

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2015–2025

Estimated jobs 185,000

Median Salary

£18,152

Mean Salary

£18,748

Jobs (000s)

185k

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

P10: £9kP25: £13kMedian: £18kP75: £24kP90: £29k

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£8,890

0-2 years

Mid Level

£12,706

3-7 years

Senior

£24,212

8-15 years

Leadership

£29,496

15+ years

Potential career growth: +232% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +48.7%Real growth: +7.8%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: 19.5%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£18,152

Full-time Only

£24,678

Full-time premium: +£6,526

Receptionists salary: common questions

How much do receptionists earn in the UK?

Receptionists earn a median of £24,678 a year (ONS ASHE 2025). The middle half earn between £12,706 and £24,212.

Is £24,678 a good salary in the UK?

What is the starting salary for receptionists?

Entry-level receptionists typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £12,706, and the lowest-paid 10% earn under £8,890.

How much do the highest-paid receptionists earn?

The best-paid 10% of receptionists earn over £29,496 a year, and the top 25% over £24,212 (ONS ASHE 2025).

Have receptionists salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2015, median receptionists pay has risen from £16,541 to £24,678 — +49% in cash terms, or +8.0% after CPIH inflation. That is ahead of inflation over the period.

Is there a gender pay gap for receptionists?

Male receptionists earn a median £21,911 and female receptionists £17,629 — a gap of +20% in 2025.

Figures: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, gross annual pay. UK full-time median £39,039 (2025).