Telephone Operator Salary
Telephone Operators earn a median $41,740 a year nationally. Office and Administrative Support Occupations
U.S. median
$41,740
$20.07 per hour
Range
$31,510 – $62,950
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
3,430
across the U.S.
Telephone Operator take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$35,718
per year · effective tax rate 14.4%
$2,977Monthly
$1,488Twice a month
$1,374Every 2 weeks
$17.17Hourly
- Federal income tax$2,829
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,588
- Medicare (1.45%)$605
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$35,718
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,510 | $15.15 | $27,498 |
| 25th percentile | $36,920 | $17.75 | $31,845 |
| Median (50th) | $41,740 | $20.07 | $35,718 |
| 75th percentile | $51,510 | $24.76 | $43,568 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,950 | $30.26 | $52,760 |
Telephone Operator salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $57,170 | $45,893 | $44,120 – $66,670 | 230 |
| New York | $50,220 | $40,417 | $37,840 – $70,810 | — |
| District of Columbia | $49,330 | $40,023 | $37,490 – $72,090 | 50 |
| Massachusetts | $47,940 | $38,523 | $43,900 – $79,300 | — |
| Wisconsin | $46,590 | $38,346 | $38,940 – $48,520 | 60 |
| Maryland | $42,460 | $34,643 | $40,980 – $49,980 | 110 |
| Virginia | $42,350 | $34,587 | $37,220 – $48,710 | — |
| New Jersey | $41,960 | $35,124 | $37,120 – $55,000 | 190 |
| Texas | $41,250 | $35,324 | $34,550 – $56,900 | 280 |
| North Carolina | $40,360 | $33,508 | $29,330 – $47,750 | 40 |
| Michigan | $37,550 | $31,006 | $35,640 – $49,070 | 80 |
| Oklahoma | $37,320 | $31,033 | $37,250 – $37,320 | 40 |
| Florida | $37,180 | $32,054 | $36,130 – $52,680 | 70 |
| Ohio | $36,970 | $31,651 | $31,990 – $50,500 | 220 |
| Georgia | $36,920 | $30,552 | $33,080 – $50,360 | 160 |
| Louisiana | $31,400 | $26,854 | $25,040 – $38,410 | 50 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a telephone operator make?
The national median salary for telephone operators is $41,740 a year ($20.07 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $31,510 and the top 10% earn over $62,950. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays telephone operators the most?
California has the highest median pay at $57,170.
How many telephone operators are there in the U.S.?
About 3,430 people work as telephone operators nationwide.