Receptionists and Information Clerks Salary
Receptionists and Information Clerks in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV make a median of $41,240 a year, or about $19.83 an hour. The range runs from $34K at the entry level to $55K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.88), so that salary is closer to $37,877 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,246/month, about 78.9% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $41K get you in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Washington-Arlington-Alexandria’s Regional Price Parity (108.88). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About receptionists and information clerks
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What this looks like in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria
Receptionists and information clerks pay in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria tracks closely to the national median, $41K locally vs. $38K nationwide, a 8% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,246/month, which is 79.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 9% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.88), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for receptionists and information clerks in metros near Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | $38K | $36K |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $35K | $36K |
| Richmond | $36K | $37K |
| Roanoke | $34K | $37K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Entry-level receptionists and information clerks (10th percentile) start around $34K. Mid-career wages sit at $41K. Top earners bring in $55K or more, a $21K spread from bottom to top.
Receptionists and Information Clerks pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Receptionists and Information Clerks salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $49K | +29% | 2,000 |
| Alaska | $45K | +18% | 1,530 |
| Washington | $45K | +18% | 26,500 |
| California | $44K | +16% | 82,470 |
| Massachusetts | $44K | +15% | 18,970 |
| New York | $43K | +13% | 65,010 |
| Rhode Island | $43K | +12% | 4,270 |
| Maine | $42K | +12% | 3,440 |
| Colorado | $42K | +11% | 11,020 |
| New Jersey | $42K | +10% | 42,060 |
| Hawaii | $42K | +9% | 3,510 |
| Wisconsin | $41K | +8% | 25,580 |
| Oregon | $41K | +8% | 13,590 |
| Connecticut | $41K | +7% | 14,980 |
| North Dakota | $40K | +4% | 1,930 |
| Arizona | $39K | +2% | 23,220 |
| Vermont | $38K | +1% | 1,160 |
| South Dakota | $38K | +1% | 5,760 |
| New Hampshire | $38K | +0% | 5,320 |
| Maryland | $38K | +0% | 18,390 |
| Nebraska | $38K | -0% | 6,750 |
| Minnesota | $38K | -1% | 11,800 |
| Wyoming | $37K | -1% | 1,540 |
| Michigan | $37K | -1% | 25,230 |
| Illinois | $37K | -2% | 40,370 |
| Montana | $37K | -2% | 1,280 |
| Iowa | $37K | -2% | 4,660 |
| Virginia | $37K | -2% | 23,360 |
| Nevada | $37K | -3% | 10,650 |
| Utah | $37K | -3% | 12,020 |
| Idaho | $37K | -3% | 5,340 |
| Florida | $37K | -3% | 63,280 |
| Pennsylvania | $37K | -3% | 37,830 |
| Delaware | $36K | -4% | 2,880 |
| Indiana | $36K | -5% | 17,360 |
| Georgia | $36K | -5% | 26,080 |
| Kansas | $36K | -5% | 7,290 |
| Ohio | $36K | -5% | 30,850 |
| Missouri | $36K | -6% | 18,890 |
| South Carolina | $36K | -7% | 11,280 |
| North Carolina | $35K | -7% | 20,080 |
| Texas | $35K | -7% | 78,330 |
| New Mexico | $35K | -8% | 5,650 |
| Tennessee | $35K | -8% | 11,460 |
| Arkansas | $35K | -8% | 10,870 |
| Oklahoma | $35K | -9% | 9,380 |
| Kentucky | $33K | -13% | 9,290 |
| Louisiana | $33K | -14% | 12,820 |
| Alabama | $33K | -14% | 10,460 |
| West Virginia | $32K | -16% | 5,470 |
| Mississippi | $31K | -18% | 6,920 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track receptionists and information clerks salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a receptionists and information clerk afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $41K, rent takes 79.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,246/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for receptionists and information clerks in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new receptionists and information clerks typically earn — is $34K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,016/month. At HUD’s $2,246/month FMR, rent would take 111% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is receptionists and information clerk a high-paying job in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $41K locally vs. $38K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Washington-Arlington-Alexandria compare to the national average for receptionists and information clerks?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria pays $41K median vs. the U.S. average of $38K — that’s +8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $38K — below the national median.
How much do receptionists and information clerks make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median is $41,240 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $33,600, and experienced receptionists and information clerks can clear $54,790. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $41K enough to live in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,815/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,246/month, which eats 79.8% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a receptionists and information clerks salary go in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria has a Regional Price Parity of 108.88 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median receptionists and information clerks salary is worth about $37,877 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do receptionists and information clerks get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.