When the phone starts ringing out, most owners think "I need to hire someone". Sometimes that's right. But a receptionist costs a lot more than the hourly rate in the ad, and if the real problem is calls you can't answer on the tools, in a session or after 5pm, a person at a desk may not fix it. Here are the real 2026 numbers, with sources, so you can decide.
Most receptionists and office admins in private businesses are covered by the Clerks—Private Sector Award 2020. Medical and allied health practices may use a different award, so check yours with the Fair Work pay guides. Minimum adult rates for ordinary hours from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026:
| Classification (Clerks award) | Full-time weekly | Hourly (FT/PT) | Casual hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1, year 1 | $1,024.70 | $26.97 | $33.71 |
| Level 2, year 1 (typical experienced receptionist) | $1,119.10 | $29.45 | $36.81 |
| Level 3 | $1,182.10 | $31.11 | $38.89 |
Source: Fair Work Commission, Clerks—Private Sector Award 2020, clause 16.1, and the Fair Work Ombudsman pay guide published 24 June 2026. Casual rates include the 25% casual loading. These are minimums. Many ads pay more.
Take the award minimum for a Level 2 receptionist and add only what the law requires on top:
| Item | Per year |
|---|---|
| Award wage: $1,119.10 × 52 weeks (includes 4 weeks' paid annual leave) | $58,193 |
| Super guarantee at 12% (ATO, from 1 July 2025) | $6,983 |
| Minimum before anything else | $65,176 |
That's the floor. On top of it you'll usually pay workers compensation insurance, any annual leave loading your award or contract requires, payroll tax once your total wages pass your state's threshold, recruitment time or ad costs, a desk, a computer and a phone. And at an advertised $65,000, super alone brings the total to $72,800.
Part-time is cheaper but leaves gaps. 20 hours a week at the Level 2 rate of $29.45 is $589 a week, about $34,300 a year with super. The phone still rings out the other 18 hours of the working week, plus every evening and weekend.
Even a great hire works around 38 hours a week, takes lunch, gets sick and goes on four weeks' leave. Calls come in at 7pm on a Sunday, while they're on another line, and while they're doing the invoicing. For tradies and clinics, those are often the calls that matter most: new customers who ring the next business if nobody answers. Our look at how many calls Australian small businesses miss found that most missed callers in that data were first-time callers.
KookaDesk answers every call 24/7, takes the caller's details and the job or booking request, and texts you a summary so you can confirm. It also replies to email and website enquiries. Plans cost A$129 to A$549 a month +GST, which is about A$1,550 to A$6,590 a year +GST. There's no super, leave or sick days, and the setup is done for you.
| Full-time receptionist | Answering service (KookaDesk) | |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly cost | From about $65,000 (award minimum + super), usually more | A$1,548 to A$6,588 +GST |
| Hours covered | Around 38 a week | 24/7, including weekends and public holidays |
| Leave, sick days | Need cover | No gap |
| Front desk, invoicing, admin | Yes | No. It handles calls and enquiries only |
| Time to start | Weeks of recruiting | Usually live within 48 hours |
Plenty of businesses do both. They hire for the admin and use an answering service for after-hours, lunch breaks, busy mornings and the weeks before the new person starts. If you're recruiting now, the service can catch every call while you find the right person, then keep covering the times your new hire can't.
Ring our demo line on 0495 105 561. It answers as a demo plumbing business, so call it the way a new customer would. Standard call rates to an Australian mobile apply. Then start a 7-day free trial. We'll set it up with your business details, and you can cancel anytime. Comparing options? See AI receptionist vs answering service and 7 test calls to make before you trust any provider.
Wage figures are minimums or published averages, current as at 19 October 2026, and aren't payroll or legal advice. Check the award that applies to your business with the Fair Work Ombudsman.
KookaDesk is an AI receptionist for Australian trades and clinics, in every time zone. It answers missed calls, emails and web enquiries within 60 seconds, 24/7, and texts you the job. From A$129/month +GST. 7-day free trial, cancel anytime.