Telephone Operator salary in North Carolina
Telephone Operators in North Carolina earn a median of $40,360 a year ($19.40 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,750 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $41,740. North Carolina ranks 10th of 16 states for telephone operators pay. There are 0.01 telephone operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.33). The average (mean) salary is $39,850, close to the median.
Pay range for telephone operators in North Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,330 | $14.10 |
| 25th percentile | $36,980 | $17.78 |
| Median | $40,360 | $19.40 |
| 75th percentile | $43,380 | $20.85 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,750 | $22.96 |
| Average (mean) | $39,850 | $19.16 |
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 | $3,363.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,681.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,552.31 |
| Weekly | $776.15 |
| Hourly | $19.40 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
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 North Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service | $38,520 | $18.52 |
| Communications Equipment Operators, All Other | $46,430 | $22.32 |
| Customer Service Representative | $40,240 | $19.35 |
| Office Clerks, General | $41,770 | $20.08 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $44,190 | $21.24 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $47,930 | $23.04 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $45,790 | $22.01 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $62,340 | $29.97 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $43,040 | $20.69 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $35,440 | $17.04 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $52,640 | $25.31 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $59,990 | $28.84 |
| Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | $70,140 | $33.72 |
| Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs | $47,350 | $22.76 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in North Carolina
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 North Carolina?
The median salary for telephone operators in North Carolina is $40,360 a year, or $19.40 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,750 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid telephone operators make in North Carolina?
The top 10% of telephone operators in North Carolina earn at least $47,750 a year. The top 25% earn $43,380 or more.
What is the starting pay for telephone operators in North Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,330 a year, and a quarter of telephone operators earn $36,980 or less.
How many telephone operators work in North Carolina?
About 40 telephone operators are employed in North Carolina, not counting the self-employed.