Telephone Operator salary in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
Telephone Operators in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn a median of $42,460 a year ($20.41 an hour), based on BLS data for 80 workers.
Pay ranges from $41,730 for the lowest-paid 10% to $52,600 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $41,740. Pay here is about the same as the Maryland statewide median of $42,460. There are 0.06 telephone operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $44,500, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for telephone operators in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,730 | $20.06 |
| 25th percentile | $41,730 | $20.06 |
| Median | $42,460 | $20.41 |
| 75th percentile | $45,780 | $22.01 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $52,600 | $25.29 |
| Average (mean) | $44,500 | $21.40 |
Half of telephone operators 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 | $3,538.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,769.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,633.08 |
| Weekly | $816.54 |
| Hourly | $20.41 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Telephone Operator salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $47,410 | 60 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $45,000 | 140 |
Highest-paying states for telephone operators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $57,170 |
| New York | $50,220 |
| District of Columbia | $49,330 |
| Massachusetts | $47,940 |
| Wisconsin | $46,590 |
| Maryland | $42,460 |
| Virginia | $42,350 |
| New Jersey | $41,960 |
| Texas | $41,250 |
| North Carolina | $40,360 |
See Telephone Operator pay in every state or the Maryland statewide figures.
Related jobs in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service | $36,260 | $17.43 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $49,220 | $23.66 |
| Customer Service Representative | $42,850 | $20.60 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $75,590 | $36.34 |
| Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other | $48,010 | $23.08 |
| Office Clerks, General | $46,250 | $22.24 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $37,600 | $18.08 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $47,680 | $22.92 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $53,570 | $25.75 |
| Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | $78,380 | $37.69 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $47,440 | $22.81 |
| Billing and Posting Clerks | $52,940 | $25.45 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $62,070 | $29.84 |
| Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs | $57,160 | $27.48 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 43-2021. 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 telephone operator make in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
The median salary for telephone operators in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area is $42,460 a year, or $20.41 an hour. Pay ranges from $41,730 for the lowest-paid 10% to $52,600 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid telephone operators make in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
The top 10% of telephone operators in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn at least $52,600 a year. The top 25% earn $45,780 or more.
What is the starting pay for telephone operators in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $41,730 a year, and a quarter of telephone operators earn $41,730 or less.
How many telephone operators work in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
About 80 telephone operators are employed in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area, not counting the self-employed.