Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for switchboard operators, including answering service is $38,630, or $18.57 per hour. About 34,280 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $59,860 in Hawaii to $30,520 in Mississippi.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 46 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $59,860 | $28.78 | 410 | 2.95 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $54,700 | $26.30 | 230 | 1.47 |
| 3 | California | $48,840 | $23.48 | 6,680 | 1.66 |
| 4 | Washington | $47,800 | $22.98 | 430 | 0.55 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $47,430 | $22.80 | 200 | 0.31 |
| 6 | New York | $45,330 | $21.79 | 1,760 | 0.82 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $44,210 | $21.26 | 100 | 0.68 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $43,790 | $21.05 | 830 | 1.03 |
| 9 | Colorado | $43,720 | $21.02 | 320 | 0.50 |
| 10 | Maine | $43,350 | $20.84 | 100 | 0.72 |
| 11 | Illinois | $42,660 | $20.51 | 1,240 | 0.92 |
| 12 | Vermont | $42,630 | $20.50 | 70 | 0.99 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $40,430 | $19.44 | 660 | 0.70 |
| 14 | Arizona | $40,380 | $19.42 | 380 | 0.54 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $40,030 | $19.24 | 550 | 0.85 |
| 16 | Rhode Island | $39,850 | $19.16 | 130 | 1.21 |
| 17 | Georgia | $39,490 | $18.99 | 780 | 0.72 |
| 18 | Kansas | $38,760 | $18.64 | 180 | 0.56 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $38,520 | $18.52 | 690 | 0.63 |
| 20 | Iowa | $38,400 | $18.46 | 210 | 0.62 |
| 21 | Connecticut | $38,380 | $18.45 | 180 | 0.49 |
| 22 | Nevada | $38,070 | $18.30 | 650 | 1.91 |
| 23 | Idaho | $38,000 | $18.27 | 70 | 0.35 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $37,710 | $18.13 | 220 | 1.17 |
| 25 | Alaska | $37,690 | $18.12 | — | — |
| 26 | Kentucky | $37,590 | $18.07 | 370 | 0.83 |
| 27 | Nebraska | $37,570 | $18.06 | 180 | 0.78 |
| 28 | West Virginia | $37,430 | $18.00 | 110 | 0.73 |
| 29 | Michigan | $37,390 | $17.98 | 370 | 0.38 |
| 30 | Missouri | $37,130 | $17.85 | 640 | 0.98 |
| 31 | Maryland | $37,080 | $17.83 | 650 | 1.06 |
| 32 | Pennsylvania | $36,890 | $17.74 | 1,350 | 1.01 |
| 33 | Indiana | $36,860 | $17.72 | 380 | 0.53 |
| 34 | Virginia | $36,730 | $17.66 | 610 | 0.67 |
| 35 | Ohio | $36,350 | $17.48 | 990 | 0.81 |
| 36 | Montana | $36,270 | $17.44 | 110 | 0.96 |
| 37 | Delaware | $35,980 | $17.30 | 180 | 1.65 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $35,890 | $17.26 | — | — |
| 39 | Tennessee | $35,550 | $17.09 | 680 | 0.95 |
| 40 | Florida | $35,410 | $17.03 | 3,090 | 1.41 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $35,290 | $16.96 | 260 | 0.92 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $35,280 | $16.96 | 480 | 1.27 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $34,010 | $16.35 | 480 | 0.94 |
| 44 | Texas | $33,620 | $16.16 | 3,640 | 1.17 |
| 45 | Alabama | $32,210 | $15.48 | 680 | 1.46 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $30,520 | $14.68 | 200 | 0.80 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do switchboard operators, including answering service make?
The median annual wage for switchboard operators, including answering service in the United States is $38,630, or $18.57 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $29,990, and the top 10% earn $59,470.
How many switchboard operators, including answering service are employed in the U.S.?
About 34,280 people work as switchboard operators, including answering service nationwide.
Which state pays switchboard operators, including answering service the most?
Hawaii pays the most at a median of $59,860, followed by District of Columbia ($54,700) and California ($48,840).
Which state pays switchboard operators, including answering service the least?
Mississippi has the lowest median at $30,520.
Where are switchboard operators, including answering service jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Hawaii at 2.95×.