Average Salary for Telephone Operators
SOC 43-2021 · Office and Administrative Support Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Telephone Operators in the United States is $39,130 ($18.81/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $31,440 at the 10th percentile to $57,510 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 3,950 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 11.4% since 2014.
Median Annual
$39,130
Mean Annual
$42,880
10th Pct
$31,440
75th Pct
$48,530
Employment
3,950
Salary Distribution
$31k
10th
$36k
25th
$39k
Median
$49k
75th
$58k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $52,990 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $51,390 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $46,370 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $44,400 |
| Worcester, MA | $43,760 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $43,680 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $42,440 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $41,220 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $40,770 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $39,470 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $39,060 |
| Columbus, OH | $39,030 |
| Cleveland, OH | $38,460 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $38,110 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $37,040 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| California | $56,770 |
| New York | $53,510 |
| Hawaii | $52,160 |
| District of Columbia | $47,890 |
| Massachusetts | $46,370 |
| Maryland | $41,220 |
| New Jersey | $40,770 |
| Connecticut | $40,620 |
| Michigan | $40,300 |
| Ohio | $38,110 |
| Kentucky | $38,100 |
| Wisconsin | $37,830 |
| Oklahoma | $37,400 |
| Texas | $36,800 |
| Georgia | $36,510 |
| South Carolina | $36,160 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,040 |
| Louisiana | $34,050 |
| Puerto Rico | $27,410 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Telephone Operators broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $49,140 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $49,140 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $49,140 |
| Information | $47,760 |
| Individual and Family Services | $46,370 |
| Social Assistance | $46,370 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $46,260 |
| Telecommunications | $45,600 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $44,300 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $44,300 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $43,790 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $40,670 |
| Hospitals | $40,330 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $39,200 |
| Educational Services | $39,090 |
| Educational Services | $39,090 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | $39,030 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $38,980 |
| Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals | $38,380 |
| Automobile Dealers | $37,710 |
| Retail Trade | $37,710 |
| Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers | $37,710 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | $36,910 |
| Accommodation | $36,910 |
| Traveler Accommodation | $36,910 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services | $36,140 |
| Offices of Physicians | $36,070 |
| Finance and Insurance | $35,550 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities | $33,970 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (5221 and 5223 only) | $33,970 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $39,130 |
| 2023 | $38,080 |
| 2022 | $38,330 |
| 2021 | $37,630 |
| 2020 | $37,710 |
| 2019 | $35,750 |
| 2018 | $37,240 |
| 2017 | $36,320 |
| 2016 | $37,000 |
| 2015 | $35,880 |
| 2014 | $35,140 |