How much does a Telephone Operator make?
The median pay for a Telephone Operator in the United States is $41,740 per year — about $20.07 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $31,510, while the most experienced Telephone Operators in the top 10% earn $62,950.
That is $19,650 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Telephone Operator salary range by percentile
Half of all Telephone Operators earn between $36,920 and $51,510 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,510 | $15.15 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $36,920 | $17.75 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $41,740 | $20.07 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $51,510 | $24.76 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,950 | $30.26 |
Highest-paying states for Telephone Operator
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. California leads the country for Telephone Operator pay at $57,170 a year, followed by New York ($50,220) and District of Columbia ($49,330). At the other end, Louisiana posts the lowest median at $31,400 — a gap of $25,770 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $57,170 | $27.49 | +37% |
| 2 | New York | $50,220 | $24.14 | +20% |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $49,330 | $23.72 | +18% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $47,940 | $23.05 | +15% |
| 5 | Wisconsin | $46,590 | $22.40 | +12% |
Telephone Operator salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 16 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 3,000 people work as Telephone Operators in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $44,970 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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