Medical Receptionist: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Designed to equip students with the foundational skills needed to thrive in fast-paced healthcare environments, this program focuses on the administrative and interpersonal aspects of patient support within medical offices and clinical settings. Graduates are prepared to serve as essential frontline staff, ensuring seamless operations through efficient communication, accurate documentation, and professional patient engagement.
- Medical Terminology: Develops proficiency in the language of healthcare, enabling accurate understanding and communication of medical conditions, procedures, and treatments.
- Patient Intake and Discharge Procedures: Covers protocols for collecting patient information, verifying insurance, and managing transitions in care with precision and empathy.
- Healthcare Facility Operations: Explores the structure and daily workflows of medical offices, clinics, and outpatient centers to support effective administrative coordination.
- Electronic Health Records (EHR) and Data Entry: Provides hands-on training in managing digital patient records, ensuring confidentiality, accuracy, and compliance with health information standards.
- Interpersonal and Communication Skills: Builds confidence in professional interactions with patients, providers, and staff through active listening, conflict resolution, and clear verbal and written communication.
- Customer Service in Healthcare Settings: Emphasizes patient-centered service delivery, including managing expectations, handling sensitive situations, and maintaining a welcoming environment.
- Telephone and Front Desk Etiquette: Teaches professional call handling, message relay, appointment scheduling, and the use of medical office software systems.
- Compliance and Regulatory Standards: Introduces key laws and guidelines, such as HIPAA, that govern patient privacy, data security, and ethical conduct in healthcare administration.
Medical Receptionist Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Medical Receptionist Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Medical Receptionist degrees, including First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers and Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 2,326,340 professionals.
National Average Salaries
Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
---|---|---|---|---|
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers 43-1011 | $66,140 | $43,920 - $102,980 | 1,495,580 | $31.80 |
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants 43-6013 | $44,640 | $35,050 - $60,050 | 830,760 | $21.46 |
Medical Receptionist Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $44,680 in West Virginia to $67,275 in Washington—a 51% difference. The highest-paying states include Washington, District of Columbia, and California. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 2,326,340 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Medical Receptionist by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 36 institutions offering Medical Receptionist programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Medical Receptionist is found at College of Lake County (CLC) (225 graduates), Arkansas State University Three Rivers (ASUTR) (143 graduates), Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) (106 graduates), Central Georgia Technical College (CGTC) (39 graduates), and Highline College (25 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 844 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
College of Lake County (CLC) |
Residency
|
225 | Grayslake, Illinois | Public | clcillinois.edu |
Arkansas State University Three Rivers (ASUTR) |
Other Award
|
143 | Malvern, Arkansas | Public | asutr.edu |
Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) |
Residency
|
106 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Public | matc.edu |
Central Georgia Technical College (CGTC) |
Other Award
|
39 | Warner Robins, Georgia | Public | centralgatech.edu |
Highline College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
25 | Des Moines, Washington | Public | highline.edu |
Valley College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
25 | Martinsburg, West Virginia | Private | valley.edu |
Southern Crescent Technical College (SCTC) |
Other Award
|
24 | Griffin, Georgia | Public | sctech.edu |
Northwest Career College (NCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
23 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Private | northwestcareercollege.edu |
Sinclair Community College |
Other Award
|
21 | Dayton, Ohio | Public | sinclair.edu |
Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC) |
Residency
|
21 | Appleton, Wisconsin | Public | fvtc.edu |
Henry Ford College (HFC) |
Other Award
|
18 | Dearborn, Michigan | Public | hfcc.edu |
Madison Area Technical College |
Other Award
|
14 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | madisoncollege.edu |
Bellevue College (BC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
13 | Bellevue, Washington | Public | bellevuecollege.edu |
South Georgia Technical College (SGTC) |
Other Award
|
11 | Americus, Georgia | Public | southgatech.edu |
University of Arkansas (UAM) |
Other Award
|
10 | Monticello, Arkansas | Public | uamont.edu |
Northwood Technical College (Northwood Tech) |
Other Award
|
10 | Rice Lake, Wisconsin | Public | northwoodtech.edu |
Columbia College (CC) |
Residency
|
9 | Sonora, California | Public | gocolumbia.edu |
Middlesex Community College (MCC) |
Other Award
|
9 | Bedford, Massachusetts | Public | middlesex.mass.edu |
Tacoma Community College (TCC ) |
Residency
Other Award
|
9 | Tacoma, Washington | Public | tacomacc.edu |
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College |
Other Award
|
8 | Valdosta, Georgia | Public | wiregrass.edu |
Northcentral Technical College (NTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
8 | Wausau, Wisconsin | Public | ntc.edu |
Anoka Technical College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
7 | Anoka, Minnesota | Public | anokatech.edu |
The University of Montana (UM) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
7 | Missoula, Montana | Public | umt.edu |
Spokane Community College (SCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
6 | Spokane, Washington | Public | scc.spokane.edu |
Western Dakota Technical College (WDTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
4 | Rapid City, South Dakota | Public | wdt.edu |
Hennepin Technical College (HTC) |
Other Award
|
3 | Brooklyn Park, Minnesota | Public | hennepintech.edu |
Saint Paul College |
Other Award
|
3 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Public | saintpaul.edu |
Pierce College District |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
3 | Lakewood, Washington | Public | pierce.ctc.edu |
College of Menominee Nation (CMN) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
3 | Keshena, Wisconsin | Private | menominee.edu |
Mt Hood Community College (MHCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
2 | Gresham, Oregon | Public | mhcc.edu |
Edmonds College |
Other Award
|
2 | Lynnwood, Washington | Public | edmonds.edu |
Olympic College (OC) |
Other Award
|
2 | Bremerton, Washington | Public | olympic.edu |
Southwest Technical College |
Other Award
|
2 | Cedar City, Utah | Public | stech.edu |
Lewis-Clark State College (LC State) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
1 | Lewiston, Idaho | Public | lcsc.edu |
Illinois Central College (ICC) |
Other Award
|
1 | East Peoria, Illinois | Public | icc.edu |
Everett Community College (EvCC) |
Other Award
|
1 | Everett, Washington | Public | everettcc.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Medical Receptionist programs
How much can I earn with a Medical Receptionist degree?
Salaries for Medical Receptionist graduates vary by role and location. First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers earn a median of $66,140 annually, while Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants earn around $44,640. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Washington average $67,275 compared to $44,680 in West Virginia. Approximately 2,326,340 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Medical Receptionist programs?
Currently 37 accredited institutions offer Medical Receptionist degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include College of Lake County (CLC) (225 graduates), Arkansas State University Three Rivers (ASUTR) (143 graduates), and Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) (106 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Medical Receptionist growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 901 in 2010 to 844 in 2023-24. This represents a 6% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Medical Receptionist degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers, Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, . Related occupations employ approximately 2,326,340 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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