Telephone Operators pay range in Cleveland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,320 a year or less, while the top 10% make $62,710 or more. The middle half of telephone operators in Cleveland earn between $34,320 and $52,400.
- $34K10th
- $34K25th
- $40KMedian
- $52K75th
- $63K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $42,730 | $3,561 | $20.54 |
| Median | $39,570 | $3,298 | $19.02 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $34,320 | $2,860 | $16.50 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $52,400 | $4,367 | $25.19 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Telephone Operators pay in Cleveland vs. Ohio and the U.S.
Telephone operators in Cleveland earn 10% more than the Ohio average ($38,730) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($44,970). At the median the gap is -5% against the U.S. median of $41,740.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland | $42,730 | $39,570 | $34,320 | $62,710 | 70 |
| Ohio | $38,730 | $36,970 | $31,990 | $50,500 | 220 |
| United States | $44,970 | $41,740 | $31,510 | $62,950 | 3,430 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Telephone Operators salary after taxes in Cleveland
On the average salary of $42,730, a single filer in Cleveland takes home about $34,712 a year, or $2,893 a month and $1,335 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Cleveland's local income tax (2.5%); the city income tax is that of the principal city (suburbs have their own rates) and school district income taxes are not included.
Is Cleveland a good place for telephone operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Cleveland area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.9), so the average $42,730 buys what about $45,495 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Cleveland ($50,140). A typical home costs $252,210, or 5.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Telephone Operators salary in other Ohio cities
Cleveland ranks 1st of 3 Ohio metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Cleveland$42,730
- Columbus$38,930
- Cincinnati$38,830
Highest-paying cities for telephone operators
Los Angeles, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($55,510).
- Los Angeles, CA$55,510
- Boston, MA$52,680
- New York, NY$52,200
- Washington, DC$50,210
- Philadelphia, PA$49,150
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Telephone Operators salary in Cleveland: questions
How much do telephone operators make an hour in Cleveland?
$20.55 an hour on average, and $19.02 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level telephone operators salary in Cleveland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,320 a year and the 25th percentile is $34,320, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the telephone operators take-home pay in Cleveland?
About $34,712 a year ($2,893 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $42,730. Includes Cleveland's local income tax (2.5%); the city income tax is that of the principal city (suburbs have their own rates) and school district income taxes are not included.
Do telephone operators earn more in Cleveland than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% less than the U.S. average for this job ($44,970).
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 43-2021; area Cleveland, OH (17410). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.8%.
- 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 (2026 rules). Includes Cleveland's local income tax (2.5%); the city income tax is that of the principal city (suburbs have their own rates) and school district income taxes are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 3.06, this job is 3.1 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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