How much does a telephone operator make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $20.07 an hour or $3,478 a month.
- Hourly
- $20.07
- Average (mean)
- $44,970
- Jobs
- 3,430
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $31,510 | $15.15 | |
| 25th | $36,920 | $17.75 | |
| Median | $41,740 | $20.07 | |
| 75th | $51,510 | $24.76 | |
| 90th | $62,950 | $30.26 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| California | $57,170 |
| New York | $50,220 |
| District of Columbia | $49,330 |
| Massachusetts | $47,940 |
| Wisconsin | $46,590 |
| Maryland | $42,460 |
| Virginia | $42,350 |
| New Jersey | $41,960 |
| Texas | $41,250 |
| North Carolina | $40,360 |
| Michigan | $37,550 |
| Oklahoma | $37,320 |
| Florida | $37,180 |
| Ohio | $36,970 |
| Georgia | $36,920 |
| Louisiana | $31,400 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Los Angeles, CA | $58,900 |
| New York, NY | $51,410 |
| Boston, MA | $47,940 |
| Washington, DC | $47,410 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $45,000 |
| Austin, TX | $44,980 |
| Baltimore, MD | $42,460 |
| Atlanta, GA | $40,400 |
| Cleveland, OH | $39,570 |
| Buffalo, NY | $38,620 |
| Columbus, OH | $37,890 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $37,600 |
| Detroit, MI | $37,550 |
| Beaumont, TX | $37,150 |
In other countries
Telephone Operator belongs to the international group "Telephone switchboard operators".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Switchboard Operator$38,630
- Communications Equipment Operator$54,680
Frequently asked questions
How much does a telephone operator make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $20.07 ($41,740 a year).
How much does a telephone operator make a month?
About $3,478 a month before tax, based on a median of $41,740 a year.
How much does a telephone operator make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $31,510 or less a year ($15.15 an hour); the top 10% make $62,950 or more.
Which state pays telephone operators the most?
California, with a median of $57,170 a year, followed by New York ($50,220) and District of Columbia ($49,330).
Which city pays telephone operators the most?
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, with a median of $58,900 a year.
How many telephone operators are there in the United States?
About 3,430 people work as telephone 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.