Telephone Operators Career, Salary and Skills
Telephone Operators have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $41,740 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 3,430. Wage data is published for 30 locations.
Occupation description
Provide information by accessing alphabetical, geographical, or other directories. Assist customers with special billing requests, such as charges to a third party and credits or refunds for incorrectly dialed numbers or bad connections. May handle emergency calls and assist children or people with physical disabilities to make telephone calls.
O*NET code
43-2021.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$41,740
Hourly median
$20.07
Employment
3,430
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Speaking | 4.00 | 3.38 |
| Active Listening | 4.00 | 3.62 |
| Service Orientation | 3.50 | 3.12 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.12 | 2.88 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Monitoring | 2.75 | 2.25 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.62 | 2.50 |
| Coordination | 2.50 | 2.25 |
| Time Management | 2.50 | 2.00 |
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Perform clerical duties such as typing, proofreading, and sorting mail.
- Offer special assistance to persons such as those who are unable to dial or who are in emergency situations.
- Operate paging systems or other systems of bells or buzzers to notify recipients of incoming calls.
Technology
- Computer aided dispatch software
- Handheld computer device software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Word
- Video conference software
Telephone Operators salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Telephone Operators Salary in TXMedian $41,250 · Employment 280
- Telephone Operators Salary in CAMedian $57,170 · Employment 230
- Telephone Operators Salary in OHMedian $36,970 · Employment 220
- Telephone Operators Salary in NJMedian $41,960 · Employment 190
- Telephone Operators Salary in GAMedian $36,920 · Employment 160
- Telephone Operators Salary in Philadelphia, PAMedian $45,000 · Employment 140
- Telephone Operators Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $58,900 · Employment 110
- Telephone Operators Salary in MDMedian $42,460 · Employment 110
- Telephone Operators Salary in Austin, TXMedian $44,980 · Employment 100
- Telephone Operators Salary in MIMedian $37,550 · Employment 80
- Telephone Operators Salary in Baltimore, MDMedian $42,460 · Employment 80
- Telephone Operators Salary in Cleveland, OHMedian $39,570 · Employment 70
Related careers
- Word Processors and TypistsNational median $49,280
- Insurance Claims and Policy Processing ClerksNational median $49,230
- Computer Network Support SpecialistsNational median $76,220
- CashiersNational median $32,880
- Billing and Posting ClerksNational median $48,500
- Interviewers, Except Eligibility and LoanNational median $45,920
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and ExecutiveNational median $47,540
- Data Entry KeyersNational median $41,340
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.