Telephone Operator salary in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
Telephone Operators in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area earn a median of $37,600 a year ($18.08 an hour), based on BLS data for 50 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,570 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,790 for the top 10%. That is 10% lower than the national median of $41,740. Pay here is 2% higher than the Ohio statewide median of $36,970. There are 0.04 telephone operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.0× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $38,830, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for telephone operators in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,570 | $17.58 |
| 25th percentile | $36,570 | $17.58 |
| Median | $37,600 | $18.08 |
| 75th percentile | $38,670 | $18.59 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,790 | $21.54 |
| Average (mean) | $38,830 | $18.67 |
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 | $3,133.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,566.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,446.15 |
| Weekly | $723.08 |
| Hourly | $18.08 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland, OH | $39,570 | 70 |
| Columbus, OH | $37,890 | 30 |
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 Ohio statewide figures.
Related jobs in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service | $37,690 | $18.12 |
| Customer Service Representative | $46,470 | $22.34 |
| Office Clerks, General | $44,640 | $21.46 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $47,850 | $23.01 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $69,880 | $33.60 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $49,590 | $23.84 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $45,110 | $21.69 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $46,180 | $22.20 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $35,250 | $16.95 |
| Billing and Posting Clerks | $47,630 | $22.90 |
| Teller | $45,920 | $22.08 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $58,650 | $28.20 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $62,070 | $29.84 |
| Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks | $54,900 | $26.40 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
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 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN?
The median salary for telephone operators in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area is $37,600 a year, or $18.08 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,570 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,790 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid telephone operators make in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN?
The top 10% of telephone operators in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area earn at least $44,790 a year. The top 25% earn $38,670 or more.
What is the starting pay for telephone operators in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,570 a year, and a quarter of telephone operators earn $36,570 or less.
How many telephone operators work in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN?
About 50 telephone operators are employed in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.