Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service salary in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median of $50,470 a year ($24.26 an hour), based on BLS data for 190 workers.
Pay ranges from $41,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,420 for the top 10%. That is 31% higher than the national median of $38,630. Pay here is 6% higher than the Washington statewide median of $47,800. There are 0.09 switchboard operators, including answering service per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.42). The average (mean) salary is $51,190, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for switchboard operators, including answering service in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,040 | $19.73 |
| 25th percentile | $45,110 | $21.69 |
| Median | $50,470 | $24.26 |
| 75th percentile | $57,650 | $27.71 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,420 | $30.49 |
| Average (mean) | $51,190 | $24.61 |
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 | $4,205.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,102.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,941.15 |
| Weekly | $970.58 |
| Hourly | $24.26 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $50,470 salary, see how much house you can afford in Washington 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $46,160 | 90 |
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 Washington statewide figures.
Related jobs in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Office Clerks, General | $53,290 | $25.62 |
| Customer Service Representative | $53,550 | $25.75 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $81,640 | $39.25 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $60,460 | $29.07 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $60,230 | $28.96 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $45,820 | $22.03 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $81,850 | $39.35 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $56,370 | $27.10 |
| Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | $80,860 | $38.87 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $60,350 | $29.01 |
| Billing and Posting Clerks | $58,920 | $28.33 |
| Teller | $49,880 | $23.98 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $62,960 | $30.27 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $59,340 | $28.53 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The median salary for switchboard operators, including answering service in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $50,470 a year, or $24.26 an hour. Pay ranges from $41,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,420 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid switchboard operators, including answering service make in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The top 10% of switchboard operators, including answering service in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn at least $63,420 a year. The top 25% earn $57,650 or more.
What is the starting pay for switchboard operators, including answering service in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $41,040 a year, and a quarter of switchboard operators, including answering service earn $45,110 or less.
How many switchboard operators, including answering service work in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
About 190 switchboard operators, including answering service are employed in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area, not counting the self-employed.