Occupation Summary

Receptionists and Information Clerks

O*NET 43-4171.00

Description:

Answer inquiries and provide information to the general public, customers, visitors, and other interested parties regarding activities conducted at establishment and location of departments, offices, and employees within the organization.

Annual Wages:
$34,634.00
Employment Rate:
Employment is expected to increase by 10.61%.
Education Level:
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED). According to O*Net, the majority of people employed in this occupation have this level of education.
Endorsement:
Business and Industry

  1. Operate telephone switchboard to answer, screen, or forward calls, providing information, taking messages, or scheduling appointments.
  2. Receive payment and record receipts for services.
  3. Perform administrative support tasks, such as proofreading, transcribing handwritten information, or operating calculators or computers to work with pay records, invoices, balance sheets, or other documents.
  4. Greet persons entering establishment, determine nature and purpose of visit, and direct or escort them to specific destinations.
  5. Hear and resolve complaints from customers or the public.
  6. File and maintain records.
  7. Transmit information or documents to customers, using computer, mail, or facsimile machine.
  8. Schedule appointments and maintain and update appointment calendars.
  9. Analyze data to determine answers to questions from customers or members of the public.
  10. Provide information about establishment, such as location of departments or offices, employees within the organization, or services provided.
  11. Keep a current record of staff members' whereabouts and availability.
  12. Collect, sort, distribute, or prepare mail, messages, or courier deliveries.
  13. Calculate and quote rates for tours, stocks, insurance policies, or other products or services.
  14. Take orders for merchandise or materials and send them to the proper departments to be filled.
  15. Process and prepare memos, correspondence, travel vouchers, or other documents.
  16. Schedule space or equipment for special programs and prepare lists of participants.
  17. Enroll individuals to participate in programs and notify them of their acceptance.
  18. Perform duties, such as taking care of plants or straightening magazines to maintain lobby or reception area.


National Industry Employment Patterns


Industry % of Receptionists and Information Clerks employed Annual Growth Rate
Offices of physicians 17 0.28
Offices of dentists 8.3 0.70
Offices of other health practitioners 6.4 1.19
Personal care services 6.3 -0.24
Other professional, scientific, and technical services 5.8 0.77
Other amusement and recreation industries 5 -0.42
General medical and surgical hospitals 3.9 0.33
Legal services 2.6 -0.75
Outpatient care centers 2.6 1.74
Automobile dealers 2.2 -0.96
Employment services 2.2 -0.97


Labor Market Information


2024 Statewide average hourly wage $16.65
2024 National average hourly wage $18.50
2022 National employment 1,068,800
2022 Texas employment 106,544
Texas projected employment by 2032 117,843
Texas projected annual employment and Turnover openings through 2032 16,028




TEXAS COUNTY MAP BY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AREA
* Due to confidentiality rules, not all regions may have the data displayed. The sum of all the regions may not be equal to the state total.


Top 10 Relevant Knowledge Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
84.20%
Administrative
Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
77.40%
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
74.60%
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
68.00%
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
54.60%
Public Safety and Security
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
54.40%
Administration and Management
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
53.40%
Telecommunications
Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
53.20%
Personnel and Human Resources
Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
51.00%
Communications and Media
Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
50.00%


Top 10 Relevant Skill Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
77.60%
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
75.00%
Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.
72.40%
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
62.40%
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
62.40%
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
62.40%
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
60.00%
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
60.00%
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
57.60%
Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
57.60%


Top 10 Relevant Abilities Relevant Importance Levels
Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
80.00%
Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
77.60%
Speech Recognition
The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
77.60%
Speech Clarity
The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
75.00%
Written Comprehension
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
72.40%
Written Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
67.60%
Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
62.40%
Selective Attention
The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
60.00%
Time Sharing
The ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information (such as speech, sounds, touch, or other sources).
57.60%
Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
55.00%


  • Working with Computers
    -- Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Getting Information
    -- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
    -- Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    -- Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    -- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Other Activities


  • Relationships
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
  • Support
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.



Tools

Desktop computers: Desktop computers;

Dictation machines: Dictation equipment;

Filing cabinets or accessories: Filing Cabinets;

Franking or postage machines: Postage machines;

Laser fax machine: Laser facsimile machines;

Magnetic stripe readers and encoders: Credit card processing machines;

Personal computers: Personal computers;

Photocopiers: Photocopying equipment;

Pocket calculator: Handheld calculators;

Premise branch exchange PBX systems: Switchboards; Multi-line switchboards;

Public address systems: Public address PA systems;

Scanners: Data input scanners; Scanners;

Special purpose telephones: Multi-line telephone systems;

Typewriters: Electric typewriters;


Technology

Accounting software: Billing software; Bookkeeping software; Intuit QuickBooks;

Calendar and scheduling software: Electronic calendar management software; Appointment scheduling software;

Cloud-based data access and sharing software: Google Drive;

Customer relationship management CRM software: Microsoft Dynamics; Blackbaud The Raiser's Edge; Customer relationship management CRM software;

Data base user interface and query software: Data entry software; Database software; FileMaker Pro; Claim processing system software; Automated information system software; Alpha Software Alpha Five; IBM Check Processing Control System CPSC; St. Paul Travelers e-CARMA;

Desktop publishing software: Microsoft Publisher; Desktop publishing software;

Document management software: Filing system software;

Electronic mail software: IBM Notes; Microsoft Outlook; Email software;

Internet browser software: Web browser software;

Medical software: Electronic health record EHR software; Kodak Dental Systems Kodak SOFTDENT Practice management software PMS; McKesson Lytec; Medical condition coding software; Medical procedure coding software; GE Healthcare Centricity EMR;

Mobile messaging service software: Intrado SchoolMessenger;

Network conferencing software: Microsoft Office SharePoint Server MOSS;

Office suite software: Microsoft Office software; Corel WordPerfect Office Suite;

Operating system software: Microsoft Windows;

Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint;

Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel;

Time accounting software: HMS;

Word processing software: 3M Post-it App; Google Docs; Microsoft Word;


Related O*NET occupational titles for Receptionists and Information Clerks include:
  • 43-4021.00 Correspondence Clerks
  • 41-2021.00 Counter and Rental Clerks
  • 43-4051.00 Customer Service Representatives
  • 43-6011.00 Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants
  • 43-4111.00 Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan
  • 43-6013.00 Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
  • 43-9061.00 Office Clerks, General
  • 29-2099.08 Patient Representatives
  • 43-6014.00 Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive
  • 43-2011.00 Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service


Sources of Additional Information
  • For more information about training for receptionists and those in other administrative careers, visit: American Society of Administrative Professionals
  • Receptionists and Information Clerks

  • Contact Texas Workforce Commission
    Labor Market and Career Information  |  101 E. 15th Street, Annex Room 0252  |  Austin, Texas 78778
    Official Website  |  1-800-822-PLAN (7526)  |  512.936.3200

    ** The information in this report may be derived from many sources like O*NET, BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), OOH (Occupational Outlook Handbook), and Career One Stop.