Telephone Operator salary in Texas
Telephone Operators in Texas earn a median of $41,250 a year ($19.83 an hour), based on BLS data for 280 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $56,900 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $41,740. Texas ranks 9th of 16 states for telephone operators pay. There are 0.02 telephone operators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $43,060, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for telephone operators in Texas
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,550 | $16.61 |
| 25th percentile | $37,150 | $17.86 |
| Median | $41,250 | $19.83 |
| 75th percentile | $50,120 | $24.09 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $56,900 | $27.36 |
| Average (mean) | $43,060 | $20.70 |
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 | $3,437.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,718.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,586.54 |
| Weekly | $793.27 |
| Hourly | $19.83 |
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 Texas
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $44,980 | 100 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $37,150 | n/a |
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 Texas
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service | $33,620 | $16.16 |
| Communications Equipment Operators, All Other | $58,410 | $28.08 |
| Customer Service Representative | $40,420 | $19.44 |
| Office Clerks, General | $39,000 | $18.75 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $64,940 | $31.22 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $45,140 | $21.70 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $48,910 | $23.52 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $42,190 | $20.29 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $42,910 | $20.63 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $35,210 | $16.93 |
| Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | $71,990 | $34.61 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $55,850 | $26.85 |
| Billing and Posting Clerks | $45,910 | $22.07 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $60,550 | $29.11 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Texas
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 Texas?
The median salary for telephone operators in Texas is $41,250 a year, or $19.83 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $56,900 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid telephone operators make in Texas?
The top 10% of telephone operators in Texas earn at least $56,900 a year. The top 25% earn $50,120 or more.
What is the starting pay for telephone operators in Texas?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,550 a year, and a quarter of telephone operators earn $37,150 or less.
How many telephone operators work in Texas?
About 280 telephone operators are employed in Texas, not counting the self-employed.