Telephone Operator Salary
Telephone Operators earn a median $41,740 a year nationally. Office and Administrative Support Occupations
What telephone operators do
Provide information by accessing alphabetical, geographical, or other directories. Assist customers with special billing requests, such as charges to a third party and credits or refunds for incorrectly dialed numbers or bad connections. May handle emergency calls and assist children or people with physical disabilities to make telephone calls.
- 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
- -27.6% (declining)
- Openings per year
- 200
Employment of telephone operators is projected to shrink 27.6% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 200 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.
Telephone Operator take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
- 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 | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $57,170 | +0.7% | $45,893 | $44,120 – $66,670 | 230 |
| New York | $50,220 | −6.1% | $40,417 | $37,840 – $70,810 | — |
| District of Columbia | $49,330 | +3.0% | $40,023 | $37,490 – $72,090 | 50 |
| Massachusetts | $47,940 | +3.4% | $38,523 | $43,900 – $79,300 | — |
| Wisconsin | $46,590 | +23.2% | $38,346 | $38,940 – $48,520 | 60 |
| Maryland | $42,460 | +3.0% | $34,643 | $40,980 – $49,980 | 110 |
| Virginia | $42,350 | — | $34,587 | $37,220 – $48,710 | — |
| New Jersey | $41,960 | +2.9% | $35,124 | $37,120 – $55,000 | 190 |
| Texas | $41,250 | +12.1% | $35,324 | $34,550 – $56,900 | 280 |
| North Carolina | $40,360 | — | $33,508 | $29,330 – $47,750 | 40 |
| Michigan | $37,550 | −6.8% | $31,006 | $35,640 – $49,070 | 80 |
| Oklahoma | $37,320 | −0.2% | $31,033 | $37,250 – $37,320 | 40 |
| Florida | $37,180 | — | $32,054 | $36,130 – $52,680 | 70 |
| Ohio | $36,970 | −3.0% | $31,651 | $31,990 – $50,500 | 220 |
| Georgia | $36,920 | +1.1% | $30,552 | $33,080 – $50,360 | 160 |
| Louisiana | $31,400 | −7.8% | $26,854 | $25,040 – $38,410 | 50 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service | $38,630 | High school diploma or equivalent | -26.0% |
| Communications Equipment Operators, All Other | $54,680 | High school diploma or equivalent | +1.0% |
| Data Entry Keyer | $41,340 | High school diploma or equivalent | -25.5% |
| Office Machine Operators, Except Computer | $40,960 | High school diploma or equivalent | -14.9% |
| Teller | $43,030 | High school diploma or equivalent | -13.2% |
| File Clerk | $43,600 | High school diploma or equivalent | -15.8% |
| Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service | $39,280 | High school diploma or equivalent | -7.2% |
| Courier and Messenger | $39,200 | High school diploma or equivalent | +8.0% |
| Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agent and Travel Clerk | $44,390 | High school diploma or equivalent | +2.5% |
| Customer Service Representative | $44,770 | High school diploma or equivalent | -5.3% |
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.