SOC 432011

Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service

Operate telephone business systems equipment or switchboards to relay incoming, outgoing, and interoffice calls. May supply information to callers and record messages.

National Median

$38,370

per year

National Salary Overview

Median Annual

$38,370

Entry Level (10th pct)

$29,820

Experienced (90th pct)

$60,940

Total Employed

35,730

Salary Distribution

Salary percentiles show the range from entry-level (10th) to top earners (90th)

Salary by Experience Level

Experience Level	Estimated Salary Range
Entry Level0-2 years experience	$29,820 - $34,250
Mid Career2-8 years experience	$34,250 - $46,330
Senior / Expert8+ years experience	$46,330 - $60,940

Highest Paying Locations for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

$73,220

+90.8% vs national

Modesto, CA

$61,760

+61.0% vs national

Urban Honolulu, HI

$61,350

+59.9% vs national

Barnstable Town, MA

$59,810

+55.9% vs national

Kahului-Wailuku, HI

$59,500

+55.1% vs national

Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service Salary by Location

Compare salaries across 50 metropolitan areas

Metropolitan Area	Median Salary	Employed
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$73,220	410
Modesto, CA	$61,760	60
Urban Honolulu, HI	$61,350	240
Barnstable Town, MA	$59,810	30
Kahului-Wailuku, HI	$59,500	50
Stockton-Lodi, CA	$58,750	150
Hawaii	$57,220	370
District of Columbia	$55,140	200
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$54,850	870
Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area	$51,920	80
Bend, OR	$50,310	40
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$49,690	240
California	$49,460	7,170
Oregon	$49,440	360
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$49,320	190
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$48,820	170
Minnesota	$48,280	340
Napa, CA	$47,860	40
Salinas, CA	$47,250	90
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	$47,120	70
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$46,810	2,320
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$46,730	420
Washington	$46,470	360
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$46,030	1,740
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$45,530	660
Salem, OR	$45,190	30
Fresno, CA	$45,080	150
New York	$45,030	2,070
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	$44,990	80
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA	$44,900	60
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$44,700	450
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY	$43,850	70
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	$43,610	290
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	$43,020	1,140
Madison, WI	$42,900	90
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$42,760	590
Colorado	$42,740	490
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	$42,580	150
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	$42,490	360
Portland-South Portland, ME	$42,130	30
Maine	$42,090	110
North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous)	$42,010	50
Montana	$41,880	40
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT	$41,710	50
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	$41,600	90
Utah	$41,290	110
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC	$40,960	60
New Hampshire	$40,860	150
Massachusetts	$40,730	1,010
Dover, DE	$40,710	40

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary for a Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service?

The national median annual salary for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service is $38,370, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This means half of workers in this occupation earn more, and half earn less.

Where do Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Services earn the most?

The highest-paying metro area for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Services is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, with a median salary of $73,220.

How much can an experienced Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service make?

Top-earning Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Services (90th percentile) make $60,940 or more annually. This typically reflects workers with significant experience, specialized skills, or positions in high-paying regions.