Telephone Operator salary in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Telephone Operators in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median of $58,900 a year ($28.32 an hour), based on BLS data for 110 workers.
Pay ranges from $45,950 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,510 for the top 10%. That is 41% higher than the national median of $41,740. Pay here is 3% higher than the California statewide median of $57,170. There are 0.02 telephone operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.80). The average (mean) salary is $55,510, close to the median.
Pay range for telephone operators in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,950 | $22.09 |
| 25th percentile | $45,950 | $22.09 |
| Median | $58,900 | $28.32 |
| 75th percentile | $63,500 | $30.53 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,510 | $30.53 |
| Average (mean) | $55,510 | $26.69 |
Half of telephone operators 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 | $4,908.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,454.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,265.38 |
| Weekly | $1,132.69 |
| Hourly | $28.32 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $58,900 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Highest-paying states for telephone operators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $57,170 |
| New York | $50,220 |
| District of Columbia | $49,330 |
| Massachusetts | $47,940 |
| Wisconsin | $46,590 |
| Maryland | $42,460 |
| Virginia | $42,350 |
| New Jersey | $41,960 |
| Texas | $41,250 |
| North Carolina | $40,360 |
See Telephone Operator pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service | $45,870 | $22.05 |
| Communications Equipment Operators, All Other | $60,630 | $29.15 |
| Office Clerks, General | $48,100 | $23.13 |
| Customer Service Representative | $48,840 | $23.48 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $53,550 | $25.75 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $77,530 | $37.27 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $58,590 | $28.17 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $51,410 | $24.72 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $43,280 | $20.81 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $45,980 | $22.11 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $61,810 | $29.72 |
| Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | $82,850 | $39.83 |
| Billing and Posting Clerks | $53,070 | $25.51 |
| Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs | $63,520 | $30.54 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 43-2021. 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 telephone operator make in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
The median salary for telephone operators in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $58,900 a year, or $28.32 an hour. Pay ranges from $45,950 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,510 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid telephone operators make in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
The top 10% of telephone operators in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn at least $63,510 a year. The top 25% earn $63,500 or more.
What is the starting pay for telephone operators in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $45,950 a year, and a quarter of telephone operators earn $45,950 or less.
How many telephone operators work in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
About 110 telephone operators are employed in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.