College Scholarship Search College Search Career Exploration College Admissions Articles Financial Aid and Student Loan Calculators Compare Student Loans
Username Password
Search:




OverviewNature of WorkKnowledge AreasSkills Utilized
Job ActivitiesAbilitiesJob ConditionsWork SatisfactionEducation/Training

Career Overview

Provide information by accessing alphabetical and geographical 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.

Salary for Telephone Operators

Select a State



 25th
Percentile
75th
Percentile
Mean
U.S. $22,300
($10.72)
$46,020
($22.13)
$33,800
($16.25)
Annual figures are on top. Hourly figures are below in parentheses.
N/A = Information not available


Find Student Loans
Loan Amount:
$

Looking for loans to help pay for college?

Our Student Loan Analyzer helps you compare loan options side by side.

Make an informed decision about which student loan is right for you!

Loan is for:
Year in School:


Private Loans | Stafford Loans | PLUS Loans

Watch Videos about this Career

English
Videos

Windows Media
RealOne

Video Player
Downloads

Windows Media
RealOne

Career Outlook

Current and Projected Employment.

2008 Employment 181,600
2018 Employment 163,400
Employment Change -18,200
Growth Rate -10%

Employment change. Employment of communications equipment operators is expected to decline rapidly due to new labor-saving communications technologies, such as voice recognition technology and internet directory assistance services. The movement of jobs to foreign countries, proliferation of cell phones, and consolidation of telephone operator jobs into fewer locations also will continue to negatively impact employment growth.

Job prospects. Despite declining employment, job prospects should be favorable as occupational turnover is expected to remain high.


Employment Overview


Job Zone Description

Job Zone 2 - Some preparation

Overall Experience
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience maybe helpful in these occupations, but usually is not needed. For example, a drywall installer could benefit from experience in installing dry wall, but an inexperienced person could learn the job fairly easily.

Education
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job related course work. In some cases, you may need an associate's or bachelor's degree.

Job Training
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees.

Examples
Drywall installers, fire inspectors, flight attendants, pharmacy technicians, retail salespersons, and bank tellers.

In these occupations you can often use your knowledge and skills to help others.

[Back to Top]


Related Occupations

1.

Computer Operators

2.

Credit Authorizers

3.

Customer Service Representatives

4.

Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks

5.

Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan

6.

Receptionists and Information Clerks

7.

Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks

8.

Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service


Additional Resources

For information on employment opportunities, contact companies in the industries that employ communications equipment operators.

[Back to Top]