Telephone Operators
Telephone Operators (SOC 43-2021) earn a median $41,740 a year ($20.07 an hour) in the United States, with 3,430 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is California.
What telephone operators do
Telephone operators help callers complete calls or find information that they cannot get on their own. The core work is looking up listings in alphabetical or geographical directories, giving callers the number or address they need, and updating directory information. Operators watch switchboard signals or use telephone systems to complete local, long-distance, mobile, person-to-person, and emergency connections, and they help customers with special billing requests such as third-party charges, or credits and refunds for misdialed numbers and bad connections. When a caller has only partial details, the operator suggests and tries alternate spellings, locations, or listing formats. Some offer special help to people who cannot dial for themselves or who are in an emergency. Clerical duties such as typing, proofreading, and sorting mail may be added. Switchboard operators, who route calls inside a single organization, and customer service representatives, who solve account or product problems, are separate occupations.
Typical entry: O*NET survey respondents most often report a high school diploma or equivalent as the education level for this occupation.
Also called: 411 Directory Assistance Operator (411 Directory Assistance Op), Central Office Operator (CO Op), Change Number Operator (Change Number Op), Charge Operator (Charge Op), Communications Operator (Communications Op).
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $15.15 | $17.75 | $20.07 | $24.76 | $30.27 | $21.62 | 3,430 |
| Annual | $31,510 | $36,920 | $41,740 | $51,510 | $62,950 | $44,970 | ||
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 telephone operators 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 | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $21.21 | $22.09 | $27.49 | $30.53 | $32.05 | $26.88 | 230 | 0.01 | 0.58 |
| Annual | $44,120 | $45,950 | $57,170 | $63,510 | $66,670 | $55,910 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $18.19 | $18.82 | $24.15 | $27.97 | $34.04 | $25.14 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $37,840 | $39,140 | $50,220 | $58,170 | $70,810 | $52,290 | ||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $18.02 | $19.37 | $23.71 | $28.13 | $34.66 | $24.50 | 50 | 0.07 | 3.19 |
| Annual | $37,490 | $40,300 | $49,330 | $58,510 | $72,090 | $50,960 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $21.11 | $21.71 | $23.05 | $23.05 | $38.12 | $24.47 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $43,900 | $45,150 | $47,940 | $47,940 | $79,300 | $50,890 | ||||
| Wisconsin | Hourly | $18.72 | $21.38 | $22.40 | $22.99 | $23.33 | $21.76 | 60 | 0.02 | 0.88 |
| Annual | $38,940 | $44,470 | $46,590 | $47,820 | $48,520 | $45,260 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $16.61 | $17.86 | $19.83 | $24.09 | $27.36 | $20.70 | 280 | 0.02 | 0.90 |
| Annual | $34,550 | $37,150 | $41,250 | $50,120 | $56,900 | $43,060 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $21.21 | $22.09 | $27.49 | $30.53 | $32.05 | $26.88 | 230 | 0.01 | 0.58 |
| Annual | $44,120 | $45,950 | $57,170 | $63,510 | $66,670 | $55,910 | ||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $15.38 | $16.50 | $17.77 | $19.02 | $24.28 | $18.62 | 220 | 0.04 | 1.82 |
| Annual | $31,990 | $34,320 | $36,970 | $39,570 | $50,500 | $38,730 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $17.85 | $19.04 | $20.17 | $22.94 | $26.44 | $21.22 | 190 | 0.05 | 2.06 |
| Annual | $37,120 | $39,600 | $41,960 | $47,710 | $55,000 | $44,130 | ||||
| South Carolina | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 170 | 0.07 | 3.25 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $22.09 | $22.09 | $28.32 | $30.53 | $30.53 | $26.69 | 110 | 0.02 | 0.80 |
| Annual | $45,950 | $45,950 | $58,900 | $63,500 | $63,510 | $55,510 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $18.19 | $19.28 | $24.72 | $27.94 | $29.19 | $25.09 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $37,840 | $40,100 | $51,410 | $58,100 | $60,710 | $52,200 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $23.04 | $23.05 | $23.05 | $23.05 | $38.12 | $25.33 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $47,930 | $47,930 | $47,940 | $47,940 | $79,300 | $52,680 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $18.02 | $19.37 | $22.79 | $27.30 | $30.84 | $24.14 | 60 | 0.02 | 0.94 |
| Annual | $37,490 | $40,300 | $47,410 | $56,790 | $64,140 | $50,210 | ||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | $17.78 | $18.17 | $21.63 | $22.42 | $39.35 | $23.63 | 140 | 0.05 | 2.18 |
| Annual | $36,980 | $37,790 | $45,000 | $46,640 | $81,850 | $49,150 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | $17.78 | $18.17 | $21.63 | $22.42 | $39.35 | $23.63 | 140 | 0.05 | 2.18 |
| Annual | $36,980 | $37,790 | $45,000 | $46,640 | $81,850 | $49,150 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $22.09 | $22.09 | $28.32 | $30.53 | $30.53 | $26.69 | 110 | 0.02 | 0.80 |
| Annual | $45,950 | $45,950 | $58,900 | $63,500 | $63,510 | $55,510 | ||||
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | Hourly | $18.99 | $18.99 | $21.63 | $21.63 | $24.81 | $21.16 | 100 | 0.07 | 3.35 |
| Annual | $39,500 | $39,500 | $44,980 | $44,980 | $51,600 | $44,020 | ||||
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 90 | 0.22 | 9.79 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | Hourly | $20.06 | $20.06 | $20.41 | $22.01 | $25.29 | $21.40 | 80 | 0.06 | 2.53 |
| Annual | $41,730 | $41,730 | $42,460 | $45,780 | $52,600 | $44,500 | ||||
Top industries employing telephone operators
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals employ 30.0% of telephone operators nationally (1,030 jobs) at a median $45,150 a year ($21.71 an hour), followed by Offices of Physicians (16.3%) and Traveler Accommodation (10.2%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals NAICS 622100 | 1,030 | 30.0% | $45,150 | $21.71 |
| Offices of Physicians NAICS 621100 | 560 | 16.3% | $37,840 | $18.19 |
| Traveler Accommodation NAICS 721100 | 350 | 10.2% | $42,730 | $20.55 |
| Telecommunications NAICS 517000 | 270 | 7.9% | $46,970 | $22.58 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools NAICS 611100 | 230 | 6.7% | $44,790 | $21.54 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (3,430). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $37,630 for telephone operators in May 2021 and $41,740 in May 2025, with employment of 3,870 and 3,430.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $37,630 | $18.09 | 3,870 |
| May 2022 | $38,330 | $18.43 | 4,030 |
| May 2023 | $38,080 | $18.31 | 4,600 |
| May 2024 | $39,130 | $18.81 | 3,950 |
| May 2025 | $41,740 | $20.07 | 3,430 |
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
18 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 | California profile | $27.49 | $57,170 | $44,120 | $66,670 | 230 | 0.01 | 0.58 |
| 2 | New York profile | $24.15 | $50,220 | $37,840 | $70,810 | ** | ** | ** |
| 3 | District of Columbia profile | $23.71 | $49,330 | $37,490 | $72,090 | 50 | 0.07 | 3.19 |
| 4 | Massachusetts profile | $23.05 | $47,940 | $43,900 | $79,300 | ** | ** | ** |
| 5 | Wisconsin profile | $22.40 | $46,590 | $38,940 | $48,520 | 60 | 0.02 | 0.88 |
| 6 | Maryland profile | $20.41 | $42,460 | $40,980 | $49,980 | 110 | 0.04 | 1.75 |
| 7 | Virginia profile | $20.36 | $42,350 | $37,220 | $48,710 | ** | ** | ** |
| 8 | New Jersey profile | $20.17 | $41,960 | $37,120 | $55,000 | 190 | 0.05 | 2.06 |
| 9 | Texas profile | $19.83 | $41,250 | $34,550 | $56,900 | 280 | 0.02 | 0.90 |
| 10 | North Carolina profile | $19.40 | $40,360 | $29,330 | $47,750 | 40 | 0.01 | 0.33 |
| 11 | Michigan profile | $18.05 | $37,550 | $35,640 | $49,070 | 80 | 0.02 | 0.80 |
| 12 | Oklahoma profile | $17.94 | $37,320 | $37,250 | $37,320 | 40 | 0.02 | 0.94 |
| 13 | Florida profile | $17.88 | $37,180 | $36,130 | $52,680 | 70 | 0.01 | 0.33 |
| 14 | Ohio profile | $17.77 | $36,970 | $31,990 | $50,500 | 220 | 0.04 | 1.82 |
| 15 | Georgia profile | $17.75 | $36,920 | $33,080 | $50,360 | 160 | 0.03 | 1.44 |
| 16 | Louisiana profile | $15.09 | $31,400 | $25,040 | $38,410 | 50 | 0.02 | 1.06 |
| – | South Carolina profile | * | * | * | * | 170 | 0.07 | 3.25 |
| – | Tennessee profile | * | * | * | * | 150 | 0.04 | 2.01 |
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 43-2021 Telephone Operators.
*- 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 43-2021, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 43-2021.00, 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.