Official pay data
Updated 11 October 2026
Salary guide
Official annual estimates for the whole country, mapped to the closest published occupation.
United Kingdom · gross annual earnings estimate
25th percentile
£22,124
Median
£24,678
75th percentile
£28,730
This ASHE benchmark covers full-time employee jobs, not self-employed income or part-time jobs. ASHE gross earnings include basic pay, overtime, incentive pay such as bonuses and commissions, shift premiums, and other cash pay. They are before deductions, exclude payments in kind, and are not take-home pay or the whole benefits package. Compare the benchmark with an offer on the same working-hours and annual-pay basis.
This is a country-level occupation benchmark, not a local offer estimate. Pay can differ by location, employer, duties, and working pattern.
Source: ONS, 2025-04-30. Mapped to Receptionists; the occupation is broader than the page role. Figures are estimates, not advertised salaries.
This benchmark uses the broad occupation "Receptionists" for a Receptionist role. It is a useful comparison when the job centres on welcoming visitors, answering enquiries, managing bookings and handling routine administration. Check the actual assignment before treating it as a close match: duties vary by workplace, and specialist security or medical tasks may sit within only some receptionist posts.
Benchmark fit
Receptionist is directly represented by the mapped "Receptionists" occupation, so the benchmark is useful for a full-time employee role built around front-desk contact, enquiries, appointments and administration.
Do not use the benchmark as proof that adjacent roles are the same job. Administrative assistant can be a route into reception work. With training and experience, possible next roles include senior receptionist, front of house supervisor or personal assistant. In a GP surgery or health centre, a receptionist could train as a medical secretary. These pathways do not make the occupations equivalent.
Role scope
A Receptionist is usually the first point of contact for visitors and enquiries, while keeping bookings, correspondence and routine records moving.
Greet visitors, check them in where required, and direct them to the right person or department. · Answer enquiries in person, by telephone or online, depending on the workplace. · Manage reservations, meeting-room bookings or appointments where the workplace uses them. · Handle correspondence, post and deliveries, and maintain paper or electronic documents. · Enter customer information into the organisation's database when the employer uses one.
Visitors reach the appropriate person or destination, and enquiries receive a response or onward direction. · Bookings, appointments, correspondence and records are kept up to date where those tasks form part of the post.
Hospitals and doctors' offices. · Large corporations and government offices.
Read the range
A close receptionist match is a role combining visitor contact with enquiries, calendars or bookings, correspondence and records. If the job instead centres on keeping an office or department running, compare it with the [Office Manager salary benchmark](/uk/salaries/office-manager). A post that also issues passes or handles medical intake may still be receptionist work, but those assignments are workplace-specific and should be compared with the job description rather than assumed from the title.
One quarter of employees earn below this figure.
Half of employees earn below this figure and half above it; it is not the arithmetic midpoint of the displayed range.
One quarter of employees earn above this figure.
Location
Supplementary regional medians are available separately for several UK regions.
| Region | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| East | Not published | £24,690 | Not published |
| East Midlands | Not published | £23,776 | Not published |
| London | Not published | £27,703 | Not published |
| North East | Not published | £22,668 | Not published |
| North West | Not published | £24,068 | Not published |
| Scotland | Not published | £24,111 | Not published |
| South East | Not published | £25,376 | Not published |
| South West | Not published | £23,527 | Not published |
| Wales | Not published | £24,628 | Not published |
| West Midlands | Not published | £23,458 | Not published |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | Not published | £23,627 | Not published |
Use the national benchmark as a comparison point, not a local offer estimate: location, employer, duties and working pattern can differ.
Beyond salary
Compare the offer's annual cash pay on the same hours basis as the benchmark. Separate fixed salary from overtime, bonuses, commission, shift premiums and other conditional cash, then consider benefits on their own terms.
Ask for the contractual annual salary and contracted hours so you can make a like-for-like comparison.
If overtime, bonuses, commission or shift premiums are offered, ask what triggers payment, whether it is guaranteed and how it is calculated.
Ask separately about any pension contribution, health cover, leave or equity and the terms attached to each, because benefits are not cash pay.
Offer review
Questions
Source
Source: ONS, 2025-04-30. The figures cover Receptionists (4216) and full time employee jobs. Updated 11 October 2026. This broad occupation benchmark may not match every Receptionist vacancy.
Put the benchmark to work
Use the salary range as context. Tailor your CV around the experience that supports your target level.
