Telemarketer Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Telemarketers — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$35,450
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$17.04
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$50,350
entry level starts ~$27,040
Pay Grade
C
below-average pay · 58,000 employed

How much does a Telemarketer make?

The median pay for a Telemarketer in the United States is $35,450 per year — about $17.04 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $27,040, while the most experienced Telemarketers in the top 10% earn $50,350.

That is $25,940 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Telemarketer salary range by percentile

Half of all Telemarketers earn between $29,640 and $40,230 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$27,040$13.00
25th percentile (early career)$29,640$14.25
50th percentile (median)$35,450$17.04
75th percentile (experienced)$40,230$19.34
90th percentile (top earners)$50,350$24.21

Highest-paying states for Telemarketer

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Kansas leads the country for Telemarketer pay at $48,010 a year, followed by Colorado ($47,670) and California ($46,000). At the other end, Mississippi posts the lowest median at $21,540 — a gap of $26,470 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1Kansas$48,010$23.08+35%
2Colorado$47,670$22.92+34%
3California$46,000$22.12+30%
4Connecticut$45,200$21.73+28%
5Massachusetts$44,650$21.47+26%

Workforce and education

About 58,000 people work as Telemarketers in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $37,370 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: no college degree is required — most training happens on the job, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Telemarketer make in the United States?
The median Telemarketer salary in the United States is $35,450 per year, or about $17.04 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $27,040, while the top 10% of earners make $50,350 or more.
How does Telemarketer pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C (below-average pay), the Telemarketer median of $35,450 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Telemarketers the most?
Kansas is the highest-paying state for Telemarketers, with a median salary of $48,010 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Telemarketer?
Becoming a Telemarketer typically requires no formal schooling beyond basic training. No college degree is required — most training happens on the job.
How many Telemarketers work in the United States?
About 58,000 people were employed as Telemarketers in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.