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Telephone Operator

Average base salary, California
$58,000 / year
$4,850 per month · $27.88 per hour

BLS May 2025 state data for California · median $59,000
25th percentile
$47,500
Average
$58,000
75th percentile
$65,500
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.
Telephone Operator salary by state
California$58,000
Florida$42,000
Georgia$40,500
Louisiana$33,500
Maryland$46,000
Michigan$42,000
New Jersey$45,500
New York$54,000
Ohio$40,000
Oklahoma$39,000
Texas$44,500
Virginia$44,500
Wisconsin$47,000
About this role

Telephone Operator is a professional role in the Office and Administrative Support job family, focused on Telephone Operator work. Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.

What Telephone Operators do

Typical education: High School Diploma

  • Observe signal lights on switchboards, and dial or press buttons to make connections.
  • Operate telephone switchboards and systems to advance and complete connections, including those for local, long distance, pay telephone, mobile, person-to-person, and emergency calls.
  • Listen to customer requests, referring to alphabetical or geographical directories to answer questions and provide telephone information.
  • Update directory information.
  • Suggest and check alternate spellings, locations, or listing formats to customers lacking details or complete information.

Top skills: Speaking Active Listening Service Orientation Social Perceptiveness Reading Comprehension Critical Thinking

Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Telephone Operator salary by industry
Health Care and Social Assistance

1,800 workers

$45,500

Accommodation and Food Services

350 workers

$50,500

Information

290 workers

$58,500

Educational Services

280 workers

$41,000

Federal, State, and Local Government, excl. State & Local Schools & Hospitals & USPS

260 workers

$53,500

State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)

80 workers

$47,500

Sectors 44 and 45 – Retail Trade

70 workers

$39,000

Finance and Insurance

60 workers

$39,000

National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares

Telephone Operator pays 14% below the average across 54 roles in the Office and Administrative Support job family (family average $54,000).

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Telephone Operator make?

The average base salary for a Telephone Operator in the United States is $46,500 per year, or about $22.36 per hour.

What is the typical salary range?

Pay typically falls between $38,000 and $53,500 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.

How does this compare with other Office and Administrative Support roles?

The Office and Administrative Support job family averages $54,000 across 54 roles tracked by WePayFairly.

Need a defensible market price for this role?
WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.

Explore Market DataOur Methodology

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