Median salary
$39,428
ANZSCO 5421 · Inquiry clerks and receptionists
Receptionist salary in Australia
Median salary for an Australian receptionist is $39,428 per year (2022-23 tax return data), with $35,847 take-home after tax at current FY2025-26 rates.
After tax (yr)
$35,847
Fortnightly
$1,379
Tax returns
115,478
Income distribution
Source: ATO Taxation Statistics 2022-23, Table 15 (ANZSCO unit group 5421, based on 115,478 tax returns).
| Metric | Taxable income | Salary / wages | Total income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median | $42,495 | $39,428 | $43,734 |
| Average (mean) | $44,848 | $40,033 | $46,202 |
Taxable income = gross income minus allowable deductions. Salary / wages = PAYG-reported income only. Total income = all sources including investment, business, etc.
Take-home pay on the median $receptionist salary
| Gross salary (median) | $39,428 |
| Income tax | −$2,793 |
| Medicare levy (2%) | −$789 |
| Low-income tax offset | +$604 |
| Take-home pay | $35,847 |
| + Employer super | $4,731 |
See the $40,000 salary page for full breakdown (monthly, fortnightly, weekly, daily and hourly), or
open the calculator prefilled with $39,428 to model salary sacrifice, HELP, or novated lease.
Related occupations · Inquiry clerks and receptionists
Other occupations within the same ANZSCO sub-major group.
| Occupation | Tax returns | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Call or contact centre worker | 47,344 | $54,964 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a receptionist earn in Australia?
The median salary or wage income for an Australian receptionist in 2022-23 was $39,428, based on 115,478 lodged tax returns. The average (mean) was $40,033; the mean is pulled up by high earners so the median is a better guide for a typical receptionist.
What is a receptionist salary after tax?
On the median $39,428 salary for a receptionist, take-home pay in FY2025-26 is about $35,847 per year after income tax and the 2% Medicare levy — roughly $1,379 per fortnight or $689 per week.
How much tax does a receptionist pay?
On the median $39,428 salary, a receptionist in FY2025-26 pays about $3,581 in total tax — $2,793 income tax plus $789 Medicare levy. Effective rate: 9.1%.
How many people work as a receptionist in Australia?
115,478 Australians lodged a tax return as a receptionist in 2022-23. This is the count of individuals who classified themselves under ANZSCO unit group 5421 on their return.
What is the average vs median receptionist salary?
Average (mean): $40,033. Median: $39,428. The median is usually lower because a small number of very high earners pull the average up. For a realistic picture of what a typical receptionist earns, use the median.
Data sources
Salary data: Australian Taxation Office — Taxation Statistics 2022-23, Table 15. Used under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Australia licence.
Take-home pay calculated at paycalculator.page using ATO-published FY2025-26 brackets, 2% Medicare levy, and default settings (Australian resident, private hospital cover, tax-free threshold claimed).