Telephone Operator salary in California
Telephone Operators in California earn a median of $57,170 a year ($27.49 an hour), based on BLS data for 230 workers.
Pay ranges from $44,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $66,670 for the top 10%. That is 37% higher than the national median of $41,740. California ranks 1st of 16 states for telephone operators pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.01 telephone operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.58). The average (mean) salary is $55,910, close to the median.
Pay range for telephone operators in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,120 | $21.21 |
| 25th percentile | $45,950 | $22.09 |
| Median | $57,170 | $27.49 |
| 75th percentile | $63,510 | $30.53 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $66,670 | $32.05 |
| Average (mean) | $55,910 | $26.88 |
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 | $4,764.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,382.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,198.85 |
| Weekly | $1,099.42 |
| Hourly | $27.49 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Telephone Operator salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $58,900 | 110 |
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 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service | $48,840 | $23.48 |
| Communications Equipment Operators, All Other | $79,450 | $38.20 |
| Office Clerks, General | $48,460 | $23.30 |
| Customer Service Representative | $49,560 | $23.83 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $55,400 | $26.64 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $59,230 | $28.48 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $77,590 | $37.30 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $54,490 | $26.20 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $46,520 | $22.36 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $44,100 | $21.20 |
| Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | $89,000 | $42.79 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $63,000 | $30.29 |
| Billing and Posting Clerks | $56,260 | $27.05 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $62,090 | $29.85 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in California
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 California?
The median salary for telephone operators in California is $57,170 a year, or $27.49 an hour. Pay ranges from $44,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $66,670 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid telephone operators make in California?
The top 10% of telephone operators in California earn at least $66,670 a year. The top 25% earn $63,510 or more.
What is the starting pay for telephone operators in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $44,120 a year, and a quarter of telephone operators earn $45,950 or less.
How many telephone operators work in California?
About 230 telephone operators are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.