Telephone Operator salary in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
Telephone Operators in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn a median of $38,620 a year ($18.57 an hour), based on BLS data for 30 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,070 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $41,740. Pay here is 23% lower than the New York statewide median of $50,220. 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 $43,750, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for telephone operators in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,890 | $16.77 |
| 25th percentile | $35,750 | $17.19 |
| Median | $38,620 | $18.57 |
| 75th percentile | $41,200 | $19.81 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,070 | $37.53 |
| Average (mean) | $43,750 | $21.03 |
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 | $3,218.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,609.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,485.38 |
| Weekly | $742.69 |
| Hourly | $18.57 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $51,410 | n/a |
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 New York statewide figures.
Related jobs in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service | $41,330 | $19.87 |
| Customer Service Representative | $45,520 | $21.88 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $46,780 | $22.49 |
| Office Clerks, General | $46,040 | $22.13 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $51,610 | $24.81 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $70,000 | $33.66 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $38,960 | $18.73 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $45,960 | $22.10 |
| Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | $74,870 | $36.00 |
| Bill and Account Collectors | $40,260 | $19.36 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $45,210 | $21.74 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $55,290 | $26.58 |
| Billing and Posting Clerks | $47,950 | $23.05 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $63,380 | $30.47 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
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 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?
The median salary for telephone operators in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area is $38,620 a year, or $18.57 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,070 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid telephone operators make in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?
The top 10% of telephone operators in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn at least $78,070 a year. The top 25% earn $41,200 or more.
What is the starting pay for telephone operators in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,890 a year, and a quarter of telephone operators earn $35,750 or less.
How many telephone operators work in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?
About 30 telephone operators are employed in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area, not counting the self-employed.