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.
- Private, for profit67.10%
- Private, not for profit16.95%
- State and local government12.08%
- Self-employed2.12%
- 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
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
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