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Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service pay in the United States

In the U.S., the median pay for switchboard operators, including answering service is $18.57 an hour ($38,630 a year). About 34,280 people work in this job there.

$18.57Median hourly pay
$34,820–$46,530Middle half of workers, yearly
34,280People in this job in the U.S.

Pay range for switchboard operators, including answering service in the U.S.

Earns more thanHourlyYearly
10% of workers$14.42$29,990
25% of workers$16.74$34,820
Half of workers (median)$18.57$38,630
75% of workers$22.37$46,530
90% of workers$28.59$59,470

Best-paying states for switchboard operators, including answering service

StateMedian yearly payPeople in this job
Hawaii$59,860410
District of Columbia$54,700230
California$48,8406,680
Washington$47,800430
Minnesota$47,430200
New York$45,3301,760
New Hampshire$44,210100
Massachusetts$43,790830
Colorado$43,720320
Maine$43,350100

Pay by state

Education, experience and outlook for switchboard operators, including answering service

  • Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS)
  • Related work experience most have: 3 to 6 months (O*NET)
  • Training on the job: Short-term on-the-job training (BLS)
  • Job outlook: -26% over ten years, declining · about 3,100 openings a year (BLS)

Related jobs in the U.S.

JobMedian yearly pay
Customer Service Representatives$44,770
Office Clerks, General$45,010
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$47,540
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$45,930
Receptionists and Information Clerks$38,010
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$76,590
Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$50,340
Public Safety Telecommunicators$53,040

Other job titles for this job

Telecommunications OperatorInformation SpecialistAnswering Service Telephone OperatorCBX OperatorCentral Communications SpecialistCombination OperatorCommand and Control SpecialistCommunication Center OperatorComplaint OperatorDesk OperatorExchange OperatorPBX Operator

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.