Best paying cities for receptionists, after cost of living
After cost of living, receptionist pay goes furthest in San Francisco (worth $42,777) and least far in Miami (worth $32,898).
| # | Metro area | Median pay | Prices (US = 100) | Worth | vs. US median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $49,450 | 115.6 | $42,777 | +13% |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $47,130 | 110.4 | $42,690 | +12% |
| 3 | Sacramento, CA | $45,140 | 106.7 | $42,306 | +11% |
| 4 | Portland, OR | $43,630 | 105.4 | $41,395 | +9% |
| 5 | Denver, CO | $43,680 | 105.8 | $41,285 | +9% |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $45,820 | 111.1 | $41,242 | +9% |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $43,930 | 108.3 | $40,563 | +7% |
| 8 | New York, NY | $44,690 | 112.6 | $39,689 | +4% |
| 9 | San Diego, CA | $44,390 | 111.9 | $39,669 | +4% |
| 10 | San Antonio, TX | $36,550 | 94.7 | $38,596 | +2% |
| 11 | St. Louis, MO | $36,470 | 95.1 | $38,349 | +1% |
| 12 | Pittsburgh, PA | $36,300 | 94.7 | $38,332 | +1% |
| 13 | Nashville, TN | $36,810 | 96.3 | $38,224 | +1% |
| 14 | Detroit, MI | $38,220 | 100.3 | $38,106 | 0% |
| 15 | Los Angeles, CA | $43,280 | 113.6 | $38,099 | 0% |
| 16 | Phoenix, AZ | $39,340 | 103.3 | $38,083 | 0% |
| 17 | Washington, DC | $41,240 | 108.9 | $37,870 | 0% |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $37,530 | 100.1 | $37,493 | −1% |
| 19 | Austin, TX | $36,690 | 98.1 | $37,401 | −2% |
| 20 | Charlotte, NC | $36,300 | 97.3 | $37,307 | −2% |
| 21 | Philadelphia, PA | $38,030 | 102.6 | $37,066 | −2% |
| 22 | Chicago, IL | $38,060 | 103.6 | $36,737 | −3% |
| 23 | Las Vegas, NV | $36,520 | 100.2 | $36,447 | −4% |
| 24 | Tampa, FL | $36,640 | 100.9 | $36,313 | −4% |
| 25 | Minneapolis, MN | $38,000 | 104.8 | $36,260 | −5% |
| 26 | Baltimore, MD | $37,600 | 104.5 | $35,981 | −5% |
| 27 | Dallas, TX | $37,060 | 103.1 | $35,946 | −5% |
| 28 | Houston, TX | $35,350 | 98.6 | $35,852 | −6% |
| 29 | Orlando, FL | $36,290 | 101.4 | $35,789 | −6% |
| 30 | Miami, FL | $37,570 | 114.2 | $32,898 | −13% |
U.S. median for receptionists: $38,010. "Worth" is the median adjusted for local prices: what that pay buys at average U.S. prices, using U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metro area, 2024.
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025 (Receptionists and Information Clerks, SOC 43-4171); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metro area, 2024. Median pay for wage and salary workers, excluding bonuses, benefits and overtime. Metro areas, not city limits.