Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service pay in California

In California, the median pay for switchboard operators, including answering service is $23.48 an hour ($48,840 a year). About 6,680 people work in this job there.

$23.48Median hourly pay

$41,600–$65,600Middle half of workers, yearly

6,680People in this job in California

That is 26% higher than the U.S. median ($38,630). California ranks 3rd of 46 states and territories for this job’s median pay.

Pay range for switchboard operators, including answering service in California

Earns more than	Hourly	Yearly
10% of workers	$17.97	$37,380
25% of workers	$20.00	$41,600
Half of workers (median)	$23.48	$48,840
75% of workers	$31.54	$65,600
90% of workers	$38.11	$79,260

Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service pay in California metro areas

Metro area	Median yearly pay	People in this job
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara	$79,260	440
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont	$61,780	700
Stockton-Lodi	$59,360	170
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura	$49,840	60
Napa	$49,460	50
Salinas	$48,840	90
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom	$47,380	420
Santa Rosa-Petaluma	$46,330	90
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad	$46,080	570
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim	$45,870	2,110
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara	$44,680	80
Fresno	$44,590	150
Visalia	$44,330	40
Modesto	$44,320	70
Merced	$44,190	50
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario	$44,130	500
Bakersfield-Delano	$42,710	140

California unemployment rate: 5.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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 California

Job	Median yearly pay
Office Clerks, General	$48,460
Customer Service Representatives	$49,560
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive	$55,400
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants	$54,490
Receptionists and Information Clerks	$44,100
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants	$89,000
Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance	$52,350
Public Safety Telecommunicators	$80,120

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.