The median pay for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service is $38,630 a year ($18.57/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to fall 26.0% through 2035, with about 3,100 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 43-2011
- Office and Administrative Support
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Switchboard Operator, Including Answering Service in four numbers
- Median pay
- $38,630a year, or $18.57/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $30KTop 10% $59K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -26.0%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−26%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −26% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 3,10035,400 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202535.4K
- Projected 203526.2K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 35.4K Projected 2035 26.2K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school0.6%
- High school88.6%
- Certificate5.1%
- Some college2.1%
- Associate's0.6%
- Post-bacc certificate3%
Highest education held by switchboard operators, including answering service Segment Value Less than high school 0.6% High school 88.6% Certificate 5.1% Some college 2.1% Associate's 0.6% Post-bacc certificate 3%
Also advertised as: CBX Operator (Computerized Branch Exchange Operator), Central Communications Specialist, Communications Operator, Communications Specialist, Information Specialist, PBX Operator (Private Branch Exchange Operator).
Pay
How much do Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service make?
Every switchboard operator, including answering service in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$38,630
Middle half earn $34,820 to $46,530
- 10th
- $29,990
- 25th
- $34,820
- 75th
- $46,530
- 90th
- $59,470
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $29,990 |
| 25th | $34,820 |
| Median | $38,630 |
| 75th | $46,530 |
| 90th | $59,470 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $38,630
- Median hourly wage
- $18.57/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $42,300
- People employed
- 34,280
Versus all US occupations
At $38,630, Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service earn 24% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $12,350 a year.
Versus office and administrative support occupations
Inside the Office and Administrative Support group, where the middle occupation pays $49,230, this is 22% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $59,470 or more while the bottom 10% earn $29,990, a gap of 2.0×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 6% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Hawaii pays the most at $59,860, and still leads at $54,442 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Hawaii | $59,860 | $54,442 | 410 |
| 2District of Columbia | $54,700 | $49,772 | 230 |
| 3California | $48,840 | $44,111 | 6,680 |
| 4Washington | $47,800 | $44,667 | 430 |
| 5Minnesota | $47,430 | $48,093 | 200 |
| 6New York | $45,330 | $42,003 | 1,760 |
| 7New Hampshire | $44,210 | $42,442 | 100 |
| 8Massachusetts | $43,790 | $41,406 | 830 |
| 9Colorado | $43,720 | $42,425 | 320 |
| 10Maine | $43,350 | $44,668 | 100 |
Job outlook
Is Switchboard Operator, Including Answering Service a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -26.0% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service | −26% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service to change -26.0% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 9,200 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 3,100 openings are projected each year, 8.8% of the 35,400 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Switchboard Operator, Including Answering Service
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as switchboard operators, including answering service.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)88.6%
- Post-Secondary Certificate5.1%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate3%
- Some College Courses2.1%
- Less than a High School Diploma0.6%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 88.6% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 5.1% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 3% |
| Some College Courses | 2.1% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 0.6% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Switchboard Operator, Including Answering Service do?
Operate telephone business systems equipment or switchboards to relay incoming, outgoing, and interoffice calls. May supply information to callers and record messages.
Day-to-day tasks
- 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.
- Relay or route written or verbal messages.
- Perform various data entry or word processing tasks, such as updating phone directories, typing or proofreading documents, or creating schedules.
- Page individuals to inform them of telephone calls, using paging or interoffice communication equipment.
- Place telephone calls or arrange conference calls as instructed.
- Greet visitors, log them in and out of the facility, assign them security badges, and contact employee escorts.
- Process incoming or outgoing mail, packages, or deliveries.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayHandling conflict situations at least monthly.
Cost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening4.0
- Speaking3.9
- Reading Comprehension3.0
- Monitoring2.9
- Writing2.8
- Critical Thinking2.8
- Active Learning2.5
- Learning Strategies2.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 3.9 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.0 |
| Monitoring | 2.9 |
| Writing | 2.8 |
| Critical Thinking | 2.8 |
| Active Learning | 2.5 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Social Perceptiveness3.5
- Service Orientation3.1
- Coordination3.0
- Time Management2.8
- Judgment and Decision Making2.6
- Complex Problem Solving2.5
- Persuasion2.4
- Negotiation2.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.5 |
| Service Orientation | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Time Management | 2.8 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.6 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.5 |
| Persuasion | 2.4 |
| Negotiation | 2.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Facilities management software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Switchboard Operator, Including Answering Service?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Switchboard Operator, Including Answering Service |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 4 |
| Investigative | 1 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 3 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around organising, following procedures and working precisely with data, combined with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
- Conventional6.0
- Realistic3.6
- Enterprising3.2
- Social2.9
- Investigative1.4
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Switchboard Operator, Including Answering Service
O*NET related occupations
- Office and Administrative Support
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More office and administrative support careers
Median annual pay, with switchboard operators, including answering service highlighted
- Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant$76,590
- Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant$55,570
- Public Safety Telecommunicator$53,040
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerk$50,670
- Human Resources Assistant, Except Payroll and Timekeeping$50,610
- Secretary and Administrative Assistant, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$47,540
- Teller$43,030
- Switchboard Operator, Including Answering Service$38,630
- Receptionist and Information Clerk$38,010
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant | $76,590 |
| Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant | $55,570 |
| Public Safety Telecommunicator | $53,040 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerk | $50,670 |
| Human Resources Assistant, Except Payroll and Timekeeping | $50,610 |
| Secretary and Administrative Assistant, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $47,540 |
| Teller | $43,030 |
| Switchboard Operator, Including Answering Service | $38,630 |
| Receptionist and Information Clerk | $38,010 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Switchboard Operator, Including Answering Service appears on
Questions
Switchboard Operator, Including Answering Service: frequently asked questions
How much do Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service make?
Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service earn a median of $38,630 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 24% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $18.57/hr. The middle half earn between $34,820 and $46,530. The top 10% earn $59,470 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Switchboard Operator, Including Answering Service?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service. BLS also lists short-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 88.6% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Switchboard Operator, Including Answering Service a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 26.0% over 2025–2035, a loss of 9,200 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 3,100 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Switchboard Operator, Including Answering Service do?
Operate telephone business systems equipment or switchboards to relay incoming, outgoing, and interoffice calls. A core O*NET task: operate communication systems, such as telephone, switchboard, intercom, two-way radio, or public address. Employers most often ask for Data base user interface and query software, Electronic mail software, Enterprise resource planning ERP software.
Which states pay Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service the most?
The highest state medians for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service are Hawaii ($59,860), District of Columbia ($54,700), California ($48,840) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Switchboard Operator, Including Answering Service?
O*NET scores Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service highest on the Conventional, Realistic and Enterprising interest areas, so the work mixes organising, following procedures and working precisely with data with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISFJ, ESTJ, ESFJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.