Telephone Operators pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,490 a year or less, while the top 10% make $64,140 or more. The middle half of telephone operators in Washington earn between $40,300 and $56,790.
- $37K10th
- $40K25th
- $47KMedian
- $57K75th
- $64K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $50,210 | $4,184 | $24.14 |
| Median | $47,410 | $3,951 | $22.79 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $40,300 | $3,358 | $19.38 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $56,790 | $4,732 | $27.30 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Telephone Operators pay in Washington vs. Washington, D.C. and the U.S.
Telephone operators in Washington earn about the same as the Washington, D.C. average ($50,960) and 12% more than the U.S. average ($44,970). At the median the gap is +14% against the U.S. median of $41,740.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $50,210 | $47,410 | $37,490 | $64,140 | 60 |
| Washington, D.C. | $50,960 | $49,330 | $37,490 | $72,090 | 50 |
| 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 Washington
On the average salary of $50,210, a single filer in Washington takes home about $40,677 a year, or $3,390 a month and $1,565 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $41,071 | $3,423 |
| Working in DC | $40,677 | $3,390 |
| Working in VA | $40,451 | $3,371 |
| Working in MD | $40,350 | $3,363 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for telephone operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $50,210 buys what about $46,113 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 11.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Telephone Operators salary in nearby metro areas
- Baltimore, MD$44,500
- Philadelphia, PA$49,150
- New York, NY$52,200
- Cleveland, OH$42,730
- Columbus, OH$38,930
- Buffalo, NY$43,750
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 Washington: questions
How much do telephone operators make an hour in Washington?
$24.14 an hour on average, and $22.79 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level telephone operators salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,490 a year and the 25th percentile is $40,300, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the telephone operators take-home pay in Washington?
About $40,677 a year ($3,390 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $50,210.
Do telephone operators earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% more 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.4%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.94, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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