Medical Receptionist Jobs in Seattle, WA
Medical receptionist jobs in Seattle pay well above the city's $21.30 minimum, with posted ranges at Fred Hutch, Virginia Mason and Kaiser running from about $23 to $35 an hour. Here are the current openings, followed by who is hiring, what it pays and how to get started.
Current medical receptionist Openings in Seattle, WA
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Medical Receptionist Work in Seattle
In Seattle the front desk job rarely carries the word receptionist. Hospitals and clinics post it as Patient Services Representative, Patient Service Representative or Patient Access Representative, and the work is concentrated on First Hill, the hospital district residents call Pill Hill, around Kaiser's Capitol Hill campus, in South Lake Union near Fred Hutch, and at the UW Medical Center - Northwest campus in north Seattle. Community clinics such as Neighborcare Health add front desk and call center seats at clinics across the city.
Washington's pay transparency law means nearly every posting shows its range, and Seattle's own minimum wage sets a high floor. The trade-off is a busier desk than most of the state: registration, insurance checks, copays and Epic scheduling for large patient panels, at campuses many staff reach by Link light rail or King County Metro.
Top Seattle Employers Hiring Medical Receptionists
These Seattle health systems and clinics hire front desk and patient services staff:
- Fred Hutch - the cancer center hires Patient Services Representatives to greet, check in and schedule patients, including a full-time Monday to Friday desk at its clinic on the UW Medical Center - Northwest campus.
- Virginia Mason Franciscan Health - the First Hill system posts Patient Service Representatives who register patients, verify insurance and collect copays at Virginia Mason Medical Center.
- Kaiser Permanente Washington - Kaiser's Capitol Hill campus uses Patient Access Representatives for check-in, scheduling, referrals and billing questions in Epic.
- Neighborcare Health - the community health center network hires Patient Services Representatives for its clinics and call center at multiple Seattle locations.
Medical Receptionist Salaries in Seattle
- Entry level: about $22 to $25 an hour for new front desk staff with customer service experience.
- Experienced: roughly $25 to $30 an hour for representatives who know insurance verification, Epic and copay collection.
- Senior / top of range: $31 to $35 an hour at the top of hospital and cancer center pay scales.
These are estimates. The federal May 2025 wage survey puts the median for all receptionists in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro at about $22 an hour, while hospital postings run higher: Fred Hutch lists $24.50 to $34.88, Virginia Mason $23.00 to $30.99 and Kaiser $22.85 to $33.63. Medical terminology, billing knowledge, a second language and hospital Epic experience move you up the range.
How to Become a Medical Receptionist in Seattle
Most Seattle employers ask for a high school diploma or GED and six months to two years of customer service experience, plus basic computer skills and familiarity with medical terminology. Washington does not license medical receptionists, so there is no state exam or credential to apply for; front desk staff who do not perform clinical tasks need no Department of Health credential. Seattle Central College's Medical Administrative Assistant certificate, listed on the state's Career Bridge site, trains students for front office and scheduling work in about nine months. Some people move to the front desk from Seattle Central's Medical Assisting program instead, which covers both front and back office skills.
What the Job Involves
Medical receptionists greet and check in patients, confirm demographics and insurance, collect signatures and copays, answer and route phone calls, and schedule or reschedule appointments. They prepare paperwork for patients and clinical staff, process referrals, keep the waiting room moving on time, and balance the cash drawer at the end of the day.
Skills Employers Look For
- Friendly, calm customer service under pressure
- Insurance verification and copay collection
- Scheduling in Epic or a similar practice management system
- Medical terminology
- Typing, 10-key and general computer skills
- HIPAA privacy awareness
- A second language
Career Path and Advancement
Many Seattle front desk staff start at a community clinic or a Kaiser or Virginia Mason desk, then move into hospital patient access, surgery scheduling or referral coordination. With a certificate, the next steps are medical assistant, medical billing and coding, or a lead or supervisor role over a clinic's front office.
Related Careers in Seattle
If front desk work in healthcare interests you, these Seattle roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a medical receptionist in Washington?
No. Washington does not license medical receptionists, and front desk staff who do not perform clinical tasks need no Department of Health credential. Employers look for customer service experience, computer skills and some knowledge of medical terminology instead.
How much do medical receptionists make in Seattle?
Posted ranges at Seattle hospitals and cancer centers run from about $23 to $35 an hour. The May 2025 federal wage survey puts the median for all receptionists in the metro near $22 an hour, so healthcare front desk work generally pays above the general receptionist average.
What job titles should I search for in Seattle?
Search for Patient Services Representative, Patient Service Representative and Patient Access Representative as well as medical receptionist. Seattle's large health systems rarely use the word receptionist in their postings.
What hours do medical receptionists work?
Clinic desks usually run weekday business hours, such as Fred Hutch's 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday schedule. Hospital admitting and emergency department desks staff evenings, nights and weekends, and part-time and per diem positions are common.
Can I get hired without healthcare experience?
Yes, at many desks. Fred Hutch asks for six to twelve months of customer service experience and Kaiser accepts two years of fast-paced customer service, while Virginia Mason asks for two years of healthcare experience or related education. A short medical terminology course helps you stand out.
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