Free receptionist job description template
Fill in the [brackets] and cut anything that doesn’t fit your job. Unlock one-tap copy and PDF download free with your email.
Unlock this template free at projects.groundworkbusinessadvisory.com/job-description-templates/receptionist/ to save it as a PDF.
Receptionist job description template · Fill in the [brackets]
Receptionist
About the job
[Business name] is hiring a Receptionist who is the first voice and face of the business: greeting visitors, answering calls and keeping the schedule running. [One or two sentences about your business and why someone would want to work there.]
What you’ll do
- Greet customers, clients and visitors and check them in
- Answer the main phone line, take messages and transfer calls
- Schedule, confirm and reschedule appointments in [scheduling system]
- Let staff know when visitors arrive or cancel
- Enter customer information into [database]
- Handle incoming and outgoing mail and email
- Keep the front desk and waiting area tidy
What you need
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Warm, professional manner in person and on the phone
- Organized and able to juggle several tasks
- Comfort with [phone system, scheduling software, email]
Nice to have
- Experience at a [medical office, salon, law office or similar] front desk
How to apply
[Apply link, email or phone], by [date].
[Business name] is an equal opportunity employer.
✓ Unlocked. Use the buttons above the template to copy it or save it as a PDF.
Example: the template filled in for a small business
Hypothetical example for Summit Physical Therapy, a single-location clinic.
Summit Physical Therapy is hiring a full-time Receptionist (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.). You'll greet patients, check them in, answer phones, book and confirm appointments and collect copays. We'll train you on our scheduling system.
Notice what makes it work: real hours, the actual tools, who they report to, and one honest reason to want the job. That’s the difference between a blank template and a job description that gets the right applicants.
What a receptionist does
A receptionist is the first voice and face of the business: greeting visitors, answering calls and keeping the schedule running. Typical duties include:
- Greet customers, clients and visitors and check them in
- Answer the main phone line, take messages and transfer calls
- Schedule, confirm and reschedule appointments in scheduling system
- Let staff know when visitors arrive or cancel
- Enter customer information into database
- Handle incoming and outgoing mail and email
Duties adapted from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Requirements, training and licenses
No license is typically required; training is short and on the job. Front desks in medical or legal offices may need training on privacy rules for patient or client information.
Training: Short-term on-the-job training.
How much does a receptionist make?
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook. A median means half earned more and half earned less. Pay in your area may be higher or lower; check postings for similar jobs near you. A growing number of states and cities require a pay range in job postings, so check your local rules before you post.
Before you set the rate, run the free hiring cost calculator. It adds payroll taxes and other costs and shows how much work the hire needs to bring in to pay for itself.
Free template or written for you?
| Free template | Job Description $99 | Hiring Kit $349 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written for | Any business | Your business | Your business |
| Duties and schedule | Typical, with blanks | Yours, filled in | Yours, filled in |
| Pay | National figure | Set for your local market | Set for your local market |
| State rules | “Check your state” | Checked for your state | Checked for your state |
| Ready to post | No, you edit it | Yes | Yes, plus the job posting |
| Performance review form | — | Included free | Included |
| Interview guide and 30-60-90 day plan | — | — | Included |
| Use the template | Have us write it | Get the Hiring Kit |
Free template
- Typical duties with blanks to fill in
- National pay figure
- You edit it before posting
Job Description · $99
- Written for your business: your duties, schedule and pay
- Checked for your state’s rules
- Ready to post
- Free matching performance review form
Hiring Kit · $349
- Everything in the $99 job description
- The job posting
- Interview guide
- 30-60-90 day plan for the new hire
Fixed prices. See what’s included in Job Description Writing and the Hiring Kit.
Common questions
Should I hire a receptionist or use an answering service?
If most of your front-desk work is calls and booking, an answering or scheduling service may cost less. If people walk in, check in or pay on site, a receptionist usually pays off. Our hiring cost calculator shows the full cost of the hire to compare.
Can I use this template for free?
Yes. Copy it, edit it and post it. It's a starting point written for any business, so fill in the brackets and adjust the duties to your actual job. If you'd rather have it written for your business, ready to post, our Job Description service is $99.
Is this legal advice?
No. This page is general information. Requirements for some roles, especially in healthcare, vary by state. Check your state's rules, and talk to an employment attorney if you're unsure.
Published by Groundwork Business Advisory. Updated October 2026. General information, not legal advice. Pay data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, May 2025 wage estimates.