Switchboard operators, including answering service

Detailed Occupation

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2023 Workforce

18.8k

Average Age

48.2

Estimated Job Growth

−25.2%

10-year projection

Average Salary

$41,367

Average Male Salary

$52,430

Average Female Salary

$38,460

About

Switchboard operators, including answering service are most often employed by the General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals industry. The average yearly wage for Switchboard operators, including answering service was $41,367 in 2023.

The locations that employ the most Switchboard operators, including answering service are Whiteside, Stephenson, Lee, Jo Daviess & Carroll Counties PUMA, IL, Newport News City PUMA, VA, and Central Region--Rankin & Simpson Counties PUMA, MS. The locations with a relatively high concentration of Switchboard operators, including answering service are North Prince George's County--Laurel, Greenbelt & Beltsville PUMA, MD, Maricopa County--Avondale (Central) & Litchfield Park (Central) Cities PUMA, AZ, and Broward County (Southwest)--Pembroke Pines (West) City PUMA, FL.

Sales & Office Occupations Office & Administrative Support Occupations

Employment and salary information for the Switchboard operators, including answering service workforce. Switchboard operators, including answering service workforce in 2023 was 18,821 people, of which 79.2% were women and 20.8% were men. Switchboard operators, including answering service are paid most in Newport News City PUMA, VA but are relatively concentrated in North Prince George's County--Laurel, Greenbelt & Beltsville PUMA, MD.

Employment Over Time

Metric

Grouping

3,916

Male Workforce

± 1.54k

14,905

Female Workforce

± 3k

The Switchboard operators, including answering service workforce in 2023 was 18,821 people (79.2% women and 20.8% men). This implies an average annual growth of −45.8% between 2014 (34,706) and 2023 (18,821).

Employment by Location

Level

Metric

This map shows the states in the United States shaded by average wage for Switchboard operators, including answering service.

During 2023, the states that concentrated the best average annual wage were Colorado ($147,567), New York ($73,367), and West Virginia ($60,187).

Yearly Wage Ranking

$41,367

AVERAGE WAGE

#411 in the ranking (2023)

$67,727

NATIONAL AVERAGE WAGE

For all occupations across the US

In 2023, Switchboard operators, including answering service earned an average of $41,367, $26,360 less than the average national salary of $67,727

The graph shows the ranking of Switchboard operators, including answering service in relation to all Detailed Occupation in 2023.

Wage Distribution

Gender

0.394

WAGE GINI

In 2023, Switchboard operators, including answering service had a wage GINI coefficient of 0.394, which is lower than the national average of 0.476. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly for Switchboard operators, including answering service (shown in red) than for the overall labor force (shown in gray).

The graphic shows the distribution of average salaries by buckets for Switchboard operators, including answering service compared to the entire workforce in the country.

Industry

Information on the industries that employ Switchboard operators, including answering service and on wages for those in the field. General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals is the industry that employs the most Switchboard operators, including answering service, both by share and by number, though the highest paid industry for Switchboard operators, including answering service, by average wage, is uninformed ($64,320).

Occupations by Industries

Metric

Value

18.8k

2023 Workforce

± 3,368

0.696%

1 YEAR GROWTH

± 25.2%

This graphic shows the share of Switchboard operators, including answering service employed by various industries. General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals employs the largest share of Switchboard operators, including answering service at 52.6%, followed by Business support services with 23.5% and Traveler accommodation with 12.5%.

Diversity

Demographic information on Switchboard operators, including answering service in the US. The workforce of Switchboard operators, including answering service in 2023 was 18,821 people, with 79.2% woman, and 20.8% men. The average age of male Switchboard operators, including answering service in the workforce is 42.7 and of female Switchboard operators, including answering service is 49.6, and the most common race/ethnicity for Switchboard operators, including answering service is White.

Gender and Age

Metric

The workforce of Switchboard operators, including answering service in 2023 was 18,821 people, with 79.2% woman, and 20.8% men.

The age ranges that concentrated the largest workforce were 60 to 64 years (2,434 people), 45 to 49 years (2,218 people), and 30 to 34 years (1,904 people). Among them they concentrated 35.2% of the total workforce.

Ethnicity

Gender

In 2023, 19.4% of Switchboard operators, including answering service workers were Hispanic and 80.6% non-Hispanic.

The treemap shows the distribution of Hispanic workers according to their origin, highlighting Mexican (63.5%), Puerto Rican (24.3)%, and All Other Spanish/Hispanic/Latino (8.03)%

You can review this information by gender using the selectors above.

Races

In 2023, 62.7% of the Switchboard operators, including answering service workforce were White, of which 80% were women and 20% men. Other races that concentrated a significant number of workers were Black (18.4%) and Two or More Races (10.7%).

Education & Skills

Data on higher education choices for Switchboard operators, including answering service from The Department of Education and Census Bureau. The most common major for Switchboard operators, including answering service is Business but the most specialized major according to RCA in 2023 were Personal & Culinary Services.

Among the necessary skills for Switchboard operators, including answering service, Active Listening stands, but the revealed comparative advantage (RCA) shows that Switchboard operators, including answering service need more than the average amount of Social Perceptiveness.

Majors

ACS PUMS data only shows the major for bachelor's degrees. However, we can filter the data based on highest degree obtained.

Type of Majors

Degree

The most common majors achieved by Switchboard operators, including answering service in 2023 (counting all academic degrees) were Business (587 people), Visual & Performing Arts (424 people), and Health (339 people).

You can review this information for different academic grades by modifying the option selected in the selector above.

Education Levels

Metric

The main educational levels achieved by the Switchboard operators, including answering service workers were High School or Equivalent (6,589 people), Some college (6,376 people), and Bachelors Degree (2,514 people).

The graphic shows the Switchboard operators, including answering service workforce by gender and educational level.

Skills

Chart

Value

Data on the critical and distinctive skills necessary for Switchboard operators, including answering service from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Switchboard operators, including answering service need many skills, but most especially Active Listening, Speaking, Social Perceptiveness.

Projections

Projections on job growth for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The 10-year national workforce is projected to grow 4.02%, but Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service are expected to see a growth of −25.2% over the same period. This occupation is expected to grow less than the national average.

Job Growth

−25.2%

Estimated Job Growth

10-year Projection

4.02%

National Growth

10-year Projection

This line chart shows the projected 10-year growth in the number of jobs for Switchboard operators, including answering service. This profession is expected to grow less than than 4.02%, the average rate of national job growth.