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Medical receptionist: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$45,930median pay per year, or $22.08 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $35,930lowest 10% earn less
  2. $38,57025th percentile
  3. $45,930median
  4. $50,58075th percentile
  5. $60,530top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, the BLS group that includes the medical receptionist job, earned a median of $45,930 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to grow 4.8% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
+4.8%[2]
Openings per year
89,200[5]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[6]

How much do medical receptionists make?

The median wage for Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants was $45,930 a year, or $22.08 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The median for all US occupations was $50,980[4]. The average (mean) was $46,800 a year, or $22.50 an hour[7].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $35,930 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $60,530[3]. Hourly, those two lines were $17.27 and $29.10[8].

Percentile Annual wage Hourly wage
10th[3][8] $35,930 $17.27
25th[3][8] $38,570 $18.54
Median[1] $45,930 $22.08
75th[3][8] $50,580 $24.32
90th[3][8] $60,530 $29.10

A percentile is a boundary. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9]. These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits[10]. About 961,610 people held these jobs in May 2025[11].

Pay by state and city

Washington had the highest state median at $58,100, followed by California at $54,490 and Massachusetts at $50,290[12]. Mississippi was last in the list at $36,290[12].

Among metro areas, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA came first at $69,350, then Napa, CA at $61,830[13]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA followed at $61,330[13].

California had the most jobs with 115,050, then Florida with 96,000 and Texas with 78,740[14]. Among metros, New York-Newark-Jersey City had the most jobs at 52,640, followed by Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim at 40,380[15].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Washington[12]$58,10010,960
California$54,490115,050
Massachusetts$50,29022,210
Oregon$50,13016,840
Minnesota$50,03016,860
Hawaii$49,9202,160
District of Columbia$49,1801,930
New Jersey$48,66020,980
Connecticut$48,5006,480
New Hampshire$48,4103,680
Wisconsin$48,3807,760
Vermont$48,2002,390
Alaska$47,8702,520
Maryland$47,85017,290
New York$47,71057,720
Maine$46,9904,610
Nevada$46,9907,030
Colorado$46,92011,560
Rhode Island$46,8602,350
Illinois$46,67027,560
Virginia$46,18027,600
Nebraska$46,1004,110
Arizona$45,82018,090
South Dakota$45,81080
North Dakota$45,3901,120
Pennsylvania$44,93027,600
Idaho$44,9205,120
Delaware$44,5004,510
Wyoming$44,4301,110
Utah$44,3305,260
Ohio$44,28029,110
New Mexico$44,2304,590
North Carolina$44,19056,840
Indiana$44,06021,180
Missouri$43,98012,260
Montana$43,7404,410
Georgia$43,16039,380
Kansas$43,0206,470
Texas$42,91078,740
Florida$41,73096,000
Michigan$41,10027,960
Iowa$40,98010,560
South Carolina$40,17015,630
Tennessee$39,94041,810
Kentucky$38,75026,430
West Virginia$38,4301,550
Oklahoma$38,3308,430
Arkansas$37,0002,190
Alabama$36,93016,580
Louisiana$36,9302,970
Mississippi$36,290n/a

How to become a medical receptionist

BLS says the typical entry path starts with a high school diploma or equivalent. No related work experience is needed, and the job comes with moderate-term on-the-job training[6]. The BLS handbook profile covers a wider group of secretary and administrative assistant jobs, so the details below describe that group[16].

Some community colleges and technical schools offer courses in industry terminology and office procedures[20]. In an O*NET survey of 26 workers, 48% said a high school diploma or equivalent was the education required, 26% said an associate's degree and 20% said a postsecondary certificate[21]. A survey this small gives only a rough picture.

What medical receptionists and secretaries do

These workers do office work that draws on medical terminology and on hospital, clinic or lab procedures[22]. Typical tasks include:

The BLS handbook says organizational, writing and interpersonal skills matter[24][25][26].

Where they work

The handbook profile for the wider group says these workers are found in nearly every industry[27]. Healthcare and social assistance was the largest employer group at 32%[28]. Most work in offices, and some administrative assistants work from home as virtual assistants[29]. Most work full time[30]. Only 0.2% of medical secretaries and administrative assistants were self-employed in 2025[31].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 4.8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 979,000 to 1,026,100 jobs[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% over the same years[32]. BLS notes that growing use of technology, including AI tools, lets these workers do tasks more efficiently, which lowers their share of employment[33].

About 89,200 openings a year are projected[5]. Openings include jobs left by people who retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 3.9% of workers leave the labor force and 4.5% move to a different occupation[34].

Is it a good fit?

The facts show a job with a low entry bar. It needs a high school diploma and training measured in weeks to months[6][19]. Median pay was below the all-occupation median[1][4]. Employment is projected to grow a little faster than average, with many openings each year[2][32][5]. State medians run from $36,290 to $58,100, so location matters[12].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[35].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a medical receptionist make an hour?
For Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, the median was $22.08 an hour in May 2025[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $17.27 and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $29.10[8].
What education do you need to be a medical receptionist?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry education[6].
How long does it take to become a medical secretary?
For the wider group, BLS says skills are typically learned in a few weeks on the job, and medical workers may train for several months[19].
Is medical secretary work in demand?
BLS projects 4.8% growth from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 89,200 openings a year[2][32][5].
What is the highest paying state for medical secretaries?
Washington, at a median of $58,100[12]. California came next at $54,490[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants in the US was $45,930 per year and $22.08 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants is projected to grow 4.8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 979,000 to 1,026,100 jobs (a change of +47,100). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants: 10th percentile $35,930, 25th percentile $38,570, 75th percentile $50,580, 90th percentile $60,530. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 89,200 openings for Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants was $46,800 per year and $22.50 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants: 10th percentile $17.27, 25th percentile $18.54, 75th percentile $24.32, 90th percentile $29.10. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 961,610 people were employed as Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $69,350; Napa, CA $61,830; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $61,330; Vallejo, CA $61,220; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $60,350; Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $60,240; Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $57,730; Bellingham, WA $55,670. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants jobs: California 115,050; Florida 96,000; Texas 78,740; New York 57,720; North Carolina 56,840. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 52,640 (median $49,230); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 40,380 (median $51,410); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 27,020 (median $45,060); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 22,590 (median $46,370); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 21,700 (median $45,630); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 20,220 (median $44,210). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Secretaries and Administrative Assistants" covers Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. O*NET 43-6013.00 survey of workers (26 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 48%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 26%, Post-Secondary Certificate 20%, Less than a High School Diploma 5% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  22. O*NET description of Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants. O*NET OnLine
  23. O*NET task list for Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants. O*NET OnLine
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of secretaries and administrative assistants in 2025: Healthcare and social assistance 32%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. BLS Employment Projections: 0.2% of Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  32. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  33. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants: Productivity change - share decreases as the increasing use of technology, including artificial intelligence (AI) tools, allows medical secretaries and administrative assistants to perform tasks more efficiently. BLS Employment Projections
  34. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants: 3.9% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.5% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  35. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.