Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service salary in Merced, CA
Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service in the Merced, CA metro area earn a median of $44,190 a year ($21.24 an hour), based on BLS data for 50 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,740 for the lowest-paid 10% to $54,740 for the top 10%. That is 14% higher than the national median of $38,630. Pay here is 10% lower than the California statewide median of $48,840. There are 0.57 switchboard operators, including answering service per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $44,480, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for switchboard operators, including answering service in Merced, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,740 | $17.18 |
| 25th percentile | $39,000 | $18.75 |
| Median | $44,190 | $21.24 |
| 75th percentile | $50,390 | $24.23 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $54,740 | $26.32 |
| Average (mean) | $44,480 | $21.39 |
Half of switchboard operators, including answering service earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,682.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,841.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,699.62 |
| Weekly | $849.81 |
| Hourly | $21.24 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $79,260 | 440 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $61,780 | 700 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $59,360 | 170 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $49,840 | 60 |
| Napa, CA | $49,460 | 50 |
| Salinas, CA | $48,840 | 90 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $47,380 | 420 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $46,330 | 90 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $46,080 | 570 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $45,870 | 2,110 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $44,680 | 80 |
| Fresno, CA | $44,590 | 150 |
| Visalia, CA | $44,330 | 40 |
| Modesto, CA | $44,320 | 70 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $44,130 | 500 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $42,710 | 140 |
Highest-paying states for switchboard operators, including answering service
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $59,860 |
| District of Columbia | $54,700 |
| California | $48,840 |
| Washington | $47,800 |
| Minnesota | $47,430 |
| New York | $45,330 |
| New Hampshire | $44,210 |
| Massachusetts | $43,790 |
| Colorado | $43,720 |
| Maine | $43,350 |
See Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Merced, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Office Clerks, General | $46,830 | $22.52 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $51,740 | $24.87 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $51,710 | $24.86 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $68,070 | $32.72 |
| Customer Service Representative | $45,670 | $21.96 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $46,980 | $22.59 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $46,660 | $22.43 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $38,890 | $18.70 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $64,250 | $30.89 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $57,760 | $27.77 |
| Teller | $44,950 | $21.61 |
| Court, Municipal, and License Clerks | $57,450 | $27.62 |
| Information and Record Clerks, All Other | $55,520 | $26.69 |
| Billing and Posting Clerks | $48,690 | $23.41 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Merced, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 43-2011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a switchboard operators, including answering service make in Merced, CA?
The median salary for switchboard operators, including answering service in the Merced, CA metro area is $44,190 a year, or $21.24 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,740 for the lowest-paid 10% to $54,740 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid switchboard operators, including answering service make in Merced, CA?
The top 10% of switchboard operators, including answering service in the Merced, CA metro area earn at least $54,740 a year. The top 25% earn $50,390 or more.
What is the starting pay for switchboard operators, including answering service in Merced, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,740 a year, and a quarter of switchboard operators, including answering service earn $39,000 or less.
How many switchboard operators, including answering service work in Merced, CA?
About 50 switchboard operators, including answering service are employed in the Merced, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.