Telephone Operator salary in Michigan
Telephone Operators in Michigan earn a median of $37,550 a year ($18.05 an hour), based on BLS data for 80 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,070 for the top 10%. That is 10% lower than the national median of $41,740. Michigan ranks 11th of 16 states for telephone operators pay. There are 0.02 telephone operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.80). The average (mean) salary is $40,590, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for telephone operators in Michigan
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,640 | $17.14 |
| 25th percentile | $35,760 | $17.19 |
| Median | $37,550 | $18.05 |
| 75th percentile | $43,520 | $20.92 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,070 | $23.59 |
| Average (mean) | $40,590 | $19.51 |
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 | $3,129.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,564.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,444.23 |
| Weekly | $722.12 |
| Hourly | $18.05 |
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 Michigan
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $37,550 | 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 |
Related jobs in Michigan
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service | $37,390 | $17.98 |
| Communications Equipment Operators, All Other | $51,920 | $24.96 |
| Office Clerks, General | $44,820 | $21.55 |
| Customer Service Representative | $43,950 | $21.13 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $46,020 | $22.12 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $48,980 | $23.55 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $64,720 | $31.12 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $41,100 | $19.76 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $37,470 | $18.02 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $45,140 | $21.70 |
| Teller | $39,240 | $18.87 |
| Billing and Posting Clerks | $46,890 | $22.54 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $59,880 | $28.79 |
| Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | $66,840 | $32.14 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Michigan
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 Michigan?
The median salary for telephone operators in Michigan is $37,550 a year, or $18.05 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,070 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid telephone operators make in Michigan?
The top 10% of telephone operators in Michigan earn at least $49,070 a year. The top 25% earn $43,520 or more.
What is the starting pay for telephone operators in Michigan?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,640 a year, and a quarter of telephone operators earn $35,760 or less.
How many telephone operators work in Michigan?
About 80 telephone operators are employed in Michigan, not counting the self-employed.