Career comparison
Switchboard Operator vs. Telephone Operator
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Telephone operators earn more at the median ($41,740 vs. $38,630), while switchboard operators usually get to work faster (A few weeks on the job of training). Switchboard operators answer and route calls for businesses, hospitals and answering services. Telephone operators help callers place calls, find numbers and connect through relay services.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Switchboard Operator | Telephone Operator | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $38,630 ($18.57/hr) | $41,740 ($20.07/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $29,990 – $59,470 | $31,510 – $62,950 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -26.0% (a projected decline) | -27.6% (a projected decline) |
| Openings per year | 3,100 | 200 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | A few weeks on the job | A few weeks on the job |
| Key credential | Customer service certificate | Relay service training |
| Work setting | Operators work in hospitals, answering services and large organizations, sometimes remotely.. | Operators work in call centers and remotely.. |
What each job does
Switchboard Operator
- Answer incoming calls
- Transfer calls
- Take messages
- Page staff
- Handle after-hours calls
Telephone Operator
- Answer operator calls
- Provide directory assistance
- Place assisted calls
- Handle collect calls
- Relay calls for deaf callers
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with people, indoor work, shift work, and remote-friendly work. Both are part of the business & office field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose switchboard operator if…
- I have a clear phone voice
- I stay calm
- I multitask well
Choose telephone operator if…
- I have a clear voice
- I type fast
- I’m patient
Still torn? Take the Switchboard Operator fit quiz and the Telephone Operator fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, switchboard operator or telephone operator?
Telephone Operators earn more at the median: $41,740 versus $38,630 for switchboard operators, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Switchboard Operators typically train faster (A few weeks on the job) than telephone operators (A few weeks on the job).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects switchboard operators to grow -26.0% from 2025–35, compared with -27.6% for telephone operators.