Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service salary in Memphis, TN-MS-AR
Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area earn a median of $34,940 a year ($16.80 an hour), based on BLS data for 110 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,400 for the top 10%. That is 10% lower than the national median of $38,630. Pay here is 2% lower than the Tennessee statewide median of $35,550. There are 0.17 switchboard operators, including answering service per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.79). The average (mean) salary is $37,030, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for switchboard operators, including answering service in Memphis, TN-MS-AR
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,440 | $14.64 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Median | $34,940 | $16.80 |
| 75th percentile | $39,450 | $18.97 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,400 | $23.75 |
| Average (mean) | $37,030 | $17.80 |
Half of switchboard operators, including answering service earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,911.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,455.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,343.85 |
| Weekly | $671.92 |
| Hourly | $16.80 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $34,940 salary, see how much house you can afford in Tennessee at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $37,050 | 240 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $35,770 | 40 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $35,650 | 90 |
| Knoxville, TN | $35,360 | 70 |
| Jackson, MS | $32,320 | 40 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $28,430 | 30 |
Highest-paying states for switchboard operators, including answering service
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $59,860 |
| District of Columbia | $54,700 |
| California | $48,840 |
| Washington | $47,800 |
| Minnesota | $47,430 |
| New York | $45,330 |
| New Hampshire | $44,210 |
| Massachusetts | $43,790 |
| Colorado | $43,720 |
| Maine | $43,350 |
See Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service pay in every state or the Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Memphis, TN-MS-AR
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Customer Service Representative | $44,090 | $21.20 |
| Office Clerks, General | $38,610 | $18.56 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $71,310 | $34.28 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $45,800 | $22.02 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $39,940 | $19.20 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $48,400 | $23.27 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $45,960 | $22.10 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $57,030 | $27.42 |
| Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs | $49,940 | $24.01 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $34,530 | $16.60 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $55,930 | $26.89 |
| Billing and Posting Clerks | $46,340 | $22.28 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $58,910 | $28.32 |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $54,330 | $26.12 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Memphis, TN-MS-AR
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 43-2011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a switchboard operators, including answering service make in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
The median salary for switchboard operators, including answering service in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area is $34,940 a year, or $16.80 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,400 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid switchboard operators, including answering service make in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
The top 10% of switchboard operators, including answering service in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area earn at least $49,400 a year. The top 25% earn $39,450 or more.
What is the starting pay for switchboard operators, including answering service in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,440 a year, and a quarter of switchboard operators, including answering service earn $31,200 or less.
How many switchboard operators, including answering service work in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
About 110 switchboard operators, including answering service are employed in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area, not counting the self-employed.