Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service
Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service (SOC 43-2011) earn a median $38,630 a year ($18.57 an hour) in the United States, with 34,280 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Hawaii.
What switchboard operators, including answering service do
Switchboard operators connect callers with the right person or department using a telephone console, a computerized system, or an intercom. Answering services, named in the occupation title, take calls on behalf of other organizations. Operators greet the caller, find out who or what is wanted, route the call, and record a message when nobody can answer, sometimes suggesting clearer wording. Some also page staff over a public address or paging system, sign in visitors, assign security badges and contact escorts, and monitor alarms, make emergency announcements, or route emergency calls to the right place. A few handle cash tasks, like taking payments, depositing money at the bank, or handling a petty cash fund. Operators in this group differ from receptionists, whose work centers on greeting people in person and handling a wider range of office tasks, and from public safety telecommunicators, whose main job is taking emergency calls.
Typical entry: O*NET survey respondents most often report a high school diploma or equivalent as the education level for this occupation.
Also called: Answering Service Telephone Operator, CBX Operator (Computerized Branch Exchange Operator), Central Communications Specialist, Combination Operator, Command and Control Specialist.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $14.42 | $16.74 | $18.57 | $22.37 | $28.59 | $20.34 | 34,280 |
| Annual | $29,990 | $34,820 | $38,630 | $46,530 | $59,470 | $42,300 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where switchboard operators, including answering service earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Hawaii | Hourly | $20.54 | $23.03 | $28.78 | $31.21 | $32.34 | $27.42 | 410 | 0.65 | 2.95 |
| Annual | $42,720 | $47,900 | $59,860 | $64,910 | $67,270 | $57,030 | ||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $22.66 | $22.84 | $26.30 | $29.61 | $30.49 | $26.94 | 230 | 0.32 | 1.47 |
| Annual | $47,140 | $47,510 | $54,700 | $61,580 | $63,420 | $56,040 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $17.97 | $20.00 | $23.48 | $31.54 | $38.11 | $26.13 | 6,680 | 0.37 | 1.66 |
| Annual | $37,380 | $41,600 | $48,840 | $65,600 | $79,260 | $54,360 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $17.72 | $19.73 | $22.98 | $25.42 | $29.13 | $23.14 | 430 | 0.12 | 0.55 |
| Annual | $36,850 | $41,040 | $47,800 | $52,870 | $60,590 | $48,140 | ||||
| Minnesota | Hourly | $19.18 | $20.66 | $22.80 | $26.70 | $27.81 | $23.18 | 200 | 0.07 | 0.31 |
| Annual | $39,890 | $42,970 | $47,430 | $55,530 | $57,840 | $48,220 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $17.97 | $20.00 | $23.48 | $31.54 | $38.11 | $26.13 | 6,680 | 0.37 | 1.66 |
| Annual | $37,380 | $41,600 | $48,840 | $65,600 | $79,260 | $54,360 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $11.61 | $14.02 | $16.16 | $17.79 | $21.20 | $16.26 | 3,640 | 0.26 | 1.17 |
| Annual | $24,140 | $29,160 | $33,620 | $37,010 | $44,100 | $33,810 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $14.14 | $16.04 | $17.03 | $18.17 | $20.84 | $17.89 | 3,090 | 0.31 | 1.41 |
| Annual | $29,410 | $33,370 | $35,410 | $37,800 | $43,360 | $37,210 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $17.77 | $18.48 | $21.79 | $26.19 | $34.86 | $24.01 | 1,760 | 0.18 | 0.82 |
| Annual | $36,970 | $38,430 | $45,330 | $54,480 | $72,500 | $49,950 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $10.71 | $13.89 | $17.74 | $20.08 | $22.40 | $17.22 | 1,350 | 0.22 | 1.01 |
| Annual | $22,270 | $28,890 | $36,890 | $41,760 | $46,590 | $35,820 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $22.95 | $30.81 | $38.11 | $38.11 | $38.11 | $35.31 | 440 | 0.39 | 1.77 |
| Annual | $47,730 | $64,090 | $79,260 | $79,260 | $79,260 | $73,450 | ||||
| Urban Honolulu, HI | Hourly | $20.54 | $24.43 | $30.38 | $31.08 | $32.25 | $27.69 | 240 | 0.53 | 2.42 |
| Annual | $42,720 | $50,810 | $63,190 | $64,640 | $67,070 | $57,600 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $19.84 | $22.60 | $29.70 | $36.39 | $38.99 | $29.40 | 700 | 0.30 | 1.35 |
| Annual | $41,280 | $47,000 | $61,780 | $75,700 | $81,090 | $61,160 | ||||
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | Hourly | $22.02 | $24.55 | $29.05 | $31.21 | $35.18 | $28.95 | 70 | 0.97 | 4.38 |
| Annual | $45,800 | $51,050 | $60,420 | $64,920 | $73,170 | $60,220 | ||||
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | Hourly | $16.97 | $18.08 | $28.54 | $37.56 | $37.56 | $27.67 | 170 | 0.58 | 2.65 |
| Annual | $35,290 | $37,600 | $59,360 | $78,130 | $78,130 | $57,560 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $18.15 | $19.01 | $22.05 | $27.82 | $31.90 | $23.81 | 2,110 | 0.34 | 1.53 |
| Annual | $37,740 | $39,550 | $45,870 | $57,870 | $66,350 | $49,520 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $18.36 | $19.10 | $22.76 | $27.40 | $39.01 | $24.85 | 1,470 | 0.16 | 0.70 |
| Annual | $38,200 | $39,730 | $47,350 | $56,990 | $81,140 | $51,680 | ||||
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | Hourly | $14.31 | $16.21 | $16.86 | $18.17 | $20.18 | $17.58 | 1,270 | 0.45 | 2.04 |
| Annual | $29,770 | $33,710 | $35,080 | $37,800 | $41,980 | $36,570 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $13.08 | $14.48 | $17.02 | $17.65 | $19.55 | $16.36 | 1,200 | 0.30 | 1.34 |
| Annual | $27,200 | $30,120 | $35,390 | $36,700 | $40,660 | $34,030 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $16.98 | $19.14 | $21.41 | $22.74 | $27.28 | $21.74 | 860 | 0.19 | 0.87 |
| Annual | $35,310 | $39,810 | $44,540 | $47,300 | $56,750 | $45,230 | ||||
Top industries employing switchboard operators, including answering service
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals employ 31.8% of switchboard operators, including answering service nationally (10,890 jobs) at a median $39,550 a year ($19.01 an hour), followed by Business Support Services (19.3%) and Offices of Physicians (9.6%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals NAICS 622100 | 10,890 | 31.8% | $39,550 | $19.01 |
| Business Support Services NAICS 561400 | 6,610 | 19.3% | $35,430 | $17.03 |
| Offices of Physicians NAICS 621100 | 3,280 | 9.6% | $38,570 | $18.55 |
| Traveler Accommodation NAICS 721100 | 2,110 | 6.2% | $44,760 | $21.52 |
| Outpatient Care Centers NAICS 621400 | 1,950 | 5.7% | $66,530 | $31.99 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (34,280). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $30,150 for switchboard operators, including answering service in May 2021 and $38,630 in May 2025, with employment of 48,190 and 34,280.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $30,150 | $14.50 | 48,190 |
| May 2022 | $34,670 | $16.67 | 47,430 |
| May 2023 | $36,750 | $17.67 | 43,830 |
| May 2024 | $38,370 | $18.45 | 35,730 |
| May 2025 | $38,630 | $18.57 | 34,280 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
47 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii profile | $28.78 | $59,860 | $42,720 | $67,270 | 410 | 0.65 | 2.95 |
| 2 | District of Columbia profile | $26.30 | $54,700 | $47,140 | $63,420 | 230 | 0.32 | 1.47 |
| 3 | California profile | $23.48 | $48,840 | $37,380 | $79,260 | 6,680 | 0.37 | 1.66 |
| 4 | Washington profile | $22.98 | $47,800 | $36,850 | $60,590 | 430 | 0.12 | 0.55 |
| 5 | Minnesota profile | $22.80 | $47,430 | $39,890 | $57,840 | 200 | 0.07 | 0.31 |
| 6 | New York profile | $21.79 | $45,330 | $36,970 | $72,500 | 1,760 | 0.18 | 0.82 |
| 7 | New Hampshire profile | $21.26 | $44,210 | $37,850 | $49,660 | 100 | 0.15 | 0.68 |
| 8 | Massachusetts profile | $21.05 | $43,790 | $36,680 | $57,980 | 830 | 0.23 | 1.03 |
| 9 | Colorado profile | $21.02 | $43,720 | $35,490 | $46,920 | 320 | 0.11 | 0.50 |
| 10 | Maine profile | $20.84 | $43,350 | $38,190 | $48,100 | 100 | 0.16 | 0.72 |
| 11 | Illinois profile | $20.51 | $42,660 | $34,450 | $55,180 | 1,240 | 0.20 | 0.92 |
| 12 | Vermont profile | $20.50 | $42,630 | $37,700 | $47,360 | 70 | 0.22 | 0.99 |
| 13 | New Jersey profile | $19.44 | $40,430 | $35,780 | $51,890 | 660 | 0.15 | 0.70 |
| 14 | Arizona profile | $19.42 | $40,380 | $35,060 | $50,200 | 380 | 0.12 | 0.54 |
| 15 | Wisconsin profile | $19.24 | $40,030 | $36,040 | $57,420 | 550 | 0.19 | 0.85 |
| 16 | Rhode Island profile | $19.16 | $39,850 | $33,860 | $55,440 | 130 | 0.27 | 1.21 |
| 17 | Georgia profile | $18.99 | $39,490 | $30,880 | $46,390 | 780 | 0.16 | 0.72 |
| 18 | Kansas profile | $18.64 | $38,760 | $30,940 | $46,130 | 180 | 0.12 | 0.56 |
| 19 | North Carolina profile | $18.52 | $38,520 | $30,510 | $46,340 | 690 | 0.14 | 0.63 |
| 20 | Iowa profile | $18.46 | $38,400 | $30,060 | $45,570 | 210 | 0.14 | 0.62 |
| 21 | Connecticut profile | $18.45 | $38,380 | $34,370 | $55,170 | 180 | 0.11 | 0.49 |
| 22 | Nevada profile | $18.30 | $38,070 | $31,600 | $48,400 | 650 | 0.42 | 1.91 |
| 23 | Idaho profile | $18.27 | $38,000 | $23,000 | $47,380 | 70 | 0.08 | 0.35 |
| 24 | New Mexico profile | $18.13 | $37,710 | $31,270 | $50,590 | 220 | 0.26 | 1.17 |
| 25 | Alaska profile | $18.12 | $37,690 | $33,860 | $51,630 | ** | ** | ** |
| 26 | Kentucky profile | $18.07 | $37,590 | $30,550 | $44,390 | 370 | 0.18 | 0.83 |
| 27 | Nebraska profile | $18.06 | $37,570 | $32,370 | $46,560 | 180 | 0.17 | 0.78 |
| 28 | West Virginia profile | $18.00 | $37,430 | $26,630 | $46,080 | 110 | 0.16 | 0.73 |
| 29 | Michigan profile | $17.98 | $37,390 | $31,220 | $47,200 | 370 | 0.08 | 0.38 |
| 30 | Missouri profile | $17.85 | $37,130 | $32,380 | $45,570 | 640 | 0.22 | 0.98 |
| 31 | Maryland profile | $17.83 | $37,080 | $31,990 | $47,790 | 650 | 0.23 | 1.06 |
| 32 | Pennsylvania profile | $17.74 | $36,890 | $22,270 | $46,590 | 1,350 | 0.22 | 1.01 |
| 33 | Indiana profile | $17.72 | $36,860 | $28,220 | $56,540 | 380 | 0.12 | 0.53 |
| 34 | Virginia profile | $17.66 | $36,730 | $31,200 | $45,320 | 610 | 0.15 | 0.67 |
| 35 | Ohio profile | $17.48 | $36,350 | $29,800 | $44,100 | 990 | 0.18 | 0.81 |
| 36 | Montana profile | $17.44 | $36,270 | $30,960 | $47,150 | 110 | 0.21 | 0.96 |
| 37 | Delaware profile | $17.30 | $35,980 | $31,200 | $46,720 | 180 | 0.36 | 1.65 |
| 38 | Louisiana profile | $17.26 | $35,890 | $21,240 | $50,060 | ** | ** | ** |
| 39 | Tennessee profile | $17.09 | $35,550 | $27,020 | $46,700 | 680 | 0.21 | 0.95 |
| 40 | Florida profile | $17.03 | $35,410 | $29,410 | $43,360 | 3,090 | 0.31 | 1.41 |
| 41 | Arkansas profile | $16.96 | $35,290 | $29,360 | $42,870 | 260 | 0.20 | 0.92 |
| 42 | Oklahoma profile | $16.96 | $35,280 | $29,100 | $42,470 | 480 | 0.28 | 1.27 |
| 43 | South Carolina profile | $16.35 | $34,010 | $29,940 | $43,730 | 480 | 0.21 | 0.94 |
| 44 | Texas profile | $16.16 | $33,620 | $24,140 | $44,100 | 3,640 | 0.26 | 1.17 |
| 45 | Alabama profile | $15.48 | $32,210 | $27,640 | $38,260 | 680 | 0.32 | 1.46 |
| 46 | Mississippi profile | $14.68 | $30,520 | $23,170 | $39,360 | 200 | 0.18 | 0.80 |
| – | Utah profile | * | * | * | * | 50 | 0.03 | 0.14 |
Part of Office and Administrative Support Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 43-2011 Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service.
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 43-2011, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 43-2011.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.