What You Need to Know About Switchboard Operator
Switchboard Operator Job Description Operate telephone business systems equipment or switchboards to relay incoming, outgoing, and interoffice calls. May supply information to callers and record messages.
Daily Life Of a Switchboard Operator
- Perform various cash handling tasks, such as collecting payments, making bank deposits, or managing petty cash.
- Answer simple questions about clients’ businesses, using reference files.
- Perform various data entry or word processing tasks, such as updating phone directories, typing or proofreading documents, or creating schedules.
- Answer incoming calls, greeting callers, providing information, transferring calls or taking messages as necessary.
- Page individuals to inform them of telephone calls, using paging or interoffice communication equipment.
- Process incoming or outgoing mail, packages, or deliveries.
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Qualities of a Switchboard Operator
These are the skills Switchboard Operators say are the most useful in their careers:
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Types of Switchboard Operator
- PBX Teacher
- Switchboard Receptionist
- Information Specialist
- Telephone Operator
- Switchboard Operator, Receptionist
Is There Job Demand for Switchboard Operators?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 93,200 jobs in the United States for Switchboard Operator. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Switchboard Operator. There will be an estimated 9,000 positions for Switchboard Operator per year.

The states with the most job growth for Switchboard Operator are Maryland, Alaska, and Washington. Watch out if you plan on working in New Mexico, North Dakota, or Colorado. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for a Switchboard Operator
Switchboard Operators make between $21,040 and $44,640 a year.

Switchboard Operators who work in Hawaii, District of Columbia, or Connecticut, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Switchboard Operators in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $24,570 |
Alaska | $35,240 |
Arizona | $28,940 |
Arkansas | $26,090 |
California | $36,160 |
Colorado | $30,400 |
Connecticut | $42,920 |
Delaware | $29,090 |
District of Columbia | $41,390 |
Florida | $28,020 |
Georgia | $30,700 |
Hawaii | $41,250 |
Idaho | $29,070 |
Illinois | $33,830 |
Indiana | $28,550 |
Iowa | $28,850 |
Kansas | $28,150 |
Kentucky | $23,950 |
Louisiana | $27,180 |
Maine | $28,850 |
Maryland | $31,340 |
Massachusetts | $34,560 |
Michigan | $31,560 |
Minnesota | $35,770 |
Mississippi | $25,150 |
Missouri | $30,790 |
Montana | $27,120 |
Nebraska | $30,930 |
Nevada | $31,430 |
New Hampshire | $31,820 |
New Jersey | $32,830 |
New Mexico | $29,580 |
New York | $38,020 |
North Carolina | $28,290 |
North Dakota | $31,900 |
Ohio | $28,070 |
Oklahoma | $27,640 |
Oregon | $37,170 |
Pennsylvania | $29,200 |
Rhode Island | $32,090 |
South Carolina | $27,270 |
Tennessee | $28,980 |
Texas | $27,320 |
Utah | $26,430 |
Vermont | $30,380 |
Virginia | $28,350 |
Washington | $34,740 |
West Virginia | $27,120 |
Wisconsin | $31,580 |
Wyoming | $30,550 |
What Tools do Switchboard Operators Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Switchboard Operators may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Access
- Word processing software
- SAP
- Microsoft Windows
- IBM Notes
How to Become a Switchboard Operator
Individuals working as a Switchboard Operator have obtained the following education levels:

How many years of work experience do I need?

Switchboard Operators Sector

The table below shows the approximate number of Switchboard Operators employed by various industries.

You May Also Be Interested In…
Those interested in being a Switchboard Operator may also be interested in:
Are you already one of the many Switchboard Operator in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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