The highest-paying states for switchboard operators, including answering service (ranked by average annual salary) are listed in Table 1. The entry level salary (as measured by the salary of the lowest 10% paid earners) and the number of employment of switchboard operators, including answering service in those states are also shown in the table. As shown in the table, with an annual salary of $48,170, Hawaii is the highest paying state for switchboard operators, including answering service. It is followed by District of Columbia (average annual salary $45,850). The salary and employment information is computed from data published by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in April 2023 [1]. For more salary information of switchboard operators, including answering service in a specific state, use the links in the table.
| Rank | State | Average Salary i | Entry Level Salary i |
# of Empl. i |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $48,170 |
$33,540 | 360 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $45,850 |
$35,110 | 150 |
| 3 | Oregon | $43,470 |
$32,500 | 310 |
| 4 | California | $42,870 |
$32,040 | 9,300 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $39,840 |
$32,030 | 230 |
| 6 | New York | $38,340 |
$30,490 | 3,650 |
| 7 | Washington | $38,100 |
$33,180 | 640 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $37,910 |
$33,120 | 1,160 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $37,740 |
$30,070 | 250 |
| 10 | Michigan | $37,520 |
$28,640 | 1,290 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $37,290 |
$30,760 | 1,300 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $36,620 |
$31,900 | 70 |
| 13 | Maine | $36,240 |
$29,610 | 190 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $36,100 |
$30,480 | 470 |
| 15 | Wyoming | $35,880 |
$30,380 | 30 |
| 16 | Colorado | $35,840 |
$30,760 | 420 |
| 17 | Vermont | $35,620 |
$35,320 | 80 |
| 18 | Virgin Islands | $35,610 |
$28,700 | 60 |
| 19 | Illinois | $35,300 |
$27,970 | 1,590 |
| 20 | Utah | $33,730 |
$27,730 | 250 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $33,560 |
$24,450 | 770 |
| 22 | Nevada | $33,510 |
$26,380 | 680 |
| 23 | Alaska | $33,280 |
$27,540 | 70 |
| 24 | Ohio | $33,050 |
$27,160 | 1,320 |
| 25 | Idaho | $32,830 |
$31,000 | 30 |
| 26 | Iowa | $32,590 |
$21,970 | 380 |
| 27 | South Carolina | $32,280 |
$23,910 | 640 |
| 28 | Montana | $32,260 |
$26,510 | 50 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $32,070 |
$23,730 | 380 |
| 30 | Maryland | $31,950 |
$26,120 | 1,460 |
| 31 | Delaware | $31,950 |
$27,480 | 250 |
| 32 | Indiana | $31,650 |
$23,040 | 670 |
| 33 | Missouri | $31,410 |
$28,380 | 1,070 |
| 34 | Kansas | $31,200 |
$24,700 | 330 |
| 35 | Pennsylvania | $31,200 |
$22,190 | 1,810 |
| 36 | New Mexico | $30,980 |
$24,330 | 310 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $30,940 |
$23,330 | 460 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $30,860 |
$23,770 | 1,030 |
| 39 | North Dakota | $30,350 |
$23,490 | 60 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $30,350 |
$25,070 | 270 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $30,340 |
$21,430 | 1,270 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $30,210 |
$22,940 | 1,030 |
| 43 | Virginia | $30,130 |
$22,880 | 490 |
| 44 | Arizona | $29,860 |
$28,490 | 290 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $29,420 |
$23,290 | 320 |
| 46 | Florida | $29,330 |
$26,060 | 3,680 |
| 47 | Texas | $29,120 |
$21,990 | 4,050 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $28,750 |
$22,560 | 370 |
| 49 | Georgia | $28,580 |
$23,190 | 1,110 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $28,350 |
$21,970 | 40 |
| 51 | Alabama | $28,230 |
$22,470 | 790 |
| 52 | West Virginia | $25,420 |
$19,040 | 260 |
| 53 | Guam | $22,330 |
$17,980 | 30 |
| 54 | Puerto Rico | $20,420 |
$17,680 | 370 |