Telephone Operator salary in Virginia
Telephone Operators in Virginia earn a median of $42,350 a year ($20.36 an hour), based on BLS data for this job.
Pay ranges from $37,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,710 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $41,740. Virginia ranks 7th of 16 states for telephone operators pay. The average (mean) salary is $43,100, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for telephone operators in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,220 | $17.90 |
| 25th percentile | $37,250 | $17.91 |
| Median | $42,350 | $20.36 |
| 75th percentile | $46,870 | $22.53 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,710 | $23.42 |
| Average (mean) | $43,100 | $20.72 |
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 | $3,529.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,764.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,628.85 |
| Weekly | $814.42 |
| Hourly | $20.36 |
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 Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $47,410 | 60 |
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 Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service | $36,730 | $17.66 |
| Office Clerks, General | $46,410 | $22.31 |
| Customer Service Representative | $42,730 | $20.54 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $67,170 | $32.29 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $51,620 | $24.82 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $47,620 | $22.89 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $46,180 | $22.20 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $37,060 | $17.82 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $44,290 | $21.29 |
| Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | $80,330 | $38.62 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $61,780 | $29.70 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $62,070 | $29.84 |
| Billing and Posting Clerks | $47,580 | $22.87 |
| Teller | $45,120 | $21.69 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Virginia
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 Virginia?
The median salary for telephone operators in Virginia is $42,350 a year, or $20.36 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,710 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid telephone operators make in Virginia?
The top 10% of telephone operators in Virginia earn at least $48,710 a year. The top 25% earn $46,870 or more.
What is the starting pay for telephone operators in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,220 a year, and a quarter of telephone operators earn $37,250 or less.