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Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service

General Information

Description

Operate telephone business systems equipment or switchboards to relay incoming, outgoing, and interoffice calls. May supply information to callers and record messages.

Business Breakdown

People in this career work in these sectors.

  1. Private, for profit67.10%
  2. Private, not for profit16.95%
  3. State and local government12.08%
  4. Self-employed2.12%
  5. Federal government1.75%

Workplace at a Glance

What you can expect to experience while on the job

  • Responsibility
  • Exposure to job hazards
  • Physical activity
  • Decision making
  • Repetitiveness
  • Level of competition
  • Time pressure

Industry areas

  • Business Management & Administration

Similar Careers

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Salary

Salary Information

Median Salary This is the median, or the midpoint, of the salary range for this career.

$34,670

State-by-state Salary

Gray states indicate no data available

Salary Range Salary varies based on years of experience, degree level and location.

$20,420
$48,170
No Information for this section

Education & Interests

Most Common Education Levels

People in this career achieve this level of education.

  • High school 88%
  • Post-secondary certificate 5%
  • Post baccalaureate 3%
  • Some college 2%
  • Master's degree 0%
  • Doctoral degree 0%
  • Bachelor's degree 0%
  • Associate's degree 0%
  • Less than high school 0%
  • Post-doctoral training 0%
  • Post-master's certificate 0%
  • First professional degree 0%

PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS

You may find this career fulfilling if you consider yourself to be:

  • Conventional — You have an interest in following procedures and regulations to organize information or data.
  • Enterprising — You have an interest in managing, negotiating and marketing, or leading and advising others.
  • Social — You have an interest in helping, teaching, advising, assisting or providing service to others.

Not sure what characteristics best describe you? Take the RIASEC Test.

Skills at a Glance

Skills helpful in this career

  • Verbal skills
  • Critical thinking & problem solving
  • Equipment operation & maintenance
  • Math & science skills
  • Technology design & control
  • Leadership

Knowledge

  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Administrative
  • Computers and Electronics
  • English Language
  • Mathematics

Gain insights into your knowledge by using the ASVAB Career Exploration Program

No Information for this section

Data supplied by Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center of Education Statistics, Defense Manpower Data Center (View our update schedule). Contact any business, college or military service branch to answer additional questions.