Customer Service Representatives
Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance
Office Clerks, General
Public Safety Telecommunicators
Receptionists and Information Clerks
Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Cler...
CAREER
Telephone Operators
Overview
Salary Median (2023)
$38,080
Projected Job Growth (2023-2033)
-27.9% (decline)
Career
What Telephone Operators Do
Provide information by accessing alphabetical, geographical, or other directories. Assist customers with special billing requests, such as charges to a third party and credits or refunds for incorrectly dialed numbers or bad connections. May handle emergency calls and assist children or people with physical disabilities to make telephone calls.
Other Job Titles Telephone Operators May Have
411 Directory Assistance Operator (411 Directory Assistance Op), Directory Assistance Operator (Directory Assistance Op), Information Specialist, Live Source Operator (Live Source Op), Long Distance Operator (LD Operator), PBX Operator (Post Box Exchange Operator), Phone Operator (Telephone Operator), Phone Secretary (Telephone Secretary), TELECOM Op (Telecommunications Operator), Toll Operator (Toll Op)
Tasks & Responsibilities May Include
- Observe signal lights on switchboards, and dial or press buttons to make connections.
- Operate telephone switchboards and systems to advance and complete connections, including those for local, long distance, pay telephone, mobile, person-to-person, and emergency calls.
- Listen to customer requests, referring to alphabetical or geographical directories to answer questions and provide telephone information.
- Update directory information.
- Suggest and check alternate spellings, locations, or listing formats to customers lacking details or complete information.
Education
Level of Education Attained by Telephone Operators
Most common level of education among people in
this career: High school diploma or equivalent (98%)
High school diploma or equivalent
Associate's degree
This page includes information from theO*NET 29.2 Databaseby the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under theCC BY 4.0license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
