Receptionist salary in California
The median receptionist in California earns $44,100 a year, or $21.20 an hour, in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2025 survey. That is 16% above the national median of $38,010, and 4th of the 54 states and territories BLS publishes.
The middle half of California’s 82,470 receptionists earn between $39,050 and $48,690. The highest paying metro area in the state is San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, at $49,450.
Liaison does the routine half of a receptionist’s job for 13% of what one costs in California. See how.
Receptionist salary by city in California
Every metro area in California where BLS publishes a median for receptionists, highest first. A metro that crosses a state line appears under each of its states.
| Metro area | Median annual | Median hourly | Middle half earns | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $49,450 | $23.77 | $43,440 to $60,170 | 8,510 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $47,130 | $22.66 | $44,110 to $57,820 | 3,990 |
| Napa, CA | $46,850 | $22.53 | $43,820 to $54,080 | 280 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $45,650 | $21.95 | $40,330 to $45,650 | 180 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $45,550 | $21.90 | $41,610 to $52,920 | 1,160 |
| Vallejo, CA | $45,500 | $21.88 | $39,840 to $67,650 | 720 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $45,140 | $21.70 | $38,340 to $54,280 | 4,570 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $44,980 | $21.63 | $38,980 to $49,810 | 510 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $44,890 | $21.58 | $39,060 to $49,920 | 690 |
| Modesto, CA | $44,610 | $21.45 | $38,630 to $54,000 | 890 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $44,390 | $21.34 | $38,330 to $47,460 | 6,690 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $44,270 | $21.28 | $38,670 to $48,010 | 1,020 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $43,610 | $20.97 | $37,530 to $48,480 | 1,510 |
| Salinas, CA | $43,300 | $20.82 | $38,110 to $47,810 | 620 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $43,280 | $20.81 | $39,410 to $47,340 | 35,000 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $42,710 | $20.53 | $37,570 to $49,210 | 920 |
| Yuba City, CA | $41,880 | $20.13 | $37,230 to $49,380 | 200 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $41,800 | $20.10 | $37,190 to $47,840 | 6,880 |
| El Centro, CA | $41,440 | $19.92 | $35,580 to $46,590 | 160 |
| Chico, CA | $40,070 | $19.26 | $37,430 to $45,580 | 370 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $39,690 | $19.08 | $37,500 to $44,980 | 1,180 |
| Redding, CA | $39,660 | $19.07 | $36,920 to $45,490 | 370 |
| Fresno, CA | $39,520 | $19.00 | $36,780 to $46,030 | 2,250 |
| Visalia, CA | $39,520 | $19.00 | $35,990 to $44,940 | 530 |
| Merced, CA | $38,890 | $18.70 | $36,360 to $43,780 | 290 |
What a receptionist costs an employer in California
Wages are the start. At employers with fewer than 50 workers, benefits add 35% on top (BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation), so a receptionist at the California median costs about $59,500 a year. The employer’s view for every state and metro is on what a receptionist costs, and the routine part of the job is what Liaison does inside the tools a business already runs.
The routine half of a receptionist’s job, for 13% of what one costs in California.
- Answers the routine email and text enquiries in your voice, at any hour.
- Books, confirms and reschedules from your own calendar.
- Takes the message, logs it against the customer, and hands the ones that need a person to a person.
Professional is $629 a month, $7,548 a year, against about $59,500 a year for a receptionist at the California median once benefits are added. On Professional we connect your tools, bring your data in and set up the first rules with you. Anything that moves money waits for your yes.
“Cut our month-end close from 4 days to 4 hours.” Marcus C., owner
$629 a month, or $500 a month on a 12-month term. Prefer to start on your own? Starter is $149 a month, self-serve, with a free trial first: 7 days, no card. More: AI office manager.
Questions
How much does a receptionist make in California?
The median receptionist in California earned $44,100 a year, or $21.20 an hour, in May 2025. The middle half earned between $39,050 and $48,690. Nationally the median is $38,010, so California pays 16% more than the country as a whole.
Which cities in California pay receptionists the most?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($49,450), San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($47,130) and Napa, CA ($46,850).
What does a receptionist cost an employer in California?
Benefits at employers with fewer than 50 workers add 35% on top of wages, so a receptionist at the California median costs about $59,500 a year. The employer’s view is at useliaison.com/back-office-costs/receptionist.
Receptionist salary in other states
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 43-4171. Annual figures assume 2,080 hours a year. Updated 2026-10-02.
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