Key takeaways
- O*NET reports 36,600 workers in 2024 for switchboard operators, including answering service.
- The national median annual employee wage was $38,630 in 2025.
- The 2024 to 2034 projection lists 2,800 openings. This is a ten year total, not an annual figure.
- The published outlook band is decline (-1% or lower).
- These employee figures help frame a role brief. They do not set a local offer, legal wage floor, or contractor rate.
Table of contents
What switchboard operators, including answering service employment and wage data shows in 2026
Federal workforce data put 2024 employment for switchboard operators, including answering service at 36,600. The 2025 median annual employee wage was $38,630.
O*NET lists 2,800 projected openings across 2024 to 2034 and classifies growth as decline (-1% or lower). Openings cover the full projection period and may include replacement needs.
The national figures describe an occupation, not one employer's job. Location, industry, schedule, responsibility, and employment status can all change the appropriate pay and hiring approach.
| Statistic | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Employment | 36,600 workers in 2024 | O*NET OnLine |
| Median annual wage | $38,630 in 2025 | O*NET OnLine |
| Median hourly wage | $18.57 in 2025 | Calculated from annual figure using 2,080 hours |
| Projected openings | 2,800 from 2024 to 2034 | O*NET OnLine |
| Projected growth band | Decline (-1% or lower) | O*NET OnLine |
| Occupation code | 43-2011 | BLS National Employment Matrix |
Build a role brief around specific outputs
For switchboard operators, including answering service, the brief should cover call routing, caller verification, directory records, message accuracy, urgent transfers, and escalation. A title alone does not define those responsibilities.
List recurring outputs, deadlines, systems, source records, and reviewers. State which decisions belong to the employee and which require approval.
Separate essential work from tasks that happen occasionally. This gives candidates a clearer picture and gives interviewers a defensible standard.
- Name each recurring output and its due date.
- List systems and required permission levels.
- Define approval and escalation boundaries.
- State the evidence used to review completed work.
Screen candidates with observable evidence
Turn the brief into a short scoring rubric before applications are reviewed. Each criterion should point to work a reviewer can see or verify.
A work sample for switchboard operators, including answering service should use safe sample records. Tell candidates what they may assume, how much time they have, and how the output will be scored.
Interview questions should test boundary judgment. Ask what the candidate would verify, what they would document, and when they would stop and escalate.
Plan access, practice, and review
Begin onboarding with the procedure source of truth and a complete demonstration. Then let the new hire complete one supervised example before broader permissions are granted.
Assign an owner for questions and corrections. Record which work can proceed independently and which work needs review during the first week.
Review access after the supervised period. Remove temporary permissions that are no longer needed and document any added authority.
- Confirm identity before provisioning accounts.
- Use sample or redacted records for practice.
- Review one complete output against the hiring rubric.
- Document correction and escalation paths.
Use national benchmarks without overstating them
The $38,630 median divides the national employee wage distribution in half. It is not a recommended offer for every employer.
OEWS wage estimates exclude self employed workers. The number cannot support a contractor or virtual assistant rate claim without separate evidence.
Projection bands describe national direction under BLS assumptions. Hiring teams still need local pay evidence, a current role scope, and documented legal requirements for the worker's location.
Sources and methodology
We checked 11 BLS and O*NET sources on August 6, 2026. The headline employment, 2025 median wage, outlook band, and openings come from the O*NET summary for 43-2011.00, which cites federal workforce data. BLS sources explain projection methods, wage definitions, preparation categories, and limits. Openings are shown for the full 2024 to 2034 period because that is how O*NET displays this field. We do not convert it into an annual estimate. OEWS excludes self employed workers, so the wage is not a freelance or virtual assistant price.
- BLS Occupational Projections and Worker CharacteristicsAugust 28, 2025. 2024 employment and 2024 to 2034 outlook context for SOC 43-2011.
- BLS Employment Projections methodologySeptember 2025. Projection assumptions, replacement needs, and model limits.
- BLS 2024 National Employment MatrixAugust 28, 2025. Base year occupational employment and industry matrix data.
- BLS education and training assignmentsAugust 28, 2025. Typical preparation categories for detailed occupations.
- BLS educational attainment by occupationAugust 28, 2025. Attainment distributions for workers age 25 and older.
- BLS factors affecting occupational utilizationAugust 28, 2025. Technology, demand, and work organization factors used in projections.
- BLS May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage StatisticsMay 15, 2026. Current national employment and wage release.
- BLS OEWS technical notesMay 15, 2026. Survey coverage, wage definitions, estimation, and exclusions.
- BLS OEWS Handbook of MethodsVerified August 6, 2026. Collection and production methods for occupational wage estimates.
- O*NET OnLine summary for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering ServiceUpdated 2026; accessed August 6, 2026. Occupation definition, 2025 median wage, 2024 employment, outlook band, and openings for 43-2011.00.
- O*NET OnLine details for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering ServiceUpdated 2026; accessed August 6, 2026. Detailed tasks, work activities, skills, knowledge, and technology.
Source count: 11. Last verification date: August 6, 2026.
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FAQ
How many switchboard operators, including answering service were employed in 2024?
O*NET reports 36,600 workers in 2024 for 43-2011.00.
What was the 2025 median wage for switchboard operators, including answering service?
The national median annual employee wage was $38,630 in 2025.
How many openings are projected?
O*NET lists 2,800 openings for 2024 to 2034. The figure covers the ten year period.
What is the projected growth outlook?
O*NET classifies projected growth from 2024 to 2034 as decline (-1% or lower).
Can the wage be used as a virtual assistant rate?
No. The figure describes employee wages and excludes self employed workers. It does not establish contractor pricing.
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