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Telemarketers in Illinois

Considering working as a Telemarketers in Illinois? Below are the key facts. Solicit donations or orders for goods or services over the telephone.

What do Telemarketers Make in Illinois?

For telemarketers working in Illinois, the typical annual salary is $29,120 per year (or about $14.00/hour).Annual wages span from $29,120 at the 10th percentile to $61,720 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$29,120	$14.00
25th percentile	$29,120	$14.00
Median (50th)	$29,120	$14.00
75th percentile	$32,000	$15.39
90th percentile	$61,720	$29.67

The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Illinois relative to the national average — is 0.78, meaning fewer telemarketers per worker than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, telemarketers earn a median of $37,730 per year ($18.14/hour), lower than the Illinois median.

Employment Outlook

National employment for 1,395,071 telemarketers across the United States. In Illinois alone, about 2,050 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 900 telemarketers.

Top Illinois Metros for Telemarketers

The metro areas below employ the most telemarketers in Illinois.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	1,700	$29,120

Top States for Telemarketers Employment

The table below shows the states where the most telemarketers work.

State	Number Employed
Texas	6,930
Virginia	6,880
Florida	6,510
California	3,480
Ohio	3,040
Missouri	2,840
Nevada	2,820
Georgia	2,580
Tennessee	2,380
New York	2,180
Wisconsin	2,170
Illinois	2,050
Iowa	1,880
Arizona	1,870
North Carolina	1,410
Colorado	1,330
Michigan	1,290
Alabama	1,290
Puerto Rico	1,280
Maryland	1,060

Highest-Paying States for Telemarketers

The highest-paying states for telemarketers.

State	Annual Median Salary
New Mexico	$66,700
Connecticut	$57,140
Colorado	$48,870
Minnesota	$39,660
Delaware	$38,770
Washington	$38,570
Idaho	$38,310
California	$37,450
Oregon	$36,900
Massachusetts	$36,530

Skills

Key telemarketers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

Key abilities for telemarketers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Telemarketers typically:

• Contact businesses or private individuals by telephone to solicit sales for goods or services, or to request donations for charitable causes.
• Obtain customer information such as name, address, and payment method, and enter orders into computers.
• Explain products or services and prices, and answer questions from customers.
• Record names, addresses, purchases, and reactions of prospects contacted.
• Maintain records of contacts, accounts, and orders.
• Answer telephone calls from potential customers who have been solicited through advertisements.
• Deliver prepared sales talks, reading from scripts that describe products or services, to persuade potential customers to purchase a product or service or to make a donation.
• Telephone or write letters to respond to correspondence from customers or to follow up initial sales contacts.
• Adjust sales scripts to better target the needs and interests of specific individuals.
• Obtain names and telephone numbers of potential customers from sources such as telephone directories, magazine reply cards, and lists purchased from other organizations.
• Schedule appointments for sales representatives to meet with prospective customers or for customers to attend sales presentations.
• Conduct client or market surveys to obtain information about potential customers.

Work Activities

• Selling or Influencing Others
• Communicating with People Outside the Organization
• Getting Information
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
• Processing Information
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
• Analyzing Data or Information
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
• Assisting and Caring for Others

Tools & Technology

Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel In-demand technologies: Customer relationship management CRM software

Related Careers

Related occupations to telemarketers include:

• Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
• Public Relations Specialists
• First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers
• Cashiers
• Counter and Rental Clerks
• Retail Salespersons

Also Known As

Call Agent, Call Center Agent, Call Center Operator, Call Center Representative (Call Center Rep), Call Center Sales Agent, Call Center Telemarketer, Contact Center Agent, Direct Sales Agent, Donation Worker, Inbound Call Center Agent, Inbound Telemarketer, Independent Sales Representative (Independent Sales Rep), Inside Sales Representative (Inside Sales Rep), Marketing Processor, Outbound Sales Agent.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 41-9041.00