Telephone Operator salary in Ohio
Telephone Operators in Ohio earn a median of $36,970 a year ($17.77 an hour), based on BLS data for 220 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $50,500 for the top 10%. That is 11% lower than the national median of $41,740. Ohio ranks 14th of 16 states for telephone operators pay. There are 0.04 telephone operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $38,730, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for telephone operators in Ohio
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,990 | $15.38 |
| 25th percentile | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| Median | $36,970 | $17.77 |
| 75th percentile | $39,570 | $19.02 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $50,500 | $24.28 |
| Average (mean) | $38,730 | $18.62 |
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 | $3,080.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,540.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,421.92 |
| Weekly | $710.96 |
| Hourly | $17.77 |
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 Ohio
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland, OH | $39,570 | 70 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Ohio
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service | $36,350 | $17.48 |
| Communications Equipment Operators, All Other | $47,360 | $22.77 |
| Office Clerks, General | $43,680 | $21.00 |
| Customer Service Representative | $45,610 | $21.93 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $46,230 | $22.22 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $48,810 | $23.47 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $64,220 | $30.87 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $45,270 | $21.76 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $35,920 | $17.27 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $44,280 | $21.29 |
| Billing and Posting Clerks | $46,390 | $22.31 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $57,830 | $27.80 |
| Teller | $39,810 | $19.14 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $61,130 | $29.39 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Ohio
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 Ohio?
The median salary for telephone operators in Ohio is $36,970 a year, or $17.77 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $50,500 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid telephone operators make in Ohio?
The top 10% of telephone operators in Ohio earn at least $50,500 a year. The top 25% earn $39,570 or more.
What is the starting pay for telephone operators in Ohio?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,990 a year, and a quarter of telephone operators earn $34,320 or less.
How many telephone operators work in Ohio?
About 220 telephone operators are employed in Ohio, not counting the self-employed.