Receptionists work across lots of industries. They are often the most front-facing role in a business. The role combines customer service and administration. Demand is going up across the state.
Find out what a receptionist does and the related Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses and pathways you can take to secure a job.
What is a receptionist?
Receptionists greet, welcome and orient visitors, patients, guests and clients on behalf of their employer.
As a receptionist, you will:
- arrange appointments
- take relevant notes
- answer calls and emails
- receive deliveries.
You may also complete clerical duties like scheduling and data entry.
Find out more about receptionists(opens in a new window) and these related jobs on the Victorian Skills Gateway(opens in a new window):
- accounts clerk
- conference and event organiser
- customer service manager
- general clerk
- office manager
- medical receptionist
- secretary
- telemarketer.
Related training courses
Search for related VET courses on the Victorian Skills Gateway:
You may be eligible for government funding to help pay for your course.
Median salary
The median weekly earnings for receptionists in Australia is $1,175.
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia(opens in a new window)
Note this salary is current as of July 2024 and is indicative only. A range of salaries apply to different roles across the industry.
Job demand in Victoria
Below are the employment forecasts for receptionist jobs in Victoria. Figures show the number of workers in 2023 and the new workers expected to enter the workforce by 2026.
‘New workers expected’ accounts for workers adding new jobs to the economy and replacing retirees over the next 3 years. These forecasts are estimates only. There will be additional jobs available as people move between jobs and industries.
| Region | Workers 2023 | Workforce growth 2023-2026 | New workers needed by 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria | 48,679 | 0.2% | 3,649 |
| Melbourne – inner metropolitan | 10,568 | 0.6% | 927 |
| Melbourne – inner south-east metropolitan | 3,999 | -0.3% | 242 |
| Melbourne – southern metropolitan | 6,250 | -0.1% | 415 |
| Melbourne – northern metropolitan | 5,342 | 0.1% | 384 |
| Melbourne – eastern metropolitan | 6,620 | -0.2% | 403 |
| Melbourne – western metropolitan | 4,429 | 0.3% | 338 |
| Ballarat and surrounds (Central Highlands) | 1,393 | 0.5% | 118 |
| Bendigo, Echuca and surrounds (Loddon Campaspe) | 1,769 | 0.2% | 132 |
| Geelong, Colac and surrounds (Barwon) | 2,565 | 0.9% | 251 |
| Gippsland | 1,829 | 0.4% | 145 |
| Horsham and surrounds (Wimmera Southern Mallee) | 391 | -1.1% | 13 |
| Mildura, Swan Hill and surrounds (Mallee) | 606 | -0.5% | 32 |
| Shepparton, Seymour and surrounds (Goulburn) | 1,083 | 0.9% | 104 |
| Wangaratta, Wodonga and surrounds (Ovens Murray) | 1,107 | 0.8% | 104 |
| Warrnambool, Hamilton and surrounds (Great South Coast) | 728 | -0.4% | 41 |
Source: Victorian Skills Authority employment forecast dashboard
Resources to plan your next steps
Visit our administrative and support services industry profile to find out about:
- what it’s like to work in administrative and support services, and some of the jobs you could do
- training and skills to work in the industry, and financial assistance to help pay for your course
- help getting a job in administrative and support services, and industry job forecasts for Victoria
- other free resources and advice to plan your training and career.
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