Where the receptionist salary sits against the national full‑time average
If you work as a receptionist in Australia, your pay is likely to be well below the national full‑time average. The most recent official data shows the median full‑time receptionist earns $1,229 a week, or about $63,908 a year. That is roughly 59% of the national full‑time average of $2,083.70 a week ($108,352 a year) reported by the ABS in its Average Weekly Earnings release for May 2026.
This page uses the ABS Average Weekly Earnings figure as its central line. It also draws on the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025) for occupation‑specific medians, and on the Clerks Private Sector Award from Fair Work for minimum award rates.
The national full‑time average
The ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026, puts full‑time adult ordinary‑time earnings at $2,083.70 a week. That is the figure this site uses as the national benchmark. Multiplied by 52 weeks, it comes to $108,352 a year before tax. The average is higher than the median because high earners pull it up. For comparison, the full‑time median across all occupations is about $90,532 a year, and the all‑employees median (including part‑time) is about $74,100 a year.
Men’s full‑time average earnings are $2,181.50 a week ($113,412 a year), while women’s are $1,934.50 a week ($100,594 a year). The receptionist workforce is 89% female, which partly explains why the occupation’s median sits below the national average.
Receptionist pay: median and award rates
According to Jobs and Skills Australia, which uses ABS survey data, the median full‑time weekly earnings for receptionists is $1,229. That translates to roughly $63,908 a year. The median hourly rate is $32. Only 43% of receptionists work full‑time; the rest work part‑time or casual hours, so the typical take‑home pay for all receptionists is lower still.
Most receptionists are covered by the Clerks Private Sector Award. The award sets minimum weekly rates that increase with experience and responsibility:
- Level 1, year 1: $1,024.70 ($26.97 an hour)
- Level 1, year 2: $1,073.10
- Level 1, year 3: $1,106.20
- Level 2, year 1: $1,119.10
- Level 2, year 2: $1,139.90
- Level 3: $1,182.10
- Level 4: $1,241.40
- Level 5: $1,291.80
The median receptionist pay of $1,229 falls between Level 3 and Level 4. That suggests many receptionists have a few years of experience or work in roles that require more than basic clerical duties.
How receptionist pay compares to the national line
The gap between the receptionist median and the national full‑time average is substantial: about $855 a week, or $44,444 a year. Even the highest award rate for a Level 5 clerk ($1,291.80 a week) is still $792 below the national average. This means a receptionist would need to earn roughly 70% more than the median to reach the national average line.
Compared to the all‑occupations full‑time median of $90,532, the receptionist median is about $26,624 lower. And compared to the national minimum wage of $26.44 an hour ($1,004.90 a week), the receptionist median is comfortably above it, but not by a wide margin.
State and territory variations
The national full‑time average varies by state. The highest is the Australian Capital Territory at about $119,090 a year, followed by Western Australia at $115,825. The lowest is Tasmania at $96,008. Receptionist pay may also differ by location, but no state‑level median is published for this occupation. In general, receptionists in higher‑cost states like NSW and Victoria might earn more, but the award rates are national, so the floor is the same everywhere.
Factors that affect receptionist pay
- Experience and classification: Entry‑level receptionists start at Level 1, while those with more responsibility can reach Level 5.
- Industry: Receptionists in legal, medical, or corporate settings may earn above the award rate. The JSA data shows the top industries for receptionists include health care, professional services, and administrative support.
- Full‑time vs part‑time: Only 43% work full‑time. Part‑time receptionists earn less per week, though their hourly rate may be the same.
- Location: While award rates are national, some employers pay above award in competitive labour markets.
Putting it on the line
To see exactly where a receptionist salary sits relative to the national average, you can place a salary on the line. The tool converts a yearly figure into a weekly and hourly rate based on a 38‑hour week, then shows the distance above or below the ABS average.
For a broader view of how different jobs compare, visit the job medians page, which lists median earnings for hundreds of occupations from the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey.
Summary
The receptionist salary in Australia is well below the national full‑time average. The median full‑time receptionist earns about $63,908 a year, compared to the national average of $108,352. Award rates start at $53,284 for a Level 1 receptionist and rise to $67,174 at Level 5. While receptionist pay is above the minimum wage, it remains one of the lower‑paid clerical roles. Factors such as experience, industry, and full‑time status can push pay higher, but the occupation’s median is unlikely to reach the national average without significant career progression.