Salaries › Receptionist › California
Receptionist Salary in California (2026)
$21.20 per hour · take-home ≈ $36,708/year ($3,059/month) for a single filer
Receptionist pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $36,410 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $39,050 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $44,100 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $48,690 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $58,800 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 82,470 Receptionist jobs in California (occupation code 43-4171, “Receptionists and Information Clerks”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median Receptionist salary of $44,100 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus California state income tax, a single filer keeps about $36,708 — an effective tax rate of 16.8%.
| Gross (median) | $44,100 |
| Federal income tax | −$3,112 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,374 |
| California state income tax | −$906 |
| Take-home (annual) | $36,708 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,059 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Receptionist make in California?
- The median Receptionist salary in California is $44,100 per year ($21.20 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $39,050 and $48,690.
- What is the take-home pay for a Receptionist in California?
- On the median salary of $44,100, a single filer in California takes home about $36,708 per year ($3,059 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 16.8%.
- How many Receptionist jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 82,470 Receptionist jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Receptionists
Other salaries in California
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified California state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for California.