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What Factors Affect a Medical Receptionist Salary?

K. Kinsella
K. Kinsella

Surgeries, hospitals, clinics and other medical facilities employ receptionists and these individuals are tasked with answering telephone calls, setting appointments and performing various other office duties. Medical receptionist salary considerations include prior experience, academic credentials, hours of work and specific job duties. Additionally, other factors such as geographic location and cost-of-living statistics can also have an impact on an individual's pay level.

In some instances, receptionist jobs are entry-level roles and the people who fill these positions receive little or no job-specific training. These individuals are mainly judged on their organizational and customer service abilities. Over the course of time, an entry-level receptionist may receive a wage increase that is based on years of service. Additionally, some firms prefer to hire people who gained experienced working for other firms even if those individuals never received any formal training. Therefore, medical receptionist salary levels are often partly based upon an individual's career longevity.

A medical receptionist typically answers the phones and schedules appointments.
A medical receptionist typically answers the phones and schedules appointments.

While some receptionists have no formal medical training, many medical firms prefer to hire individuals who have completed associates degrees or other college classes in medical-related subjects. People who have completed such programs are more familiar with medical terminology, coding, billing and basic procedures. In some instances, receptionists are tasked with filing insurance claims in which case an employer may require applicants for such a role to have previously worked in the insurance field. Therefore, medical receptionist salary levels are based upon the job requirements and people with more impressive academic or professional credentials are typically better paid than entry-level workers.

The size of the medical practice for which a medical receptionist works will generally affect her salary.
The size of the medical practice for which a medical receptionist works will generally affect her salary.

Some receptionists work for small medical practices while others work at large facilities such as hospitals. An independent physician may only operate for a few hours a day and this will negatively impact the receptionists working hours and net income. Conversely, hospitals and other facilities are often open 24 hours a day; aside from working a full-time schedule, an individual may receive overtime pay or premium pay for working during the night or on the weekend. Additionally, some medical firms employ remote receptionists who answer questions and set appointments over-the-phone but have no face-to-face interaction with patients. Some of these telephone based employees work from home and their salaries are typically lower than the wages of people who work in medical facilities.

Years of previous experience will have an impact on the salary paid to a medical receptionist.
Years of previous experience will have an impact on the salary paid to a medical receptionist.

As with other professions, the cost of living in a particular area can impact medical receptionist salary levels. In some nations, housing costs are higher in coastal areas and mountain regions in which case salary levels have to be adjusted accordingly. During times of economic boom or recession, the cost of living can rise or fall in which case wage levels for receptionists may be adjusted accordingly.

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    • A medical receptionist typically answers the phones and schedules appointments.
      By: contrastwerkstatt
      A medical receptionist typically answers the phones and schedules appointments.
    • The size of the medical practice for which a medical receptionist works will generally affect her salary.
      By: diego cervo
      The size of the medical practice for which a medical receptionist works will generally affect her salary.
    • Years of previous experience will have an impact on the salary paid to a medical receptionist.
      By: Lisa F. Young
      Years of previous experience will have an impact on the salary paid to a medical receptionist.