Main duties
People in this unit group perform some or all of the following duties.
Receptionists
- Greet people coming into offices and other establishments, direct them to the appropriate contacts or services, provide general information in person and by phone, and may perform clerical duties and maintain front desk security and security access lists
- Schedule appointments, using manual or computerized systems
- Record bookings, handle credit card checks, receive payment, issue receipts
Hospital admitting clerks
- Interview patients to obtain and process information required to provide hospital and medical services
- Greet patients, schedule appointments, using manual or computerized systems, receive and record payment for services, and direct patients to appropriate areas
Switchboard and answering service operators
- Operate a telephone system or switchboard to answer, screen and forward telephone calls, take messages and provide information as required, and may perform clerical duties
- Answer telephones and record and relay messages
Telephone operators
- Operate telephone systems to advance and complete customers' telephone calls such as long distance, pay telephone, mobile radio/telephone and person to person calls, arrange teleconferences, provide relay phone service to persons with disabilities, and may calculate and record billing information
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school is usually required
- On-the-job training may be provided
Job titles in NOC 14101
53 job titles are classified in this unit group. Titles with a job description template on this site are linked.
- admitting clerk
- answering service operator
- appointment clerk
- beauty salon receptionist
- booking clerk - hospital
- booking clerk - medical office
- business receptionist
- charge operator - telephone system
- chief telephone operator
- clerk switchboard operator
- collect call operator - telephone system
- dental hygiene coordinator
- dental office receptionist
- dental receptionist
- dental treatment coordinator
- doctor's office receptionist
- emergency admitting clerk
- front desk clerk (except hotel)
- guest service representative - spa
- hospital admissions clerk
- hospital admitting clerk
- hospital receptionist
- information desk clerk
- information officer - Elections Canada
- international exchange operator - telephone system
- long distance telephone operator
- mail and message distribution clerk
- medical clinic receptionist
- medical office assistant
- medical office secretary-receptionist
Show all 53 job titles
- medical receptionist
- office reception clerk
- office receptionist
- operator - telephone system
- reception clerk
- reception desk clerk (except hotel)
- receptionist
- receptionist-clerk
- receptionist-secretary
- receptionist-switchboard operator
- receptionist-telephone operator
- receptionist-typist
- service assistant - telephone system
- spa receptionist
- switchboard operator
- telephone answering service operator
- telephone clerk
- telephone operator
- telephone service analyst
- telephone service assistant
- telereceptionist
- toll operator
- voice communication system operator
Wages for NOC 14101 by province
Hourly wages from Job Bank for receptionists.
| Province or territory | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | $17.60 | $20.50 | $28.00 |
| British Columbia | $18.00 | $24.00 | $30.00 |
| Alberta | $16.75 | $21.00 | $30.00 |
| Saskatchewan | $15.35 | $21.00 | $30.00 |
| Manitoba | $16.00 | $19.23 | $25.00 |
| Quebec | $16.10 | $20.00 | $27.00 |
| New Brunswick | $16.00 | $22.00 | $28.00 |
| Nova Scotia | $16.50 | $20.50 | $25.50 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $16.00 | $21.32 | $26.00 |
| Canada | $16.25 | $21.00 | $29.00 |
Ontario by region
| Region | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ottawa | $17.60 | $20.00 | $28.62 |
| Kingston–Pembroke | $17.60 | $20.00 | $30.00 |
| Muskoka–Kawarthas | $17.60 | $20.50 | $28.00 |
| Toronto | $17.60 | $20.00 | $28.57 |
| Kitchener–Waterloo–Barrie | $17.60 | $20.67 | $28.00 |
| Hamilton–Niagara Peninsula | $17.60 | $21.00 | $28.00 |
| London | $17.60 | $20.00 | $27.12 |
| Windsor–Sarnia | $17.60 | $21.00 | $27.00 |
| Stratford–Bruce Peninsula | $17.60 | $20.00 | $26.00 |
| Northeast | $17.60 | $21.75 | $27.00 |
| Northwest | $17.60 | $21.00 | $33.31 |
Source: Job Bank wages, reference period 2023-2024, revised November 19, 2025. Some Ontario figures are below the current general minimum wage of $17.95 per hour (since October 1, 2026); employers must pay at least the minimum wage.
Career progression and other notes
Some receptionists are required to be bilingual or multilingual to perform their duties.
Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
Similar occupations classified elsewhere
These occupations look related but belong to a different NOC unit group.
- 911 dispatcher: NOC 14404, Dispatchers
- Hotel front desk clerks: NOC 64314, Hotel front desk clerks
- Other customer and information services representatives: NOC 64409, Other customer and information services representatives
- Supervisors, general office and administrative support workers: NOC 12010, Supervisors, general office and administrative support workers
Hiring for this occupation in Ontario?
Start from a ready-to-copy template: Receptionist job description. Ontario employers with 25 or more employees must include pay, vacancy status and any AI screening in public job postings. Our HR team can prepare the contract, onboarding and policies for the hire.
Questions about NOC 14101
What is NOC 14101?
NOC 14101 is Receptionists, a unit group in the 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0). It belongs to the broad category business, finance and administration occupations and to TEER 4.
What TEER is NOC 14101?
NOC 14101 is TEER 4. TEER 4 generally means: high school diploma, or several weeks of on-the-job training.
What job titles are in NOC 14101?
The unit group includes 53 job titles, for example answering service operator, appointment clerk, business receptionist, dental receptionist, hospital admitting clerk, medical receptionist.
How much do receptionists earn in Canada?
Job Bank reports a national median of $21.00 per hour for receptionists, and $20.50 in Ontario. The highest provincial median is in British Columbia at $24.00 (reference period 2023-2024).
Which occupations are similar to NOC 14101?
Related occupations classified in other unit groups include 911 dispatcher (NOC 14404); hotel front desk clerks (NOC 64314); other customer and information services representatives (NOC 64409).
Last updated October 2026. Sources:
- National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0, Statistics Canada and Employment and Social Development Canada
- Job Bank wages
Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. job-description.ca is not affiliated with the Government of Canada. For immigration purposes, always confirm your NOC code with official sources.