Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service salary in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median of $46,080 a year ($22.16 an hour), based on BLS data for 570 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $68,160 for the top 10%. That is 19% higher than the national median of $38,630. Pay here is 6% lower than the California statewide median of $48,840. There are 0.37 switchboard operators, including answering service per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $49,660, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for switchboard operators, including answering service in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,110 | $18.32 |
| 25th percentile | $42,740 | $20.55 |
| Median | $46,080 | $22.16 |
| 75th percentile | $56,480 | $27.15 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $68,160 | $32.77 |
| Average (mean) | $49,660 | $23.87 |
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 | $3,840 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,920 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,772.31 |
| Weekly | $886.15 |
| Hourly | $22.16 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $46,080 salary, see how much house you can afford in California 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 |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $79,260 | 440 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $61,780 | 700 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $59,360 | 170 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $49,840 | 60 |
| Napa, CA | $49,460 | 50 |
| Salinas, CA | $48,840 | 90 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $47,380 | 420 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $46,330 | 90 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $45,870 | 2,110 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $44,680 | 80 |
| Fresno, CA | $44,590 | 150 |
| Visalia, CA | $44,330 | 40 |
| Modesto, CA | $44,320 | 70 |
| Merced, CA | $44,190 | 50 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $44,130 | 500 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $42,710 | 140 |
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 California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Office Clerks, General | $49,920 | $24.00 |
| Customer Service Representative | $48,730 | $23.43 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $58,580 | $28.16 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $55,380 | $26.62 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $76,120 | $36.59 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $51,650 | $24.83 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $44,390 | $21.34 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $47,360 | $22.77 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $65,640 | $31.56 |
| Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | $84,540 | $40.64 |
| Billing and Posting Clerks | $55,260 | $26.57 |
| Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $61,780 | $29.70 |
| Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks | $39,000 | $18.75 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $63,380 | $30.47 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The median salary for switchboard operators, including answering service in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $46,080 a year, or $22.16 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $68,160 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid switchboard operators, including answering service make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The top 10% of switchboard operators, including answering service in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn at least $68,160 a year. The top 25% earn $56,480 or more.
What is the starting pay for switchboard operators, including answering service in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,110 a year, and a quarter of switchboard operators, including answering service earn $42,740 or less.
How many switchboard operators, including answering service work in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
About 570 switchboard operators, including answering service are employed in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.