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Salary comparison

Receptionists and Information Clerks vs. Customer Service Representatives: Who Earns More?

Customer Service Representatives out-earn Receptionists and Information Clerks by $7K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Receptionists and Information Clerks land at $38,010 and Customer Service Representatives at $44,770. The education gap is real: receptionists and information clerk programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while customer service representatif programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Receptionists and Information Clerks is District of Columbia ($49,060); for Customer Service Representatives it's Washington ($50,330).

Receptionists and Information Clerks
Customer Service Representatives
Median salary
$38,010
$44,770
Hourly rate
$18.27/hr
$21.53/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$28,760
$31,750
Senior level (90th %)
$49,950
$63,590
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
910,180
2,595,750
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
-5.5%
Category
Office & Admin
Office & Admin
Top-paying state
District of Columbia
Washington

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Receptionists and Information Clerks median pay.

State
Receptionists and Information Clerks
Customer Service Representatives
District of Columbia
$49,060
$48,250
Washington
$44,710
$50,330
California
$44,100
$49,560
Massachusetts
$43,870
$49,120
New York
$43,080
$48,000
Rhode Island
$42,620
$47,550
Maine
$42,440
$47,160
Colorado
$42,010
$47,540
New Jersey
$41,650
$47,740
Oregon
$40,900
$47,450
Connecticut
$40,630
$48,090
Vermont
$38,370
$47,500
New Hampshire
$38,160
$47,300
Minnesota
$37,510
$48,800
Delaware
$36,310
$48,190

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Receptionists and Information Clerks or Customer Service Representatives?

Customer Service Representatives earn more nationally. The median is $38,010 for Receptionists and Information Clerks versus $44,770 for Customer Service Representatives, a difference of $7K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Receptionists and Information Clerks or Customer Service Representatives?

Receptionists and Information Clerks has the better 10-year outlook at 0% projected growth, compared to -5.5% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Receptionists and Information Clerks or Customer Service Representatives?

Receptionists and Information Clerks typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Customer Service Representatives requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Receptionists and Information Clerks get paid the most?

District of Columbia is the top-paying state for Receptionists and Information Clerks at $49,060/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Receptionists and Information Clerks vs. Customer Service Representatives pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In District of Columbia, Receptionists and Information Clerks earn $49,060 vs. $48,250 for Customer Service Representatives. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Receptionists and Information Clerks salary breakdownView →Full Customer Service Representatives salary breakdownView →Best cities for Receptionists and Information Clerks by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Customer Service Representatives by take-home payExplore →How to become a receptionists and information clerksGuide →How to become a customer service representativesGuide →