Office and administrative support
Telephone operator
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.
Median pay
$41,740
Growth to 2035
−28%
declining
Openings a year
200
Time to qualify*
1 month
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Telephone operator
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Telephone operator: 11% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- 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.
- Listen to customer requests, referring to alphabetical or geographical directories to answer questions and provide telephone information.
- Update directory information.
- Suggest and check alternate spellings, locations, or listing formats to customers lacking details or complete information.
- Perform clerical duties such as typing, proofreading, and sorting mail.
- Offer special assistance to persons such as those who are unable to dial or who are in emergency situations.
Also called: 411 Directory Assistance Operator (411 Directory Assistance Op) · Directory Assistance Operator (Directory Assistance Op) · Information Specialist · Live Source Operator (Live Source Op) · Long Distance Operator (LD Operator) · PBX Operator (Post Box Exchange Operator) · Phone Operator (Telephone Operator) · Phone Secretary (Telephone Secretary)
Outlook and AI
Telephone operators held 3,500 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 2,500 by 2035 (−28%, declining; all jobs: +3.5%).
Capital/labor substitution - share decreases as companies continue to adopt automated phone systems.
Compare with
- Telephone operator vs. Switchboard operators, including answering service
- Telephone operator vs. Receptionists and information clerks
- Telephone operator vs. Telemarketer
- Telephone operator vs. Office clerks, general
- Telephone operator vs. Customer service representative
- Telephone operator vs. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Telephone operator vs. Public safety telecommunicator
- Telephone operator vs. Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance
- Telephone operator vs. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Telephone operator vs. Reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks