Telephone Operators Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for telephone operators is $41,740, or $20.07 per hour. About 3,430 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $57,170 in California to $31,400 in Louisiana.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 16 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $57,170 | $27.49 | 230 | 0.58 |
| 2 | New York | $50,220 | $24.15 | — | — |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $49,330 | $23.71 | 50 | 3.19 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $47,940 | $23.05 | — | — |
| 5 | Wisconsin | $46,590 | $22.40 | 60 | 0.88 |
| 6 | Maryland | $42,460 | $20.41 | 110 | 1.75 |
| 7 | Virginia | $42,350 | $20.36 | — | — |
| 8 | New Jersey | $41,960 | $20.17 | 190 | 2.06 |
| 9 | Texas | $41,250 | $19.83 | 280 | 0.90 |
| 10 | North Carolina | $40,360 | $19.40 | 40 | 0.33 |
| 11 | Michigan | $37,550 | $18.05 | 80 | 0.80 |
| 12 | Oklahoma | $37,320 | $17.94 | 40 | 0.94 |
| 13 | Florida | $37,180 | $17.88 | 70 | 0.33 |
| 14 | Ohio | $36,970 | $17.77 | 220 | 1.82 |
| 15 | Georgia | $36,920 | $17.75 | 160 | 1.44 |
| 16 | Louisiana | $31,400 | $15.09 | 50 | 1.06 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do telephone operators make?
The median annual wage for telephone operators in the United States is $41,740, or $20.07 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $31,510, and the top 10% earn $62,950.
How many telephone operators are employed in the U.S.?
About 3,430 people work as telephone operators nationwide.
Which state pays telephone operators the most?
California pays the most at a median of $57,170, followed by New York ($50,220) and District of Columbia ($49,330).
Which state pays telephone operators the least?
Louisiana has the lowest median at $31,400.
Where are telephone operators jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is District of Columbia at 3.19×.