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Switchboard operator: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$38,630median pay per year, or $18.57 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $29,990lowest 10% earn less
  2. $34,82025th percentile
  3. $38,630median
  4. $46,53075th percentile
  5. $59,470top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

The median switchboard operator earned $38,630 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to fall 26% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
-26%[2]
Openings per year
3,100[5]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[6]

How much do switchboard operators make?

The official BLS category is Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service. In May 2025, its median wage was $38,630 a year, or $18.57 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average (mean) was $42,300 a year, or $20.34 an hour[7].

For comparison, the median for all occupations in the US was $50,980 a year[4].

Here is how annual pay spread across the occupation[3]:

Point in the range Annual wage Source
10th percentile[3] $29,990
25th percentile[3] $34,820
Median[1] $38,630
75th percentile[3] $46,530
90th percentile[3] $59,470

A percentile is a boundary. For example, the lowest-paid 10% of workers earned less than $29,990[3][8]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[8]. By the hour, the 10th percentile was $14.42 and the 90th percentile was $28.59[9].

These figures cover wage and salary workers, both part-time and full-time. They leave out self-employed people and the cost of benefits[10].

Pay by state and city

Hawaii had the highest median wage among the states with published data, at $59,860 a year[11]. The District of Columbia was next at $54,700, then California at $48,840[11]. Mississippi had the lowest listed median at $30,520[11].

The most jobs were in California (6,680), Texas (3,640) and Florida (3,090)[12]. New York (1,760) and Pennsylvania (1,350) followed[12].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, the highest medians were in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($79,260), Urban Honolulu, HI ($63,190) and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($61,780)[13]. The metro area with the most jobs was Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, with 2,110 jobs and a median of $45,870[14]. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ had 1,470 jobs[14].

Show median pay in 45 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Hawaii[11]$59,860410
District of Columbia$54,700230
California$48,8406,680
Washington$47,800430
Minnesota$47,430200
New York$45,3301,760
New Hampshire$44,210100
Massachusetts$43,790830
Colorado$43,720320
Maine$43,350100
Illinois$42,6601,240
Vermont$42,63070
New Jersey$40,430660
Arizona$40,380380
Wisconsin$40,030550
Rhode Island$39,850130
Georgia$39,490780
Kansas$38,760180
North Carolina$38,520690
Iowa$38,400210
Connecticut$38,380180
Nevada$38,070650
Idaho$38,00070
New Mexico$37,710220
Alaska$37,690n/a
Kentucky$37,590370
Nebraska$37,570180
West Virginia$37,430110
Michigan$37,390370
Missouri$37,130640
Maryland$37,080650
Pennsylvania$36,8901,350
Indiana$36,860380
Virginia$36,730610
Ohio$36,350990
Montana$36,270110
Delaware$35,980180
Louisiana$35,890n/a
Tennessee$35,550680
Florida$35,4103,090
Arkansas$35,290260
Oklahoma$35,280480
South Carolina$34,010480
Texas$33,6203,640
Alabama$32,210680
Mississippi$30,520200

How to become a switchboard operator

BLS describes the typical path like this[6]:

In an ONET survey of 25 workers, 89% said a high school diploma or the equivalent is required, and 5% named a post-secondary certificate[15]. ONET places the job in Job Zone 1-2, which means very little to some preparation is needed[16].

The facts do not give a training length, a license or a certification, so check with local employers.

What switchboard operators do

Switchboard operators run telephone systems or switchboards to pass along incoming, outgoing and internal calls[17]. They may also give callers information and take messages[17]. O*NET lists these tasks[18]:

Workers report job titles such as PBX operator, switchboard receptionist and communications specialist[19].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to fall 26% from 2025 to 2035, from about 35,400 to 26,200 jobs[2]. Those counts include self-employed workers[2]. All occupations together are projected to grow 3.5% over the same years[20].

BLS names one factor: companies keep using automated phone systems, so the share of this work done by people decreases[21].

Jobs still open up. BLS projects about 3,100 openings a year on average[5]. Openings come from retirements and moves to other occupations as well as new jobs[5]. Each year, 7.1% of workers leave the labor force and 6.1% move to a different occupation[22].

OEWS counted about 34,280 wage and salary jobs in May 2025[23]. This differs from the projection count because the two measures cover different groups[23][2]. In 2025, 1.6% of switchboard operators were self-employed[24].

Is it a good fit?

The job asks for a high school diploma and short-term on-the-job training, with no related experience[6]. Pay is below the all-occupations median[1][4]. Employment is projected to shrink, though thousands of openings are still expected each year[2][5]. Related jobs such as receptionists, customer service representatives and telephone operators also have median pay and projected change listed by O*NET[25]. Compare those if you want options.

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[25].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a switchboard operator make an hour?
The median was $18.57 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $20.34[1][7].
What education do you need to be a switchboard operator?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent, no related experience and short-term on-the-job training[6].
Is switchboard operator a growing job?
No. BLS projects a 26% decline from 2025 to 2035, though about 3,100 openings a year are expected[2][5].
What is the highest paying state for switchboard operators?
Hawaii, with a median of $59,860 a year in May 2025[11].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service in the US was $38,630 per year and $18.57 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service is projected to decline 26% from 2025 to 2035, from about 35,400 to 26,200 jobs (a change of -9,200). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service: 10th percentile $29,990, 25th percentile $34,820, 75th percentile $46,530, 90th percentile $59,470. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 3,100 openings for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service was $42,300 per year and $20.34 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service: 10th percentile $14.42, 25th percentile $16.74, 75th percentile $22.37, 90th percentile $28.59. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Median annual wage for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service jobs: California 6,680; Texas 3,640; Florida 3,090; New York 1,760; Pennsylvania 1,350. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $79,260; Urban Honolulu, HI $63,190; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $61,780; Stockton-Lodi, CA $59,360; Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $51,950; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $50,470; Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $47,380; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $47,350. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service jobs: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 2,110 (median $45,870); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 1,470 (median $47,350); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 1,270 (median $35,080); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 1,200 (median $35,390); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 860 (median $44,540); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 740 (median $34,330). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. O*NET 43-2011.00 survey of workers (25 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 89%, Post-Secondary Certificate 5% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  16. O*NET 43-2011.00: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. O*NET OnLine
  17. O*NET description of Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service. O*NET OnLine
  18. O*NET task list for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service. O*NET OnLine
  19. O*NET 43-2011.00 sample job titles reported by workers: CBX Operator (Computerized Branch Exchange Operator), Central Communications Specialist, Communications Operator, Communications Specialist, Information Specialist, PBX Operator (Private Branch Exchange Operator), Switchboard Operator (SB Operator), Switchboard Receptionist (SB Receptionist). O*NET OnLine
  20. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  21. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service: Capital/labor substitution - share decreases as companies continue to use automated phone systems. BLS Employment Projections
  22. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service: 7.1% of workers leave the labor force each year and 6.1% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  23. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 34,280 people were employed as Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  24. BLS Employment Projections: 1.6% of Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  25. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.