Telephone Operator salary in Cleveland, OH
Telephone Operators in the Cleveland, OH metro area earn a median of $39,570 a year ($19.02 an hour), based on BLS data for 70 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,320 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,710 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $41,740. Pay here is 7% higher than the Ohio statewide median of $36,970. There are 0.07 telephone operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 3.1× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $42,730, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for telephone operators in Cleveland, OH
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| 25th percentile | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| Median | $39,570 | $19.02 |
| 75th percentile | $52,400 | $25.19 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,710 | $30.15 |
| Average (mean) | $42,730 | $20.55 |
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 | $3,297.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,648.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,521.92 |
| Weekly | $760.96 |
| Hourly | $19.02 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | $37,890 | 30 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $37,600 | 50 |
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 Cleveland, OH
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service | $37,460 | $18.01 |
| Customer Service Representative | $46,040 | $22.14 |
| Office Clerks, General | $44,790 | $21.53 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $46,120 | $22.17 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $48,860 | $23.49 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $64,650 | $31.08 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $45,920 | $22.08 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $45,650 | $21.95 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $36,320 | $17.46 |
| Billing and Posting Clerks | $46,160 | $22.19 |
| Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks | $47,800 | $22.98 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $59,210 | $28.47 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $60,260 | $28.97 |
| Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | $68,570 | $32.97 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Cleveland, OH
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 Cleveland, OH?
The median salary for telephone operators in the Cleveland, OH metro area is $39,570 a year, or $19.02 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,320 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,710 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid telephone operators make in Cleveland, OH?
The top 10% of telephone operators in the Cleveland, OH metro area earn at least $62,710 a year. The top 25% earn $52,400 or more.
What is the starting pay for telephone operators in Cleveland, OH?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,320 a year, and a quarter of telephone operators earn $34,320 or less.
How many telephone operators work in Cleveland, OH?
About 70 telephone operators are employed in the Cleveland, OH metro area, not counting the self-employed.