Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service
Receptionists and Information Clerks
Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan
Customer Service Representatives
Court, Municipal, and License Clerks
Telemarketers
CAREER
Telephone Operators
Overview
Salary Median (2020)
$37,710
Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)
-27.9% (decline)
Most Common Level of Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Career
What Telephone Operators Do
Provide information by accessing alphabetical, geographical, or other directories. Assist customers with special billing requests, such as charges to a third party and credits or refunds for incorrectly dialed numbers or bad connections. May handle emergency calls and assist children or people with physical disabilities to make telephone calls.
Other Job Titles Telephone Operators May Have
411 Directory Assistance Operator, Directory Assistance Operator, Information Specialist, Live Source Operator, Long Distance Operator (LD Operator), Telecommunications Operator, Telephone Operator, Toll Operator
Tasks & Responsibilities May Include
- Listen to customer requests, referring to alphabetical or geographical directories to answer questions and provide telephone information.
- Suggest and check alternate spellings, locations, or listing formats to customers lacking details or complete information.
- Offer special assistance to persons such as those who are unable to dial or who are in emergency situations.
- Observe signal lights on switchboards, and dial or press buttons to make connections.
- Operate telephone switchboards and systems to advance and complete connections, including those for local, long distance, pay telephone, mobile, person-to-person, and emergency calls.
Education
Level of Education Attained by Telephone Operators
Most common level of education among people in
this career: High school diploma or equivalent (38%)
High school diploma or equivalent
Some college, no degree
Bachelor's degree
Other*
*All other responses combined for clarity.
This page includes information from theO*NET 26.1 Databaseby the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under theCC BY 4.0license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
