Telephone Operators Salary in California
Telephone Operators in California earn a median annual wage of $57,170 —37.0% above the national median of $41,740. That ranks CA #1 of 16 covered states and territories for this occupation.
Wage distribution
How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.
Employment is only 0.58× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in California.
Highest-paying states for telephone operators
All 16 states ranked by median annual wage. California is highlighted.
| # | 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 |
Related occupations in California
Occupations in the same job family, compared within California.
| Occupation | California median | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|
| Customer Service Representatives | $49,560 | $44,770 |
| Office Clerks, General | $48,460 | $45,010 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $55,400 | $47,540 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $77,590 | $69,500 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $59,230 | $50,670 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $54,490 | $45,930 |
Frequently asked questions
How much do telephone operators make in California?
The median annual wage for telephone operators in California is $57,170, or $27.49 per hour. That is 37.0% above the national median of $41,740.
What is the entry-level telephone operators salary in California?
Workers at the 10th percentile earn $44,120 per year ($21.21/hour). The 25th percentile is $45,950.
How many people work as telephone operators in California?
About 230 people work in this occupation in California, or 0.0 per 1,000 jobs statewide.
Is California a good state for telephone operators?
California ranks #1 of 16 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.58x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in California.
Which state pays telephone operators the most?
California has the highest median wage at $57,170 per year, followed by New York ($50,220) and District of Columbia ($49,330).