Receptionist job description

A template for front desk and reception roles, with receptionist pay in Ontario and a builder that turns it into a posting that meets Ontario's 2026 rules.

Build an Ontario posting

Template

This template fits receptionists in offices, clinics and service businesses. Add your phone system and booking software.

Plain text, ready to paste into Indeed, LinkedIn or your careers page

Receptionist

[Company name], [City, Province]
[Full-time / Part-time], [schedule]

About us

[Company name] [one or two sentences on what you do, who your customers are and how big the team is].

What you'll do

  • Greet visitors and clients and direct them to the right person.
  • Answer and route calls on [phone system] and take accurate messages.
  • Manage appointments and meeting rooms in [booking system].
  • Receive and send mail and couriers.
  • Do data entry, filing and other administrative tasks.
  • Keep the reception area tidy and office supplies stocked.
  • Follow visitor sign-in and security procedures.

What you bring

  • Front desk or customer service experience is an asset.
  • Professional, friendly phone manner.
  • Comfortable with [Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace].
  • Organized and able to handle interruptions.
  • French is an asset [if you serve French-speaking clients].

Pay and benefits

[$X.XX to $Y.YY] per hour, plus [benefits, vacation days].

How to apply

Send your resume to [email or application link]. [Add the Ontario disclosures from the builder below if you have 25 or more employees.]

Receptionist pay by province

Hourly wages Job Bank reports for receptionists (NOC 14101). Use the median as a starting point for an experienced hire and the low end for entry level.

Hourly wages for receptionists by province, Job Bank
Province or territoryLowMedianHigh
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
Hourly wages for receptionists by Ontario economic region, Job Bank
RegionLowMedianHigh
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 for NOC 14101, Receptionists, reference period 2023-2024, revised November 19, 2025. * Below Ontario's current general minimum wage of $17.95 per hour (since October 1, 2026). You must pay at least the minimum wage.

Turn it into an Ontario job posting

If you have 25 or more employees, publicly advertised postings in Ontario must include pay, say whether the job is an existing vacancy, and disclose AI screening. Fill this in and copy the result.

Pay

Pre-filled from Job Bank's Ontario data, floored at the minimum wage.

How many employees do you have?
Is this an existing vacancy?
Do you use AI to screen, assess or select applicants?

This includes AI features in applicant tracking systems that rank or filter resumes.

Try adding "Canadian experience required" to see what the check catches.

Ontario rules check
    Your posting
    
                  

    Hiring a receptionist in Ontario: what comes next

    The posting is step one. These are the obligations most small businesses run into between the offer and the first few weeks.

    1. Follow up with everyone you interviewEmployers with 25+ employees must tell interviewed applicants whether the job has been filled within 45 days of their last interview, and keep postings and records for three years.
    2. Put the offer in a written employment contractA written contract isn't mandatory in Ontario, but without one your termination costs are set by the courts rather than by you. The termination clause is the part to get right.
    3. Register with WSIB if your industry requires itMost Ontario employers must register within 10 days of hiring their first worker. A few industries are exempt, so check before the start date.
    4. Collect payroll documentsGet the employee's SIN within three days of their start date, plus federal and Ontario TD1 forms for tax withholding.
    5. Hand over the Employment Standards posterGive new employees the current "Employment Standards in Ontario" poster within 30 days of their start date.
    6. Complete health and safety awareness trainingEvery worker needs basic health and safety awareness training as soon as practicable after starting.
    7. Train staff who serve the public on accessible customer serviceOntario's accessibility rules require this training for employees who deal with customers, as soon as practicable after they start.
    8. Have written harassment and violence policiesRequired once you regularly have six or more workers, and reviewed every year.

    Hiring a receptionist?

    Our HR team prepares the employment contract, onboarding documents and policies for Ontario employers, with a flat monthly price and no long-term contract.

    Get HR help for this hire

    Questions employers ask

    What does a receptionist do?

    A receptionist is the first point of contact: greeting visitors, answering and routing calls, managing bookings and handling mail and basic office tasks.

    How much does a receptionist make in Ontario?

    Job Bank reports $17.60 (low), $20.50 (median) and $28.00 (high) per hour for receptionists in Ontario, and a median of $20.00 in the Toronto region (reference period 2023-2024, revised November 19, 2025). Ontario's general minimum wage is $17.95 per hour as of October 1, 2026. Pay at least the minimum wage, even where Job Bank's low figure is lower.

    What is the NOC code for a receptionist?

    The National Occupational Classification code for this role is NOC 14101, Receptionists (TEER 4). Use the code that matches the actual duties.

    Do I have to include pay in an Ontario job posting?

    Yes, if you have 25 or more employees. Since January 1, 2026, publicly advertised postings must include the expected pay or a range no wider than $50,000. They must also say whether the posting is for an existing vacancy and disclose if AI is used to screen, assess or select applicants, and they can't require Canadian work experience.

    What's the difference between a receptionist and an office administrator?

    A receptionist focuses on the front desk: visitors, calls and bookings. An office administrator runs administrative processes such as records, invoices, vendors and onboarding paperwork.

    Last updated October 2026. Sources:

    This page is general information for employers, not legal advice. Rules change, so check the official sources before you post.

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