Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service
Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed
Operate telephone business systems equipment or switchboards to relay incoming, outgoing, and interoffice calls. May supply information to callers and record messages.
Median pay: $38,630/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)
Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.
Job outlook: -26.3% projected growth, 2024–2034 — declining.
About 2,800 openings per year, on average, over the decade.
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.
• Operate communication systems, such as telephone, switchboard, intercom, two-way radio, or public address.
• Answer incoming calls, greeting callers, providing information, transferring calls or taking messages as necessary.
• Greet visitors, log them in and out of the facility, assign them security badges, and contact employee escorts.
• Monitor emergency and code alarms, make emergency announcements, or route emergency calls to the appropriate location.
• Record messages, suggesting rewording for clarity or conciseness.
• Page individuals to inform them of telephone calls, using paging or interoffice communication equipment.
• Relay or route written or verbal messages.
• Perform various cash handling tasks, such as collecting payments, making bank deposits, or managing petty cash.
What's the median pay for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service?
The median pay for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service is $38,630 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What's the job outlook for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service?
Employment for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service is projected to change -26.3% from 2024 to 2034 - declining.
What education is typically required for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service?
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
How many job openings are there each year for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service?
About 2,800 openings per year, on average, over the decade.