Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service Salary
Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service earn a median $38,630 a year nationally. Office and Administrative Support Occupations
U.S. median
$38,630
$18.57 per hour
Range
$29,990 – $59,470
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
34,280
across the U.S.
▲0.7%
Pay trend: The median for switchboard operators, including answering service in the U.S. rose from $38,370 (May 2024) to $38,630 (May 2025). That trailed inflation (2.4%), so buying power slipped about 1.7%.
What switchboard operators, including answering service do
Operate telephone business systems equipment or switchboards to relay incoming, outgoing, and interoffice calls. May supply information to callers and record messages.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -26.0% (declining)
- Openings per year
- 3,100
- Self-employed
- 2%
Employment of switchboard operators, including answering service is projected to shrink 26.0% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 3,100 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$33,219
per year · effective tax rate 14.0%
$2,768Monthly
$1,384Twice a month
$1,278Every 2 weeks
$15.97Hourly
- Federal income tax$2,456
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,395
- Medicare (1.45%)$560
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$33,219
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,990 | $14.42 | $26,277 |
| 25th percentile | $34,820 | $16.74 | $30,158 |
| Median (50th) | $38,630 | $18.57 | $33,219 |
| 75th percentile | $46,530 | $22.37 | $39,567 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,470 | $28.59 | $49,964 |
Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $59,860 | +4.6% | $47,258 | $42,720 – $67,270 | 410 |
| District of Columbia | $54,700 | −0.8% | $44,015 | $47,140 – $63,420 | 230 |
| California | $48,840 | −1.3% | $39,808 | $37,380 – $79,260 | 6,680 |
| Washington | $47,800 | +2.9% | $40,587 | $36,850 – $60,590 | 430 |
| Minnesota | $47,430 | −1.8% | $38,571 | $39,890 – $57,840 | 200 |
| New York | $45,330 | +0.7% | $36,752 | $36,970 – $72,500 | 1,760 |
| New Hampshire | $44,210 | +8.2% | $37,703 | $37,850 – $49,660 | 100 |
| Massachusetts | $43,790 | +7.5% | $35,396 | $36,680 – $57,980 | 830 |
| Colorado | $43,720 | +2.3% | $36,094 | $35,490 – $46,920 | 320 |
| Maine | $43,350 | +3.0% | $35,267 | $38,190 – $48,100 | 100 |
| Illinois | $42,660 | +6.0% | $34,490 | $34,450 – $55,180 | 1,240 |
| Vermont | $42,630 | +7.9% | $35,439 | $37,700 – $47,360 | 70 |
| New Jersey | $40,430 | +6.6% | $33,968 | $35,780 – $51,890 | 660 |
| Arizona | $40,380 | +3.5% | $33,825 | $35,060 – $50,200 | 380 |
| Wisconsin | $40,030 | +0.3% | $33,364 | $36,040 – $57,420 | 550 |
| Rhode Island | $39,850 | +3.9% | $33,322 | $33,860 – $55,440 | 130 |
| Georgia | $39,490 | +3.7% | $32,483 | $30,880 – $46,390 | 780 |
| Kansas | $38,760 | +5.0% | $31,961 | $30,940 – $46,130 | 180 |
| North Carolina | $38,520 | +6.4% | $32,103 | $30,510 – $46,340 | 690 |
| Iowa | $38,400 | +3.3% | $32,227 | $30,060 – $45,570 | 210 |
| Connecticut | $38,380 | +5.0% | $32,216 | $34,370 – $55,170 | 180 |
| Nevada | $38,070 | +2.2% | $32,769 | $31,600 – $48,400 | 650 |
| Idaho | $38,000 | +0.9% | $31,807 | $23,000 – $47,380 | 70 |
| New Mexico | $37,710 | +0.7% | $31,826 | $31,270 – $50,590 | 220 |
| Alaska | $37,690 | +3.0% | $32,464 | $33,860 – $51,630 | — |
| Kentucky | $37,590 | +3.0% | $31,186 | $30,550 – $44,390 | 370 |
| Nebraska | $37,570 | +1.9% | $31,538 | $32,370 – $46,560 | 180 |
| West Virginia | $37,430 | +8.2% | $31,242 | $26,630 – $46,080 | 110 |
| Michigan | $37,390 | −1.8% | $30,885 | $31,220 – $47,200 | 370 |
| Missouri | $37,130 | +4.2% | $31,206 | $32,380 – $45,570 | 640 |
| Maryland | $37,080 | −6.7% | $30,576 | $31,990 – $47,790 | 650 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,890 | −2.7% | $30,689 | $22,270 – $46,590 | 1,350 |
| Indiana | $36,860 | +6.2% | $30,739 | $28,220 – $56,540 | 380 |
| Virginia | $36,730 | +3.3% | $30,395 | $31,200 – $45,320 | 610 |
| Ohio | $36,350 | −0.4% | $31,170 | $29,800 – $44,100 | 990 |
| Montana | $36,270 | −13.4% | $30,375 | $30,960 – $47,150 | 110 |
| Delaware | $35,980 | −2.6% | $29,770 | $31,200 – $46,720 | 180 |
| Louisiana | $35,890 | +1.8% | $30,327 | $21,240 – $50,060 | — |
| Tennessee | $35,550 | +6.8% | $30,744 | $27,020 – $46,700 | 680 |
| Florida | $35,410 | +0.9% | $30,632 | $29,410 – $43,360 | 3,090 |
| Arkansas | $35,290 | +4.8% | $29,372 | $29,360 – $42,870 | 260 |
| Oklahoma | $35,280 | +0.3% | $29,485 | $29,100 – $42,470 | 480 |
| South Carolina | $34,010 | +1.1% | $28,624 | $29,940 – $43,730 | 480 |
| Texas | $33,620 | +5.8% | $29,194 | $24,140 – $44,100 | 3,640 |
| Alabama | $32,210 | +2.4% | $26,715 | $27,640 – $38,260 | 680 |
| Mississippi | $30,520 | −3.3% | $26,214 | $23,170 – $39,360 | 200 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telephone Operator | $41,740 | High school diploma or equivalent | -27.6% |
| Communications Equipment Operators, All Other | $54,680 | High school diploma or equivalent | +1.0% |
| Courier and Messenger | $39,200 | High school diploma or equivalent | +8.0% |
| Receptionist and Information Clerk | $38,010 | High school diploma or equivalent | -1.7% |
| Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service | $39,280 | High school diploma or equivalent | -7.2% |
| Gambling Cage Worker | $37,580 | High school diploma or equivalent | -3.1% |
| Library Assistants, Clerical | $36,910 | High school diploma or equivalent | -6.4% |
| Office Machine Operators, Except Computer | $40,960 | High school diploma or equivalent | -14.9% |
| Data Entry Keyer | $41,340 | High school diploma or equivalent | -25.5% |
| Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks | $35,070 | High school diploma or equivalent | +1.8% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a switchboard operators, including answering service make?
The national median salary for switchboard operators, including answering service is $38,630 a year ($18.57 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $29,990 and the top 10% earn over $59,470. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays switchboard operators, including answering service the most?
Hawaii has the highest median pay at $59,860.
How many switchboard operators, including answering service are there in the U.S.?
About 34,280 people work as switchboard operators, including answering service nationwide.