Telephone Operator salary in District of Columbia
Telephone Operators in District of Columbia earn a median of $49,330 a year ($23.71 an hour), based on BLS data for 50 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $72,090 for the top 10%. That is 18% higher than the national median of $41,740. District of Columbia ranks 3rd of 16 states for telephone operators pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.07 telephone operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 3.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $50,960, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for telephone operators in District of Columbia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,490 | $18.02 |
| 25th percentile | $40,300 | $19.37 |
| Median | $49,330 | $23.71 |
| 75th percentile | $58,510 | $28.13 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $72,090 | $34.66 |
| Average (mean) | $50,960 | $24.50 |
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 | $4,110.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,055.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,897.31 |
| Weekly | $948.65 |
| Hourly | $23.71 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $49,330 salary, see how much house you can afford in District of Columbia at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Telephone Operator salary in cities in District of Columbia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $47,410 | 60 |
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 District of Columbia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service | $54,700 | $26.30 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $59,910 | $28.80 |
| Customer Service Representative | $48,250 | $23.20 |
| Office Clerks, General | $55,040 | $26.46 |
| Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | $90,850 | $43.68 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $79,200 | $38.08 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $49,060 | $23.59 |
| Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $99,280 | $47.73 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $49,180 | $23.64 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $65,180 | $31.34 |
| Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks | $47,060 | $22.62 |
| Information and Record Clerks, All Other | $70,490 | $33.89 |
| Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other | $68,600 | $32.98 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $64,250 | $30.89 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in District of Columbia
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 District of Columbia?
The median salary for telephone operators in District of Columbia is $49,330 a year, or $23.71 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $72,090 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid telephone operators make in District of Columbia?
The top 10% of telephone operators in District of Columbia earn at least $72,090 a year. The top 25% earn $58,510 or more.
What is the starting pay for telephone operators in District of Columbia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,490 a year, and a quarter of telephone operators earn $40,300 or less.
How many telephone operators work in District of Columbia?
About 50 telephone operators are employed in District of Columbia, not counting the self-employed.