How much does a switchboard operator make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $18.57 an hour or $3,219 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.57
- Average (mean)
- $42,300
- Jobs
- 34,280
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,990 | $14.42 | |
| 25th | $34,820 | $16.74 | |
| Median | $38,630 | $18.57 | |
| 75th | $46,530 | $22.37 | |
| 90th | $59,470 | $28.59 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Hawaii | $59,860 |
| District of Columbia | $54,700 |
| California | $48,840 |
| Washington | $47,800 |
| Minnesota | $47,430 |
| New York | $45,330 |
| New Hampshire | $44,210 |
| Massachusetts | $43,790 |
| Colorado | $43,720 |
| Maine | $43,350 |
| Illinois | $42,660 |
| Vermont | $42,630 |
| New Jersey | $40,430 |
| Arizona | $40,380 |
| Wisconsin | $40,030 |
| Rhode Island | $39,850 |
| Georgia | $39,490 |
| Kansas | $38,760 |
| North Carolina | $38,520 |
| Iowa | $38,400 |
| Connecticut | $38,380 |
| Nevada | $38,070 |
| Idaho | $38,000 |
| New Mexico | $37,710 |
| Alaska | $37,690 |
| Kentucky | $37,590 |
| Nebraska | $37,570 |
| West Virginia | $37,430 |
| Michigan | $37,390 |
| Missouri | $37,130 |
| Maryland | $37,080 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,890 |
| Indiana | $36,860 |
| Virginia | $36,730 |
| Ohio | $36,350 |
| Montana | $36,270 |
| Delaware | $35,980 |
| Louisiana | $35,890 |
| Tennessee | $35,550 |
| Florida | $35,410 |
| Arkansas | $35,290 |
| Oklahoma | $35,280 |
| South Carolina | $34,010 |
| Texas | $33,620 |
| Alabama | $32,210 |
| Mississippi | $30,520 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Jose, CA | $79,260 |
| Honolulu, HI | $63,190 |
| San Francisco, CA | $61,780 |
| Kahului, HI | $60,420 |
| Stockton, CA | $59,360 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $57,030 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $51,950 |
| Seattle, WA | $50,470 |
| Oxnard, CA | $49,840 |
| Napa, CA | $49,460 |
| Bend, OR | $48,880 |
| Salinas, CA | $48,840 |
| Sacramento, CA | $47,380 |
| New York, NY | $47,350 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $46,330 |
In other countries
Switchboard Operator belongs to the international group "Telephone switchboard operators".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Telephone Operator$41,740
- Communications Equipment Operator$54,680
Frequently asked questions
How much does a switchboard operator make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $18.57 ($38,630 a year).
How much does a switchboard operator make a month?
About $3,219 a month before tax, based on a median of $38,630 a year.
How much does a switchboard operator make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $29,990 or less a year ($14.42 an hour); the top 10% make $59,470 or more.
Which state pays switchboard operators the most?
Hawaii, with a median of $59,860 a year, followed by District of Columbia ($54,700) and California ($48,840).
Which city pays switchboard operators the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, with a median of $79,260 a year.
How many switchboard operators are there in the United States?
About 34,280 people work as switchboard operators.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.