Receptionist Salary

$54,500

APS 1 Year 1 (Entry Level)

$90,500

APS 4 Maximum Pay Point

$68,663

Est. Take Home: $2,119/fortnight

$76,700

Est. Take Home: $2,329/fortnight

$84,017

Est. Take Home: $2,521/fortnight

15.4%

Adds $11,812/yr (at APS 3 mid)

Salary Inputs

1. Front Desk Operations & Visitor Management

Greeting visitors, administering visitor registers, checking identification, and issuing security passes under department guidelines.

2. Telephone Enquiries & Switchboard Management

Answering main department lines, assisting public callers with enquiries, and transferring calls to appropriate business divisions.

3. Mail & Courier Handling

Receiving, sorting, and distributing incoming mail, managing express couriers, and coordinating outbound dispatch services.

4. Meeting Room Coordination

Managing bookings for executive boardrooms and training facilities, coordinating layouts, and organizing catering.

5. General Administrative Support

Assisting branch sections with data entry, scanning, photocopying, and raising simple procurement requisitions.

6. Foyer Security Protocols

Maintaining general awareness of reception area security, reporting suspicious issues, and coordinating with facility guards.

Communication

Greeting public, stakeholders, and department officials.

Customer Service

Polite, efficient resolution of visitor enquiries.

Office Software

Proficiency in calendar invites and email management.

Organization

Managing front desk logistics and courier logs.

Attention to Detail

Accurate record keeping and pass distributions.

Confidentiality

Maintaining security awareness at front of house.

15.4% Superannuation

Employer superannuation contribution paid directly to your accumulation fund on top of base salary.

Generous Leave Provisions

Includes 4 weeks annual leave, 15 days personal leave, and options to purchase additional leave.

Flex-Time Options

Accrue flex hours for any overtime required to support late conferences or security operations.

APS 1 Reception Assistant

A$54,500+

Foyer support, sorting mail, welcoming visitors.

APS 2 Reception Officer

A$63,000+

Main desk customer services, booking boardrooms.

APS 3 Administrative Officer

A$71,800+

Office pass onboarding, general administrative support.

APS 4 Senior Reception Coord

A$77,865+

Foyer supervisor, managing security clearances.

APS 5 Team Leader

A$88,085+

Supervising regional administrative branches.

APS 6 Office Manager / EA

A$100,190+

Overseeing divisional offices or executive secretary functions.

Q1. What does a Receptionist earn in the APS?

Starting salaries for reception support officers at the APS 1 level typically range from $54,500 to $66,500. Reception Officers at the APS 2 level earn between $63,000 and $75,500, while senior administrative receptionist coordinators (APS 4) earn between $77,865 and $90,500.

Q2. Which APS level is a Receptionist?

Reception duties are generally performed by Administrative Officers classified between APS 1 and APS 4, depending on the agency, responsibilities, and Enterprise Agreement.

Q3. Can a Receptionist become an Administrative Officer?

Yes, absolutely. Front desk reception roles are excellent entry points into the public service. Many reception officers progress to APS 5 Team Leaders, Office Managers, or Executive Assistant roles.

Q4. Which department pays the highest Receptionist salary?

The highest salaries are offered by central or security-related departments like the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C) and the Treasury, where APS 3 and 4 increments sit at the top of the APSC pay band.

Q5. What qualifications are required?

No specific university degrees are required. Hiring managers prioritize customer service experience, strong verbal communication, general administrative skills, and the ability to obtain a Baseline security clearance.

Q6. Can Receptionists work from home?

Due to the front-of-house nature of reception roles, opportunities to WFH are limited. However, hybrid arrangements may be supported when performing back-office administrative tasks like records entry.

Q7. Is overtime paid to APS Receptionists?

Yes. Under standard public service collective agreements, APS 1 to APS 4 staff are eligible for overtime penalty rates or accrual of flex-time hours.

Q8. Do Receptionists receive the 15.4% superannuation rate?

Yes, all APS administrative employees receive the 15.4% employer superannuation contribution paid directly on top of their base salary.