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.
Base salary plus target annual bonus. Target bonus opportunity scales with role level, so a higher base carries a higher target percentage.
Base salary
$38,500
National baseline
Target bonus
$3,000
7.3% of base
Total target cash
$41,500
Base plus target bonus
Bonus percentiles:25th$2,00050th$3,00075th$5,000
Long-term incentive is not shown for this role. Equity awards are only disclosed publicly for the named executive officers of public companies, so no market figure exists for most jobs. See executive pay disclosures.
About this role
Telemarketer is a professional role within the function in the Sales job family.
The Sales function covers building customer relationships, managing pipeline, and closing revenue.
Typical entry preparation: High School Diploma and up to 1 year of related work experience, per O*NET occupational data. Advancement typically requires additional years in role.
Contact businesses or private individuals by telephone to solicit sales for goods or services, or to request donations for charitable causes.
Obtain customer information such as name, address, and payment method, and enter orders into computers.
Explain products or services and prices, and answer questions from customers.
Record names, addresses, purchases, and reactions of prospects contacted.
Maintain records of contacts, accounts, and orders.
Top skills:SpeakingPersuasionActive ListeningService OrientationSocial PerceptivenessReading Comprehension
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Telemarketer pay by experience level
Entry level$28,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$30,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$36,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$41,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$52,000
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
-22.1%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
6,500
projected openings per year
Declining
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Telemarketer salary by industry
Administrative and Support Services
39,850 workers
$35,500
Business Support Services
37,590 workers
$35,500
Insurance Carriers and Related Activities
4,680 workers
$46,500
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
2,560 workers
$40,500
Insurance Carriers
2,350 workers
$54,500
Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities
2,330 workers
$38,000
Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods
1,420 workers
$56,500
Specialty Trade Contractors
1,280 workers
$41,500
Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
1,170 workers
$58,500
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services
1,040 workers
$36,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Typical duties and FLSA status
Core duties
Contact businesses or private individuals by telephone to solicit sales for goods or services, or to request donations for charitable causes.
Obtain customer information such as name, address, and payment method, and enter orders into computers.
Explain products or services and prices, and answer questions from customers.
Record names, addresses, purchases, and reactions of prospects contacted.
Maintain records of contacts, accounts, and orders.
FLSA classification (typical)
Typically Non-exempt · Service, trades, or production work
Occupations in this SOC group are typically classified as Non-exempt and eligible for overtime pay under FLSA rules. Actual classification depends on the specific job duties, salary basis, and any applicable state or local rules. The current federal salary threshold for exemption is $684 per week ($35,568 per year), per the 2020 Department of Labor rule; the 2024 rule that would have raised the threshold was struck down by federal court in November 2024.
How this role compares
Telemarketer pays 66% below the average across 933 roles in the Sales job family (family average $114,000).
Need Telemarketer pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
