Telephone Operators
SOC 43-2021 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Telephone Operators is $38,080, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $42,100, and an estimated 4,600 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +1% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -14.2% (pay did not keep up with inflation). BLS projects employment will shrink 27.5% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Telephone Operators has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $38,080 | $38,080 | 4,600 |
| 2022 | $38,330 | $39,908 | 4,030 |
| 2021 | $37,630 | $42,314 | 3,870 |
| 2020 | $37,710 | $44,397 | 4,630 |
Nominal change
+1%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
-14.2%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
-27.5%
Declining
Employment 2024
4,000
Projected 2034
2,900
Annual Openings
300
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Telephone Operators earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $38,080. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $55,140 | +44.8% | 440 |
| Hawaii | $50,710 | +33.2% | 130 |
| New York | $49,990 | +31.3% | 440 |
| Washington | $49,890 | +31% | 30 |
| Missouri | $45,610 | +19.8% | — |
| District of Columbia | $45,460 | +19.4% | 140 |
| Illinois | $44,070 | +15.7% | 40 |
| New Jersey | $41,000 | +7.7% | 310 |
| Maryland | $39,730 | +4.3% | 90 |
| Connecticut | $39,670 | +4.2% | 70 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$29,770
25th Pct
$33,820
Median
$38,080
75th Pct
$48,590
90th Pct
$59,230
Related Occupations in Office & Administrative Support
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.