Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service salary by state
What Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Services do
Typical education: High School Diploma
Operate communication systems, such as telephone, switchboard, intercom, two-way radio, or public address.
Answer incoming calls, greeting callers, providing information, transferring calls or taking messages as necessary.
Greet visitors, log them in and out of the facility, assign them security badges, and contact employee escorts.
Monitor emergency and code alarms, make emergency announcements, or route emergency calls to the appropriate location.
Record messages, suggesting rewording for clarity or conciseness.
Top skills:Active ListeningSpeakingSocial PerceptivenessService OrientationReading ComprehensionCoordination
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service pay by experience level
Entry level$31,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$36,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$40,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$48,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$61,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
-26.3%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
2,800
projected openings per year
Declining
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service salary by industry
Hospitals
11,380 workers
$44,500
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
10,890 workers
$44,500
Hospitals, Privately Owned
9,770 workers
$44,500
Administrative and Support Services
7,550 workers
$38,000
Business Support Services
6,610 workers
$37,000
Ambulatory Health Care Services
5,640 workers
$50,000
Offices of Physicians
3,280 workers
$40,500
Accommodation
2,110 workers
$50,500
Traveler Accommodation
2,110 workers
$50,500
Outpatient Care Centers
1,950 workers
$65,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service pays 19% below the average across 55 roles in the Office and Administrative Support job family (family average $54,000).
Similar-paying roles in Office and Administrative Support
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