SOC 43-2011 · San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro

Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service Salary in San Jose, CA

The average salary for switchboard operators, including answering service in San Jose, California is $73,450 a year ($35.31 an hour), according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $79,260: half of the 440 people in this job in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 74% more than the U.S. average for this job ($42,300).

$73,450average per year

$35.31 / hourMedian $79,260Take-home ≈ $57,698

  • $48K10th
  • $64K25th
  • $79KMedian
  • $79K75th
  • $79K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

440people in this job
+74%vs U.S. average
#1 of 17California metros
110cost of living (U.S. = 100)
Advertisement

Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service pay range in San Jose

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,730 a year or less, while the top 10% make $79,260 or more. The middle half of switchboard operators, including answering service in San Jose earn between $64,090 and $79,260.

  • $48K10th
  • $64K25th
  • $79KMedian
  • $79K75th
  • $79K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$73,450$6,121$35.31
Median$79,260$6,605$38.11
Entry level (25th percentile)$64,090$5,341$30.81
Experienced (75th percentile)$79,260$6,605$38.11

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.

Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service pay in San Jose vs. California and the U.S.

Switchboard operators, including answering service in San Jose earn 35% more than the California average ($54,360) and 74% more than the U.S. average ($42,300). At the median the gap is +105% against the U.S. median of $38,630.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
San Jose$73,450$79,260$47,730$79,260440
California$54,360$48,840$37,380$79,2606,680
United States$42,300$38,630$29,990$59,47034,280

State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.

Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service salary after taxes in San Jose

On the average salary of $73,450, a single filer in San Jose takes home about $57,698 a year, or $4,808 a month and $2,219 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.

Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.

California paycheck calculator: try your own salary

Advertisement

Is San Jose a good place for switchboard operators, including answering service? Pay vs. cost of living

Prices in the San Jose area are 10% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 110.4), so the average $73,450 buys what about $66,517 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in San Jose ($84,050). A typical home costs $1,610,466, or 21.9 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $73,450 is worth in another city

Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service salary in other California cities

San Jose ranks 1st of 17 California metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.

All Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service salaries in California

Highest-paying cities for switchboard operators, including answering service

San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($73,450).

Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service salary by city

Advertisement

Does this match what you are paid?

Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.

Share your pay anonymously

Reviewed before it counts. Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service in San Jose, CA.

Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service salary in San Jose: questions

How much do switchboard operators, including answering service make an hour in San Jose?

$35.31 an hour on average, and $38.11 at the median (BLS, May 2025).

What is the entry-level switchboard operators, including answering service salary in San Jose?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,730 a year and the 25th percentile is $64,090, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the switchboard operators, including answering service take-home pay in San Jose?

About $57,698 a year ($4,808 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $73,450. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.

Do switchboard operators, including answering service earn more in San Jose than elsewhere?

The average here is 74% more than the U.S. average for this job ($42,300).

Sources and how to read this page

  • Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 43-2011; area San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA (41940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.7%.
  • U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
  • Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
  • Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
  • Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
  • Job concentration: location quotient 1.77, this job is 1.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.

Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.