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Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service Salary in California
Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much do Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service make in California?
Last updated: 2025 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
$48,840
Median Annual Salary
▼
-1.3% vs 2024
$54,360
Mean Salary
$48,840
Median Salary
$23.48
Hourly Rate
6,680 people work as Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service in California
Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service salary by percentile in California
BLS-reported salary distribution — from entry-level (10th percentile) to top earners (90th percentile).
Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service in California earn a median salary of $48,840 per year ($4,070/month).
This is 23.4% above the national average of $39,589.
California ranks #3 out of 46 states for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service pay.
Approximately 6,680 people work in this occupation across California.
Salaries decreased by 1.3% compared to 2024.
About This Job: Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service
Operate telephone business systems equipment or switchboards to relay incoming, outgoing, and interoffice calls. May supply information to callers and record messages.
Top Skills
Active Listening
4.0
Speaking
3.88
Social Perceptiveness
3.5
Service Orientation
3.12
Reading Comprehension
3.0
Key Knowledge Areas
Customer and Personal Service
4.34
English Language
3.85
Administrative
3.68
Computers and Electronics
3.49
Telecommunications
3.34
Typical Education: High School Diploma or Equivalent
(88.5% of workers)
Salary Range: Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service in California
Salaries for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service in California range from $37,380 at the 10th percentile (entry level) to $79,260 at the 90th percentile (experienced). The middle 50% earn between $41,600 and $65,600.
Median $48,840
P10: $37,380P25: $41,600P75: $65,600P90: $79,260
10th
$37,380
25th
$41,600
Median
$48,840
75th
$65,600
90th
$79,260
Percentile
Annual Salary
Hourly Rate
Monthly
10th Percentile (Entry Level)
$37,380
$17.97
$3,115
25th Percentile
$41,600
$20.00
$3,466
Median (50th)
$48,840
$23.48
$4,070
75th Percentile
$65,600
$31.54
$5,466
90th Percentile (Experienced)
$79,260
$38.11
$6,605
Note: The mean (average) salary of $54,360 differs from the median because salary distributions are typically skewed by high earners.
📊 How Does This Compare?
#3
California ranks #3 of 46 states
$39,589
National avg. for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service
How much do Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service make in California?
The median annual salary for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service in California is $48,840 as of 2025. The average (mean) salary is $54,360.
What is the salary range for a Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service in California?
Salaries for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service in California range from $37,380 at the 10th percentile to $79,260 at the 90th percentile. The middle 50% earn between $41,600 and $65,600.
What is the starting salary for a Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service in California?
Entry-level Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service positions in California typically start around $37,380 (10th percentile). With some experience, salaries rise to $41,600 (25th percentile).
How many people work as Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service in California?
According to 2025 BLS data, approximately 6,680 people are employed as Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service in California.
What is the hourly rate for a Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service in California?
Based on a standard 2,080-hour work year, the median hourly rate for a Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service in California is approximately $23.48 per hour.
Salary data is sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, 2025 estimates. The OEWS survey covers approximately 1.1 million establishments nationwide.
Annual salaries are calculated based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. Actual compensation may vary based on experience, education, employer, and local market conditions. Figures do not include benefits, bonuses, or overtime pay.
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