Telephone Operator salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Telephone Operators in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median of $47,410 a year ($22.79 an hour), based on BLS data for 60 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,140 for the top 10%. That is 14% higher than the national median of $41,740. Pay here is 4% lower than the District of Columbia statewide median of $49,330. There are 0.02 telephone operators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $50,210, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for telephone operators in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,490 | $18.02 |
| 25th percentile | $40,300 | $19.37 |
| Median | $47,410 | $22.79 |
| 75th percentile | $56,790 | $27.30 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,140 | $30.84 |
| Average (mean) | $50,210 | $24.14 |
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 | $3,950.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,975.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,823.46 |
| Weekly | $911.73 |
| Hourly | $22.79 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $47,410 salary, see how much house you can afford in District of Columbia at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Telephone Operator salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $45,000 | 140 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $42,460 | 80 |
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 District of Columbia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service | $45,750 | $21.99 |
| Office Clerks, General | $51,880 | $24.94 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $53,660 | $25.80 |
| Customer Service Representative | $46,220 | $22.22 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $76,400 | $36.73 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $48,280 | $23.21 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $59,290 | $28.51 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $41,240 | $19.83 |
| Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | $90,320 | $43.42 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $47,620 | $22.90 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $64,250 | $30.89 |
| Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other | $57,160 | $27.48 |
| Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks | $37,690 | $18.12 |
| Billing and Posting Clerks | $55,920 | $26.89 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median salary for telephone operators in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $47,410 a year, or $22.79 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,140 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid telephone operators make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The top 10% of telephone operators in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn at least $64,140 a year. The top 25% earn $56,790 or more.
What is the starting pay for telephone operators in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,490 a year, and a quarter of telephone operators earn $40,300 or less.
How many telephone operators work in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
About 60 telephone operators are employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.