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Life As a Telephone Operator

Job Description & Duties Provide information by accessing alphabetical, geographical, or other directories. Assist customers with special billing requests, such as charges to a third party and credits or refunds for incorrectly dialed numbers or bad connections. May handle emergency calls and assist children or people with physical disabilities to make telephone calls.

Life As a Telephone Operator

  • Operate telephone switchboards and systems to advance and complete connections, including those for local, long distance, pay telephone, mobile, person-to-person, and emergency calls.
  • Perform clerical duties such as typing, proofreading, and sorting mail.
  • Observe signal lights on switchboards, and dial or press buttons to make connections.
  • Consult charts to determine charges for pay-telephone calls, requesting coin deposits for calls as necessary.
  • Monitor automated systems for placing collect calls and intervene for a callers needing assistance.
  • Interrupt busy lines if an emergency warrants.

Qualities of a Telephone Operator

When polled, Telephone Operators say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

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.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.

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.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Types of Telephone Operator

  • Toll Operator
  • Directory Operator
  • Information Specialist
  • Inward Toll Operator
  • Long Lines Operator

Is There Going to be Demand for Telephone Operators?

There were about 9,100 jobs for Telephone Operator in 2016 (in the United States). There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Telephone Operator. There will be an estimated 900 positions for Telephone Operator per year.

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The states with the most job growth for Telephone Operator are Alaska, Utah, and Idaho. Watch out if you plan on working in Delaware, Tennessee, or New Jersey. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Telephone Operator Salary

The average yearly salary of a Telephone Operator ranges between $23,160 and $60,610.

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Telephone Operators who work in New York, Hawaii, or District of Columbia, make the highest salaries.

How much do Telephone Operators make in different U.S. states?

State Annual Mean Salary
Arizona $35,510
California $41,900
Connecticut $44,010
District of Columbia $44,150
Florida $32,020
Georgia $33,860
Hawaii $44,040
Illinois $40,150
Indiana $40,590
Iowa $29,880
Louisiana $33,040
Maryland $36,790
Massachusetts $36,570
Michigan $28,610
Minnesota $39,470
Missouri $31,950
Nevada $31,110
New York $48,270
Ohio $35,750
Pennsylvania $39,040
Tennessee $27,610
Texas $34,410
Virginia $43,480

Tools & Technologies Used by Telephone Operators

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Telephone Operators may use on a daily basis:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Data entry software
  • Word processing software
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Handheld computer device software
  • Computer aided dispatch software

Becoming a Telephone Operator

Are there Telephone Operators education requirements?

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How Long Does it Take to Become a Telephone Operator?

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Where Telephone Operators Work

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

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You May Also Be Interested In…

Those interested in being a Telephone Operator may also be interested in:

References:

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More about our data sources and methodologies.

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