Receptionist salary in Australia: the short answer
Most receptionists in Australian offices and private businesses are covered by the Clerks—Private Sector Award 2020 (MA000002). From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, the lowest adult rate under that award is $26.97 an hour, or $1,024.70 a week for a full-time employee (Level 1, Year 1). A Level 2 receptionist starts at $29.45 an hour, or $1,119.10 a week.
What people actually earn is higher. Jobs and Skills Australia puts median full-time earnings for receptionists at $1,229 a week, with median hourly earnings of $32 (ABS data, May 2025).
But the salary is only part of the bill. On top of wages, an employer pays super, paid leave and loadings, insurance and the cost of covering the desk when the receptionist is away. This guide adds those up using official figures, then compares the total with an AI receptionist for the phone side of the job.
All figures below come from Fair Work Ombudsman, ATO, Jobs and Skills Australia and business.gov.au pages checked on 23 October 2026. Rates change every year, so check the sources before you budget. This is general information, not legal or payroll advice.
Which award covers receptionists?
The Clerks Award defines clerical work to include "receiving and answering calls", "operating a telephone switchboard" and "attending a reception desk". Schedule A of the award sets out the classification levels:
- Level 1 covers reception or switchboard duties such as directing callers to the right staff, issuing and receiving standard forms, relaying internal information and greeting visitors. The award describes Level 1 as the level where employees learn basic clerical skills.
- Level 2 adds responding to enquiries using knowledge of the business, "where presentation, or the use of interpersonal skills, is a key aspect of the position". It also lists making appointments and giving general advice about your products and services at the front counter or by phone.
Classification depends on the skill and competency the job requires, not just the duties on the job ad. A receptionist who takes enquiries, books appointments and explains your services is often a Level 2.
One important exception: the Clerks Award doesn't cover employers covered by certain industry awards for the employees those awards cover. The list includes the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020, the General Retail Industry Award 2020 and the Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020. If you run a medical, dental or allied health practice, a shop or a hotel, check which award applies before you use the rates below.
Clerks Award receptionist pay rates from 1 July 2026
These are the adult minimum rates in clause 16.1 and Schedule B of the award. Full-time ordinary hours are 38 a week.
| Classification | Full-time weekly | Hourly (full-time and part-time) | Casual hourly (Mon to Fri) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1, Year 1 | $1,024.70 | $26.97 | $33.71 |
| Level 1, Year 2 | $1,073.10 | $28.24 | $35.30 |
| Level 1, Year 3 | $1,106.20 | $29.11 | $36.39 |
| Level 2, Year 1 | $1,119.10 | $29.45 | $36.81 |
| Level 2, Year 2 | $1,139.90 | $30.00 | $37.50 |
| Level 3 | $1,182.10 | $31.11 | $38.89 |
A few rules change the real hourly cost:
- Casual loading. Casuals get a 25% loading on top of the minimum hourly rate, instead of entitlements such as paid annual and sick leave.
- Weekends. For a full-time or part-time Level 1, Year 1 receptionist, Saturday is $33.71 an hour (125%) and Sunday is $53.94 (200%). For a casual at the same level, Saturday is $40.46 and Sunday is $60.68.
- Public holidays. Level 1, Year 1 is $67.43 an hour for full-time and part-time staff, and $74.17 for casuals.
- Ordinary hours. Under the award, ordinary hours can be worked between 7.00 am and 7.00 pm Monday to Friday and 7.00 am to 12.30 pm Saturday. Work outside the agreed hours can attract overtime.
- Junior rates. Under-21s are paid a percentage of the adult rate, from 45% under 16 up to 90% at 20.
For context, the National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 an hour or $1,004.90 a week. The award's lowest receptionist rate sits just above it.
What a receptionist really costs: the on-costs
Wages are the biggest line, but they aren't the whole cost of employing someone.
Superannuation
The ATO's super guarantee page lists the general super guarantee rate as 12% for 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027. From 1 July 2026, with Payday Super, employers must pay super guarantee for each payday, calculated on each eligible employee's qualifying earnings. Super is paid on top of wages, so it comes out of your pocket, not the employee's.
Annual leave and leave loading
Under the National Employment Standards, full-time and part-time employees get 4 weeks of annual leave a year, based on their ordinary hours. You keep paying wages while they're on leave. The Clerks Award also requires annual leave loading: for an employee who works day work only, it's the greater of 17.5% of the minimum hourly rate for their ordinary hours or the weekend penalty rates they would have earned.
Sick and carer's leave
Full-time employees are entitled to 10 days of paid sick and carer's leave a year, pro-rata for part-timers. Unused leave carries over to the next year.
Public holidays
All employees have a right to be absent on a public holiday, and public holidays differ by state and territory. If your receptionist works one, penalty rates apply.
Workers compensation and payroll tax
The Fair Work Ombudsman notes that employers in each state or territory have to take out workers compensation insurance. Premiums are set by your state or territory scheme or insurer, so get a quote.
Payroll tax is a state or territory tax on wages. Not every business pays it: business.gov.au says you pay when your total Australian wages are over the tax-free threshold for your state or territory, and thresholds and rates vary. Most small businesses hiring one receptionist will be under the threshold, but check yours.
The costs nobody puts in the job ad
Recruitment, training, a desk, a computer, a phone line, software and someone to cover breaks, leave and sick days. The National Employment Standards also include notice of termination and redundancy pay, parental leave, long service leave and community service leave. None of these have a single official price, so we haven't put a number on them, but they're real.
Worked example: one full-time Level 1 receptionist
Here's the minimum a small business pays for one full-time Level 1, Year 1 receptionist over a year, using only the official figures above. This is our arithmetic, at award minimums, before workers compensation, payroll tax and overheads.
| Cost item | How it's worked out | Annual cost |
|---|---|---|
| Wages | $1,024.70 × 52 weeks | $53,284.40 |
| Super guarantee | 12% of $53,284.40 | $6,394.13 |
| Annual leave loading | 152 hours (4 weeks × 38) × $26.97 × 17.5% | $717.40 |
| Total at award minimum | Wages + super + leave loading | $60,395.93 |
Now look at the hours you actually get for that money. Paid ordinary hours are 1,976 a year (38 × 52). Take out 4 weeks of annual leave (152 hours), and up to 10 sick days (76 hours, at 7.6 hours a day) if they're all used, and you're left with about 1,748 hours at the desk, before public holidays. That works out to roughly $34.55 for every hour the receptionist is actually available, compared with the $26.97 headline rate.
And 38 hours is about 23% of the 168 hours in a week. Calls that come in before opening, during lunch, after 5 pm, on weekends or while your receptionist is on another line still need a plan.
Receptionist vs AI receptionist: what each one costs
A receptionist does more than answer the phone. They greet visitors, handle mail and filing, and help your team in ways software can't. But if the main reason you're thinking about hiring is the phone, compare the cost of covering calls.
| Comparison | Full-time receptionist (Level 1, Year 1) | Miyai AI receptionist (Growth voice plan) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $60,395.93 a year in wages, super and leave loading, plus on-costs | $199 AUD/month ($2,388 a year) |
| Hours answering | 38 ordinary hours a week, minus leave | After hours, weekends, overflow or every call, depending on how you set it up |
| Busy lines | One call at a time | Picks up when your team can't |
| Front desk and admin | Yes | No: phone and messages only |
| Sick days and leave | Cover needed | No cover needed |
Many small businesses don't choose one or the other. A common set-up is:
- No receptionist yet: an AI receptionist answers calls the owner or team can't get to, takes the caller's details and sends a summary, so you can delay or avoid a hire made only for phone cover.
- One receptionist: they run the desk during business hours, and AI picks up overflow, lunch breaks, leave and after-hours calls.
- Comparing outsourced options: our telephone answering service guide and virtual receptionist service guide compare human answering services with AI.
To see what AI receptionists cost across the market, see AI receptionist cost in Australia. To see what missed calls cost you now, read the hidden cost of missing a business call.
How Miyai handles your calls
Miyai is an AI receptionist built for Australian small businesses. When a call comes through, it:
- Answers in your business name with the greeting you choose
- Answers common questions from the business information you approve
- Takes the caller's name, number and reason for calling, and reads the details back
- Books appointments if you allow it
- Sends you a summary straight away so you can call back
The Growth voice plan is $199 AUD/month and website chat is $19 AUD/month, both paid through Stripe before access. See pricing for what's included, and AI receptionist Australia or virtual receptionist Australia for how it works.
FAQ
What is the award rate for a receptionist in Australia?
Under the Clerks—Private Sector Award 2020, the adult minimum from 1 July 2026 is $26.97 an hour ($1,024.70 a week full-time) at Level 1, Year 1, and $29.45 an hour ($1,119.10 a week) at Level 2, Year 1. Medical, retail and hospitality businesses may be covered by a different award.
How much do receptionists earn on average?
Jobs and Skills Australia reports median full-time earnings of $1,229 a week and median hourly earnings of $32 for receptionists, based on ABS data from May 2025.
What is the casual rate for a receptionist?
A casual Level 1, Year 1 receptionist gets at least $33.71 an hour Monday to Friday, which includes the 25% casual loading. Saturday is $40.46 and Sunday is $60.68.
Do I have to pay super on top of a receptionist's salary?
Yes. The super guarantee rate is 12% for 2026–27, and from 1 July 2026 it must be paid for each payday under Payday Super.
How much does a full-time receptionist cost a small business per year?
At the Level 1, Year 1 award minimum, wages, 12% super and annual leave loading come to about $60,396 a year. Workers compensation, payroll tax if it applies, recruitment, equipment and leave cover are extra.
Can an AI receptionist replace a human receptionist?
For answering calls, taking messages and booking appointments, often yes, especially after hours and when lines are busy. It can't greet visitors or do office admin, so many businesses use both.
Next step
Work out what you're really paying for phone cover now, including the hours nobody is there to answer. If most of what you need is calls answered and details captured, an AI receptionist costs a fraction of a salary. Get started when you're ready.