How to become a Receptionist
Official title: Receptionist (General)
Greets clients and visitors, and responds to personal, telephone, email and written enquiries and requests.
Main tasks
- Greets and welcomes visitors, customers or clients, and directs them to the appropriate person or department
- Arranges and records details of appointments, including the management of changes, cancellations and rescheduling where necessary
- Receives, sorts and distributes incoming mail and packages
- Maintains and organises the reception desk and waiting areas
- Answers enquires and provides information on the goods, services and activities of the organisation
- Relays messages or information between staff and departments
Ways in
- TAFE and VET: Certificate III in Business (BSB30120); Certificate III in Accounts Administration (FNS30322); Certificate III in Interior Decoration Retail Services (MSF31018)
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Typical full-time pay: $63,908 a year
- About 190,100 people work in this job group now, and about 205,800 are projected by 2035. (+8.3%)
- Many tasks in this job could be automated by AI. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as high.
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Receptionist?
Ways in include: Certificate III in Business; Certificate III in Accounts Administration.
How much does a Receptionist earn in Australia?
Median full-time pay is $63,908 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).
Is a Receptionist a growing career in Australia?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 8% by 2035, from about 190,100 to about 205,800 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).
Do you need a degree to become a Receptionist?
Usually not. Only 13% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Certificate III in Business; Certificate III in Accounts Administration.
Will AI change the work of a Receptionist?
Many tasks in this job could be automated by AI. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as high.
Sources
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04
Updated 2026-10-04