Switchboard Operators Salary
Bureau of Labor Statistics title: Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service
The median switchboard operators salary in the United States is $38,630 per year ($18.57/hour). Salaries range from $29,990 at the entry level to $59,470+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 34,280 switchboard operators jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to decline 26.3% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Salary
$38,630
per year
Hourly Rate
$18.57
per hour
Employment
34,280
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$29,990
25th percentile
$34,820
Median
$38,630
75th percentile
$46,530
90th percentile
$59,470
Job Growth (2024-2034)
-26.3%
Decline
Annual Openings
2,800
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
High school diploma or equivalent
Training Needed
Short-term on-the-job training
Switchboard Operators Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →Salary Map — Click a state for details
$31K$60K■ No data
Top Paying States
Hawaii
$60K
+55%
District of Columbia
$55K
+42%
California
$49K
+26%
Washington
$48K
+24%
Minnesota
$47K
+23%
New York
$45K
+17%
New Hampshire
$44K
+14%
Massachusetts
$44K
+13%
Colorado
$44K
+13%
Maine
$43K
+12%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $59,860 | +55.0% |
| District of Columbia | $54,700 | +41.6% |
| California | $48,840 | +26.4% |
| Washington | $47,800 | +23.7% |
| Minnesota | $47,430 | +22.8% |
| New York | $45,330 | +17.3% |
| New Hampshire | $44,210 | +14.4% |
| Massachusetts | $43,790 | +13.4% |
| Colorado | $43,720 | +13.2% |
| Maine | $43,350 | +12.2% |
Showing 1–10 of 46
Switchboard Operators Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $79,260 | +105.2% |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $63,190 | +63.6% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $61,780 | +59.9% |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $60,420 | +56.4% |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $59,360 | +53.7% |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $57,030 | +47.6% |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $51,950 | +34.5% |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $50,470 | +30.6% |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $49,840 | +29.0% |
| Napa, CA | $49,460 | +28.0% |
Showing 1–10 of 143
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A switchboard operators earning $38,630/year would need 1543 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 1657 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries →📈 See how switchboard operators salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Switchboard Operators salary trend (2011–2024) →