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Receptionist

Also called secretary, receiving clerk, front desk agent

Receptionists are responsible for the reception area of a business. They answer the phone, greet guests, pass information, respond to inquiries and instruct visitors. They are the first point of contact for clients and customers.

Will there be jobs?Average prospects29 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Customer services clerksWhat does it pay?About averageFrom about €1,000 (Bulgaria) to €5,000 (Luxembourg) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Customer services clerksWhat do I need to study?Upper secondary or vocational5 in 10 finished upper secondary or vocational training. 3 in 10 train through vocational routes.Customer services clerksWill AI change it?SignificantlyLevel 5 of 6. AI could take on part of most tasks, but none fully.Receptionists (general) · ILO

What you'd do

Receptionists (general) · ILO
  • Receiving and welcoming visitors, guests or clients
  • Making appointments for clients
  • Dealing with telephone requests for information or appointments
  • Directing clients to appropriate location or person
  • Supplying information pamphlets, brochures or forms
Maintain reception areaGreet guestsCommunicate by telephoneUse microsoft officeCommunicate verbal instructions+ 6 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • Sitting most of the day
  • Constant contact with people, including the public
  • Some freedom to decide
  • Usually 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines now and then
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Receptionists and Information Clerks"

Will there be jobs?

Average prospects

A typical number of jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as customer services clerks in the EU
3.83m3.74m3.78m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
18,000 new jobs 1,067,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Customer services clerks29
All jobs29
Right now
4 of 27 countries report a shortage of receptionists (general), 10 a surplus.
Receptionists (general) · EURES

What does it pay?

About average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,000 a month (Bulgaria) to €5,000 (Luxembourg), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among clerical support workers in the EU, women earn 9% less per hour than men. Clerical support workers · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Upper secondary or vocational

Upper secondary or vocational training in work skills is the usual route.

Highest qualification of customer services clerks (EU, 2025)
Degree 39%Vocational 33%General secondary 19%Basic schooling 9%
Field that teaches it
Work skills
Vocational route, EU
3 in 10 trainees in this field

Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Significantly

AI could take on part of most tasks, but none fully.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.57 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 5 tasks
Making appointments for clients0.73
Supplying information pamphlets, brochures or forms0.69
Dealing with telephone requests for information or appointments0.62
Directing clients to appropriate location or person0.41
Receiving and welcoming visitors, guests or clients0.36

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for receptionists (general). Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).