Receptionist Salary: How Award Rates Compare to the National Minimum Wage
Understand the receptionist salary in Australia, including award rates under the Clerks Award, median earnings, and how they stack up against the national minimum wage.
The median full-time receptionist salary is about $1,229 per week, giving a salary index of roughly 59, well above the national minimum wage but below the all-occupations median.
Receptionist Salary: Award Rates vs the National Minimum Wage
When you search for a **receptionist salary in Australia, the first thing to know is that most receptionists are covered by the Clerks – Private Sector Award (MA000002). This award sets the legal minimum pay floor, but actual earnings often go higher. Let's break it down.
The Award Minimums from 1 July 2026
From 1 July 2026, the Clerks Award rates rose by 4.75% following the Annual Wage Review. A first-year receptionist at Level 1 gets $1,024.70 per week ($26.97 per hour). A more experienced receptionist at Level 3 earns $1,182.10 per week ($31.11 per hour). These rates are above the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour (index 48.2).
For comparison, the national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.70 per hour, $1,004.90 per week. The award minimum for a Level 1 is about 2% higher. But the real market rate is even higher.
Median Receptionist Salary – The Market Benchmark
Jobs and Skills Australia reports that the median full-time full-time weekly earnings for receptionists is $1,229 (before tax). That's annualised to about $63,908 per year. The salary index for this figure is roughly **59, well above the national line of 100. That's a good sign that receptionist salary is a solid job, but not a high-income role.
However, only **43% of receptionists work full-time. Most are part-time or casual. The median hourly earnings are $32 per hour, compared to $47 for all occupations. That means a part-time receptionist might earn less than the median.
How Awards Protect Receptionists
The Clerks Award also includes penalty rates for Saturday, Sunday, public holidays, and overtime. For example, a Saturday shift before 12.30pm gets 25% loading, Sunday gets 100% loading. Overtime is time-and-a-half first two hours, then double time after.
State and Industry Context
Receptionists work in health care, accommodation, and arts. The state index varies: NSW 101.2, VIC 98, QLD 97.9, WA 106.9. A receptionist in WA might earn more than the national average.
Super and Tax
From 1 July 2026, super guarantee is 12% of ordinary-time earnings. A full-time receptionist earning $1,229 per week, super adds about $1,474 per year. After tax (2026-27 rates), a resident with the tax-free threshold and 2% Medicare levy, take-home pay about $49,000 per year.
Conclusion
A receptionist salary is a job where the award provides a floor, but the market pays above that. The national minimum wage is lower. Use Salary Index to compare any pay figure to the national line. See pay guides for award rates, states for location differences, industries for sector benchmarks, and how the index works for the calculation.
FAQs
(FAQs are provided in the faqs array above.)
Questions people ask
What is the minimum wage for a receptionist under the Clerks Award?
Under the Clerks – Private Sector Award (MA000002), the minimum full-time weekly rate for a Level 1 receptionist in their first year is $1,024.70 ($26.97 per hour) from 1 July 2026. More experienced receptionists at Level 3 earn $1,182.10 per week ($31.11 per hour). These rates are above the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour.
How does the average receptionist salary compare to the national minimum wage?
The median full-time receptionist salary is $1,229 per week, according to Jobs and Statistics Australia. That is about 22% higher than the national minimum wage of $1,004.90 per week. However, many receptionists work part-time, so actual take-home pay can be lower. The salary index for receptionists is roughly 59, compared to the national minimum wage index of 48.2.
Do receptionists get penalty rates and overtime?
Yes, under the Clerks Award, receptionists are entitled to penalty rates for weekend and public holiday work, and overtime for hours beyond ordinary time. For example, Saturday work before 12.30pm attracts a 25% loading, and Sunday work a 100% loading for non-shiftworkers. Overtime is paid at time-and-a-half for the first two hours and double time thereafter.