Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service
Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service is a dynamic career path with diverse opportunities. While facing some shifts, the field is adapting to changes in the job market. Professionals in this field are primarily employed in industries such as Cross-industry and Cross-industry, Private Ownership only.
Key Statistics
Employment
Employment and salary information for the Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service workforce.
Employment Over Time
7,170 Workforce in 2023
The Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service workforce has been growing over time.
Historical employment trends for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service.
Yearly Wage Ranking
$55,888 Average Wage
In 2023, Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service earned an average of $55,888.
Wage ranking compared to other occupations.
Wage Distribution
This chart shows the distribution of average salaries by income buckets for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service.
Salary distribution for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service.
Employment Growth Projections
-6.7% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR)
17,894 Projected Employment (5 years)
Projected growth: -29.4%
12,626 Projected Employment (10 years)
Projected growth: -50.2%
This occupation is experiencing a decline. Consider related fields with better growth prospects.
Historical employment trends and future projections for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service.
Industry
Information on the industries that employ Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service and on wages for those in the field.
Occupations by Industries
This graphic shows the share of Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service employed by various industries.
Industry distribution for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service.
Wage Trends by Industry
7.0% Average Annual Wage Growth Rate
Historical wage growth trends by industry for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service.
Geographic Distribution
Employment and wage information by geographic location for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service.
Metropolitan employment on this page is from the California OEWS extract. Area names omit state codes; all listed metros are in California, so the state chart shows California totals (not a multi-state ranking).
Top States by Employment
Top States by Employment:
- CA: 5,500 employees, $52,287 avg wage
Top 10 states by employment for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service.
Top Metropolitan Areas
Top Metropolitan Areas:
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale MD: 1,740 employees, $49,051 avg wage
- Anaheim-Santa Ana-Irvine MD: 580 employees, $49,618 avg wage
- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario MSA: 500 employees, $45,131 avg wage
- San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad MSA: 450 employees, $49,126 avg wage
- Oakland-Fremont-Berkeley MD: 420 employees, $59,248 avg wage
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara MSA: 410 employees, $71,865 avg wage
- San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City MD: 360 employees, $59,384 avg wage
- Fresno MSA: 150 employees, $48,400 avg wage
- Stockton-Lodi MSA: 150 employees, $58,320 avg wage
- Bakersfield-Delano MSA: 110 employees, $43,752 avg wage
Top 10 metropolitan statistical areas by employment for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service.
Diversity
Demographic information on Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service in the US.
Gender and Age
The workforce of Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service in 2023 was 7,170 people, with 62.0% women and 38.0% men.
Gender and age distribution for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service.
Races
Racial and ethnic shares when present in the career dataset. If the chart area shows a notice instead, occupational race/ethnicity fields are not yet populated for this extract.
Race and ethnicity distribution for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service.
Education & Skills
Data on higher education choices and required skills for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service.
Majors
The most common majors achieved by Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service in 2023 were Business Administration, Business, Social Sciences.
Common majors for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service.
Education Levels
The main educational levels achieved by Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service workers.
Education level distribution for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service.
Skills
Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service need many skills, but most especially Active Listening, Speaking, Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Coordination.
Required skills for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service.
Knowledge & Abilities
Knowledge areas and abilities required for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service.
Knowledge Areas
The most important knowledge areas for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service include Customer and Personal Service, English Language, Administrative, Computers and Electronics, Telecommunications.
Knowledge areas required for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service.
Abilities
Key abilities needed for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service include Oral Comprehension, Oral Expression, Speech Clarity, Speech Recognition, Near Vision.
Required abilities for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service.
Work Activities
Common work activities performed by Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service.
Daily Activities
Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service spend their time on activities such as Getting Information, Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events, Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates, Performing for or Working Directly with the Public, Working with Computers.
Most important work activities for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service.
About
Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service
The average yearly wage for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service was $55,888 in 2023.
SOC Code
43-2011 - Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service
Insights and Analysis
Compensation snapshot: Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service reports an average salary of $55,888.
Labor market presence: The current workforce is approximately 7,170 workers, indicating sustained demand.
Forward outlook: Projected annual decline is -6.7%, which should inform long-term career planning.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS), and O*NET Online.
All wage figures represent annual averages and may vary by location, industry, and experience level.