Telephone Operators Salary
The median telephone operators salary in the United States is $41,740 per year ($20.07/hour). Salaries range from $31,510 at the entry level to $62,950+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 3,430 telephone operators jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to decline 27.5% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Salary
$41,740
per year
Hourly Rate
$20.07
per hour
Employment
3,430
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$31,510
25th percentile
$36,920
Median
$41,740
75th percentile
$51,510
90th percentile
$62,950
Job Growth (2024-2034)
-27.5%
Decline
Annual Openings
300
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
High school diploma or equivalent
Training Needed
Short-term on-the-job training
Telephone Operators Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →Salary Map — Click a state for details
$31K$57K■ No data
Top Paying States
California
$57K
+37%
New York
$50K
+20%
District of Columbia
$49K
+18%
Massachusetts
$48K
+15%
Wisconsin
$47K
+12%
Maryland
$42K
+2%
Virginia
$42K
+1%
New Jersey
$42K
+1%
Texas
$41K
-1%
North Carolina
$40K
-3%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| California | $57,170 | +37.0% |
| New York | $50,220 | +20.3% |
| District of Columbia | $49,330 | +18.2% |
| Massachusetts | $47,940 | +14.9% |
| Wisconsin | $46,590 | +11.6% |
| Maryland | $42,460 | +1.7% |
| Virginia | $42,350 | +1.5% |
| New Jersey | $41,960 | +0.5% |
| Texas | $41,250 | -1.2% |
| North Carolina | $40,360 | -3.3% |
Showing 1–10 of 16
Telephone Operators Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $58,900 | +41.1% |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $51,410 | +23.2% |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $47,940 | +14.9% |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $47,410 | +13.6% |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $45,000 | +7.8% |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $44,980 | +7.8% |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $42,460 | +1.7% |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $40,400 | -3.2% |
| Cleveland, OH | $39,570 | -5.2% |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $38,620 | -7.5% |
Showing 1–10 of 14
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 telephone operators earning $41,740/year would need 1428 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 1533 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries →📈 See how telephone operators salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Telephone Operators salary trend (2011–2024) →