As virtual work continues to grow in popularity, the demand for work from home receptionists also continues to grow! If you are curious about remote receptionist jobs, this blog post will answer all your questions!
We’ll cover all the details, including day-to-day responsibilities, annual salary expectations, and the needed equipment. We’ve even included hiring companies that regularly have openings for remote receptionists.
What Responsibilities Does a Remote Receptionist Have?
The responsibilities of remote receptionists vary from company to company. However, the primary duties usually entail answering incoming phone calls, understanding the caller’s needs, directing those callers to the appropriate person or department, and keeping a detailed record of each interaction.
In addition to answering a high volume of incoming calls, some companies may ask their remote receptionists to handle administrative tasks like scheduling meetings, handling email correspondence, proofreading written materials, and doing data entry tasks.
Receptionist roles are generally entry-level positions, and if you work for a larger company, there is likely room for career advancement. For example, if working as an executive assistant is what you want, being open about your career goals will help your supervisor know how they can best help you move toward success within the company.
What Are the Qualifications for Remote Receptionist Jobs?
Remote receptionists play a crucial role in business operations. Receptionists are usually the first point of contact for clients, so it’s important that they make a good first impression.
If you enjoy talking on the phone and interacting with others, here are the basic qualifications and skills you’ll need for this line of work:
- High school diploma or GED
- Prior customer service experience is helpful
- Ability to work independently in a remote environment
- The ability to multitask as you’ll be answering and transferring calls, as well as documenting interactions
- The ability to stay calm and collected under pressure
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Fast and accurate typing skills and strong attention to detail
- Must be computer-savvy
- Knowledge of common software programs
What Is the Average Salary for a Remote Receptionist?
Remote receptionist salaries vary greatly depending on where you live, the size of the company, and your experience level.
According to ZipRecruiter, remote receptionists earn an average of $18 per hour.
Remote receptionist salaries tend to increase with time, so if you stick it out at one company and gain experience and seniority, your salary should increase accordingly.
Many companies also provide additional earning opportunities, such as performance-based bonuses, payments for referring qualified hires, and sales-based incentives if part of the job is qualifying sales leads over the phone.
It’s also worth noting that specialized training, such as in the medical or legal fields, typically earns higher wages than working as a generalist.
What Equipment Is Required for a Remote Receptionist Role?
Remote receptionist jobs usually require the following equipment:
- Computer
- Smartphone or landline
- Headset
- High-speed internet connection
- Up-to-date computer software programs
- A quiet, distraction-free home office
What Equipment Do Employers Provide?
Most remote receptionists use specialized software programs issued by the hiring company to answer incoming calls. Some companies may provide your work equipment (a computer, headset, and a monthly internet stipend), while others do not. You’ll also be trained on work-specific procedures, scripts, and call-handling instructions. Most companies list equipment and internet speed requirements on the job listing, so be sure to read through those before applying for a position.
Many employers will require you to test your internet bandwidth to ensure it can support remote systems and applications. In most cases, you need to use a hardwired internet connection through an ethernet cable (wireless and satellite connections are generally not allowed).
Who Hires Remote Receptionists?
Many companies use remote receptionists, from small businesses to large corporations, and individuals like lawyers, entrepreneurs, and therapists.
Where to Apply for Remote Receptionist Jobs
If your true calling is working as a remote receptionist, check out these hiring companies:
1. Answer Aide
Answer Aide hires virtual customer service representatives from AL, FL, GA, KS, SC, TX, or VA. For these virtual receptionist jobs, you’ll need a typing speed of at least 40 WPM, strong communication skills, and the ability to multitask. Answer Aide runs 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, so you have a lot of flexibility in terms of your schedule. The start pay is $13-$16 per hour, and full-time positions come with benefits.
2. AnswerFirst
AnswerFirst hires customer service professionals from the US to answer calls for their clients. Tasks may include message or order taking, scheduling appointments, troubleshooting issues, or relaying information. AnswerFirst is open 365/24/7, and they hire for both full-time and part-time roles. If you work 30 hours or more per week, you’ll be eligible for benefits after six months of employment.
3. Back Office Betties
Back Office Betties hires legal intake specialists in Arizona, Texas, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Florida to provide attorneys and legal firms with phone and web chat services. Back office Betties is only open Monday through Friday, so they don’t have night or weekend hours available. Full-time positions come with many benefits, including all the equipment you need to do your job.
4. Gabbyville
Gabbyville hires US-based remote receptionists to handle client calls, take messages, and book appointments for a variety of businesses and professionals.
5. PATLive
PATLive hires part-time virtual receptionists from Texas and Georgia. Prior experience as an administrative assistant, receptionist, front desk receptionist, or clerical role is needed. The starting pay rate is $13 per hour, and the company offers flexible scheduling as it’s open 24 hours a day.
6. ReceptionHQ
ReceptionHQ hires virtual receptionists in the United States to provide personalized service, call transfer, and appointment-setting services to their clients in a variety of industries. Their operations run 24/7, so they have lots of roles and schedules to fill.
7. Ruby Receptionists
Ruby Receptionists hires virtual receptionists to provide telephone services to their clients. Ruby has both full- and part-time positions, flexible scheduling, and benefits for full-time workers. Positions are location-dependent, so you may want to bookmark their career page for new openings.
8. Smith.ai
Smith.ai hires virtual receptionists and customer engagement representatives to answer incoming phone calls for their clients. They hire receptionists from the US and Mexico. Whether you’re looking for full-time or part-time work, Smith.ai can accommodate your needs and provide you with the flexibility you desire. Full-time positions come with benefits.
Other Places to Find Virtual Receptionist Jobs
If you need more options for this remote occupation, check out these employment agencies and career websites for new openings.
9. Robert Half
Robert Half is a staffing agency where you can search for work from home jobs. Just type in the position and click the remote job only button. Robert Half has temporary, permanent, and contractor roles for US residents.
10. FlexJobs
FlexJobs is a paid online job board that caters to flexible work options, such as remote, part-time, hybrid, and freelance roles. The nice thing about FlexJobs is they vet all of the jobs listed on their website, so you never have to worry about work from home scams. They currently have several full-time and part-time remote receptionist positions listed on their website.
11. LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a social media platform dedicated to career professionals. On LinkedIn, you can search for remote receptionist jobs and set up job alerts to have new jobs sent directly to your inbox. Just be sure to do your due diligence when searching for jobs on LinkedIn; there are a lot of fake job listings that sneak through the cracks.
12. Upwork
Upwork is an online marketplace for freelancers. Here, you can find a wide variety of call-related work, such as customer service, chat support, and sales roles that you can do from home. With Upwork, you can bid on projects or create a profile and wait for potential employers to contact you.
Pros and Cons of Working From Home as a Remote Receptionist
All jobs have pros and cons, and virtual receptionist jobs are no different. Here are some of the best parts of this remote position and some of the not-so-great parts.
Pros:
- It doesn’t require a college degree
- Good work for beginners
- Usually lots of flexibility in terms of scheduling
- Benefits are often provided for full-time workers
- Many companies hire for this occupation
Cons:
- Low pay
- You may have to work nights, weekends, or holidays
- Phone work can be stressful
Final Thoughts on Being a Virtual Receptionist
What do you think? Is working from home as a virtual receptionist right for you? Be sure to weigh all the pros and cons of this remote occupation before making your decision. As you can see, there are many companies who would love to have you on their team.
Do you enjoy talking to people on the phone? Here is a massive list of remote customer service jobs.
Originally published January 24, 2022. This content was updated in March 2024.
