All About Telephone Operators
Telephone Operator Job Description 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.
What Do Telephone Operators Do On a Daily Basis?
- Promote company products, services, and savings plans when appropriate.
- Keep records of calls placed and received, and of related toll charges.
- Consult charts to determine charges for pay-telephone calls, requesting coin deposits for calls as necessary.
- 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.
- Operate paging systems or other systems of bells or buzzers to notify recipients of incoming calls.
- Offer special assistance to persons such as those who are unable to dial or who are in emergency situations.
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Things a Telephone Operator Should Know How to Do
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.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Rate Quoting Operator
- Customer Service Assistant
- Inward Toll Operator
- Service Assistant
- 411 Directory Assistance Operator
What Kind of Telephone Operator Job Opportunities Are There?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 9,100 jobs in the United States for Telephone Operator. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Telephone Operator. The BLS estimates 900 yearly job openings in this field.
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.
What is the Average Salary of a Telephone Operator
The typical yearly salary for Telephone Operators is somewhere between $23,160 and $60,610.
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 |
What Tools do Telephone Operators Use?
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
Education needed to be a Telephone Operator:
What work experience do I need to become a Telephone Operator?
Where Telephone Operators Are Employed
The table below shows the approximate number of Telephone Operators employed by various industries.
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those interested in being a Telephone Operator may also be interested in:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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