How to become a switchboard operator, including answering service

Operate telephone business systems equipment or switchboards to relay incoming, outgoing, and interoffice calls. May supply information to callers and record messages.

Steps to get there

Most employers expect usually requires a high school diploma or ged, though some occupations may not..Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.

What switchboard operators, including answering service do

• Operate communication systems, such as telephone, switchboard, intercom, two-way radio, or public address.
• Answer incoming calls, greeting callers, providing information, transferring calls or taking messages as necessary.
• Page individuals to inform them of telephone calls, using paging or interoffice communication equipment.
• Relay or route written or verbal messages.
• Greet visitors, log them in and out of the facility, assign them security badges, and contact employee escorts.
• Perform various cash handling tasks, such as collecting payments, making bank deposits, or managing petty cash.

Skills that matter most

• Active Listening
• Speaking
• Reading Comprehension
• Monitoring
• Writing
• Critical Thinking
• Active Learning
• Learning Strategies

Is switchboard operator, including answering service a good career?

On the numbers, this job is close to the average across occupations. Median pay is 24% below the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.

Where it pays most

• Hawaii $59,860
• District of Columbia $54,700
• California $48,840
• Washington $47,800
• Minnesota $47,430

Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service salary by state and city

Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.