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BLSSalary

Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service Salary (2025)

Based on 34,280 employed workers · BLS OEWS May 2025

Official BLS Data
Annual Mean
$42,300
$20.34/hr
Annual Median
$38,630
$18.57/hr
Bottom 10%
$29,990
$14.42/hr
Top 10%
$59,470
$28.59/hr

Salary Percentile Breakdown

PercentileAnnual
10th Percentile
Bottom 10%
$29,990
25th Percentile
Lower quarter
$34,820
50th PercentileMedian
Median
$38,630
75th Percentile
Upper quarter
$46,530
90th Percentile
Top 10%
$59,470

Salary Distribution

Annual Salary Range

10th

$30K

25th

$35K

Median

$39K

75th

$47K

90th

$59K

Highest Paying States for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service

States with highest average wages · BLS May 2025

StateAnnual Mean
Hawaii$57,030
District of Columbia$56,040
California$54,360
New York$49,950
Minnesota$48,220
Washington$48,140
Massachusetts$45,190
New Hampshire$43,860
Maine$43,750
Illinois$43,410

Geographic Salary Variation

Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service salaries vary significantly across the United States. The highest paying state is Hawaii at an average of $57,030 per year, while Illinois has an average of $43,410 — a difference of $13,620. These geographic differences reflect variations in cost of living, demand, and local labor market conditions.

About Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 34,280 workers were employed as Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Services in the United States as of May 2025. This occupation is classified under Office and Administrative Support Occupations. The annual mean wage of $42,300 reflects data from employer surveys conducted by BLS.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 · SOC Code: 43-2011

What do these percentiles mean? The 10th percentile ($29,990) represents entry-level or part-time Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Services, while the 90th percentile ($59,470) represents highly experienced professionals or those in high-demand locations. The median ($38,630) is the midpoint — half of all Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Services earn more and half earn less than this amount.
Data sourced from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025. Public domain. Not affiliated with the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.