Office and Administrative Support

Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service

See live switchboard operators, including answering service jobs Compare this career
7/100
Jobs.best score
#803 of 825
$38,630
median pay, U.S.
34,280
employed (2024)
-26.3%
growth, 2024–34
2,800
openings per year
High school diploma or equivalent
typical entry education

Is switchboard operators, including answering service a good career?

It scores 7/100 and ranks #803 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.

Advantages

  • No college degree typically required to enter

Possible tradeoffs

  • Pays below the U.S. median wage ($38,630 vs $61,390)
  • Employment is projected to decline (-26.3% through 2034)

What switchboard operators, including answering service earn

Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025

Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. switchboard operators, including answering service earn between $34,820 and $46,530 a year.

Best-paying states

same axis · ranked by median
Hawaii statewide
$59,860
District of Columbia statewide
$54,700
California statewide
$48,840
Washington statewide
$47,800
Minnesota statewide
$47,430
New York statewide
$45,330
New Hampshire statewide
$44,210
Massachusetts statewide
$43,790
Colorado statewide
$43,720
Maine statewide
$43,350
$20k $50k $80k

Best-paying metros

01 San Jose, CA $79,260
02 Urban Honolulu, HI $63,190
03 San Francisco, CA $61,780
04 Kahului, HI $60,420
05 Stockton, CA $59,360
06 Barnstable Town, MA $57,030
07 Minneapolis, MN $51,950
08 Seattle, WA $50,470

Strongest employment concentration

01 California 6,680
02 Texas 3,640
03 Florida 3,090
04 New York 1,760
05 Pennsylvania 1,350
06 Illinois 1,240

Live switchboard operators, including answering service jobs

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When the jobs.best ATS feed launches, verified switchboard operators, including answering service openings will appear here — each shown against the $38,630 national median. Nothing here is placeholder.

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How to become a switchboard operators, including answering service

Typical education
High school diploma or equivalent
Work experience
None
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
Requirements from the Employment Projections program. This occupation has no Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.

Related occupations

Telephone Operators
High school diploma or equivalent · $41,740 median
Communications Equipment Operators, All Other
High school diploma or equivalent · $54,680 median
Questions about becoming a switchboard operators, including answering service
How much do switchboard operators, including answering service make?

The national median wage is $38,630 a year, with the middle half earning between $34,820 and $46,530 (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Is switchboard operators, including answering service a good career?

On the Jobs.best index it scores 7 of 100 and ranks #803 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change -26.3% through 2034.

What education do you need to become a switchboard operators, including answering service?

The typical entry-level education is high school diploma or equivalent.

Where do switchboard operators, including answering service earn the most?

Among states, Hawaii pays the highest median ($59,860). Local pay for every state and metro is below.

U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsWages: BLS OEWS May 2025 · Projections: BLS EP 2024–34
Sources: OEWS-M2025 · EP-2024-34. How we score careers →