Telemarketer Salary
Telemarketers earn a median $35,450 a year nationally. Sales and Related Occupations
U.S. median
$35,450
$17.04 per hour
Range
$27,040 – $50,350
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
58,430
across the U.S.
▲3.0%
Pay trend: The median for telemarketers in the U.S. rose from $34,410 (May 2024) to $35,450 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 0.6%.
What telemarketers do
Solicit donations or orders for goods or services over the telephone.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -21.4% (declining)
- Openings per year
- 5,800
- Self-employed
- 3%
Employment of telemarketers is projected to shrink 21.4% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 5,800 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.
Telemarketer take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$30,664
per year · effective tax rate 13.5%
$2,555Monthly
$1,278Twice a month
$1,179Every 2 weeks
$14.74Hourly
- Federal income tax$2,074
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,198
- Medicare (1.45%)$514
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$30,664
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,040 | $13.00 | $23,877 |
| 25th percentile | $29,640 | $14.25 | $25,996 |
| Median (50th) | $35,450 | $17.04 | $30,664 |
| 75th percentile | $40,230 | $19.34 | $34,505 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $50,350 | $24.21 | $42,636 |
Best cities for telemarketers (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miami, FL | $35,870 | $31,002 | $27,157 | 2,730 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Miami, FL — $35,870
Telemarketer salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas | $48,010 | +101.3% | $38,877 | $21,980 – $50,330 | — |
| Colorado | $47,670 | −2.5% | $39,094 | $33,940 – $77,000 | 880 |
| California | $46,000 | +22.8% | $37,714 | $34,320 – $60,400 | 3,880 |
| Connecticut | $45,200 | −20.9% | $37,389 | $36,970 – $58,900 | 110 |
| Massachusetts | $44,650 | +22.2% | $36,044 | $36,860 – $57,540 | — |
| Oregon | $42,060 | +14.0% | $33,125 | $33,970 – $48,140 | 420 |
| New York | $41,400 | +13.4% | $33,806 | $34,290 – $59,840 | 1,960 |
| Minnesota | $39,850 | +0.5% | $32,886 | $29,680 – $65,940 | 650 |
| Washington | $39,670 | +2.9% | $34,055 | $34,940 – $50,350 | 300 |
| Idaho | $39,400 | +2.8% | $32,858 | $26,260 – $41,440 | 280 |
| New Jersey | $39,370 | +17.2% | $33,153 | $33,230 – $46,790 | 410 |
| Arizona | $37,750 | +10.0% | $31,777 | $30,580 – $51,490 | 1,550 |
| Virginia | $37,440 | +2.9% | $30,924 | $30,960 – $62,050 | — |
| South Carolina | $37,090 | +64.6% | $30,914 | $21,600 – $44,910 | 1,060 |
| Utah | $36,610 | +14.1% | $30,915 | $29,520 – $47,590 | 390 |
| Georgia | $36,020 | +21.1% | $29,875 | $28,580 – $41,690 | 2,620 |
| Maryland | $35,590 | +4.4% | $29,450 | $31,410 – $52,620 | 540 |
| Florida | $35,570 | −1.2% | $30,760 | $27,040 – $41,910 | 9,760 |
| Ohio | $35,290 | +18.0% | $30,347 | $24,940 – $43,450 | 3,090 |
| Alabama | $34,840 | +3.4% | $28,697 | $29,740 – $35,460 | 1,330 |
| Kentucky | $34,450 | +2.0% | $28,772 | $29,090 – $48,720 | 910 |
| North Carolina | $34,380 | +6.3% | $28,941 | $27,380 – $52,500 | 1,820 |
| Nevada | $34,290 | −0.9% | $29,732 | $25,820 – $48,010 | 2,200 |
| Texas | $34,290 | −0.3% | $29,732 | $23,420 – $51,520 | 3,660 |
| Iowa | $33,640 | +15.8% | $28,583 | $28,190 – $39,580 | 1,100 |
| West Virginia | $33,370 | +12.0% | $28,115 | $21,770 – $34,830 | 440 |
| Wisconsin | $33,260 | +3.0% | $28,222 | $28,750 – $47,570 | 1,160 |
| Michigan | $33,040 | +3.0% | $27,574 | $25,960 – $38,310 | 1,120 |
| Maine | $32,610 | +3.5% | $27,282 | $30,470 – $63,330 | — |
| Indiana | $31,550 | −2.7% | $26,629 | $21,650 – $39,870 | 690 |
| Illinois | $31,200 | +7.1% | $25,850 | $31,200 – $71,340 | 870 |
| Nebraska | $31,200 | +5.3% | $26,684 | $28,080 – $60,920 | 490 |
| New Hampshire | $30,530 | −9.3% | $26,711 | $21,980 – $65,930 | 530 |
| Missouri | $29,840 | +5.1% | $25,691 | $28,600 – $37,120 | 2,710 |
| Tennessee | $29,470 | +4.8% | $25,859 | $21,280 – $48,340 | 2,210 |
| Arkansas | $29,060 | −1.7% | $24,609 | $28,450 – $37,130 | 840 |
| Louisiana | $28,910 | +24.3% | $24,928 | $23,440 – $43,030 | 380 |
| Pennsylvania | $28,430 | −16.2% | $24,149 | $20,800 – $38,140 | 1,710 |
| Oklahoma | $26,880 | −17.1% | $23,082 | $24,730 – $36,720 | 470 |
| North Dakota | $23,440 | — | $20,913 | $21,080 – $40,400 | 120 |
| Mississippi | $21,540 | +0.6% | $19,219 | $19,780 – $29,800 | 370 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Demonstrator and Product Promoter | $39,320 | No formal educational credential | +0.2% |
| Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers | $41,380 | No formal educational credential | -10.4% |
| Sales and Related Workers, All Other | $48,280 | High school diploma or equivalent | +1.1% |
| Model | $48,470 | No formal educational credential | -2.1% |
| Real Estate Sales Agent | $52,830 | High school diploma or equivalent | +1.7% |
| Real Estate Broker | $73,220 | High school diploma or equivalent | +0.8% |
| Sales Engineer | $124,900 | Bachelor's degree | +2.8% |
| Retail Salesperson | $35,410 | No formal educational credential | -0.3% |
| Gambling Change Person and Booth Cashier | $36,220 | No formal educational credential | -1.9% |
| Cashier | $32,880 | No formal educational credential | -6.5% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a telemarketer make?
The national median salary for telemarketers is $35,450 a year ($17.04 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $27,040 and the top 10% earn over $50,350. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays telemarketers the most?
Kansas has the highest median pay at $48,010. After taxes and local prices, Miami, FL offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many telemarketers are there in the U.S.?
About 58,430 people work as telemarketers nationwide.