Telephone Operator salary in New Jersey
Telephone Operators in New Jersey earn a median of $41,960 a year ($20.17 an hour), based on BLS data for 190 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $55,000 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $41,740. New Jersey ranks 8th of 16 states for telephone operators pay. There are 0.04 telephone operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.1× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $44,130, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for telephone operators in New Jersey
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,120 | $17.85 |
| 25th percentile | $39,600 | $19.04 |
| Median | $41,960 | $20.17 |
| 75th percentile | $47,710 | $22.94 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $55,000 | $26.44 |
| Average (mean) | $44,130 | $21.22 |
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 | $3,496.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,748.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,613.85 |
| Weekly | $806.92 |
| Hourly | $20.17 |
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 New Jersey
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $51,410 | n/a |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $45,000 | 140 |
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 New Jersey
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service | $40,430 | $19.44 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $50,260 | $24.16 |
| Office Clerks, General | $48,570 | $23.35 |
| Customer Service Representative | $47,740 | $22.95 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $76,640 | $36.85 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $41,650 | $20.02 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $58,300 | $28.03 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $45,440 | $21.85 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $48,660 | $23.39 |
| Billing and Posting Clerks | $51,750 | $24.88 |
| Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | $89,520 | $43.04 |
| Teller | $47,210 | $22.70 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $61,130 | $29.39 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $62,710 | $30.15 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in New Jersey
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 New Jersey?
The median salary for telephone operators in New Jersey is $41,960 a year, or $20.17 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $55,000 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid telephone operators make in New Jersey?
The top 10% of telephone operators in New Jersey earn at least $55,000 a year. The top 25% earn $47,710 or more.
What is the starting pay for telephone operators in New Jersey?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,120 a year, and a quarter of telephone operators earn $39,600 or less.
How many telephone operators work in New Jersey?
About 190 telephone operators are employed in New Jersey, not counting the self-employed.