Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service Salary in Chicago, IL-IN

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Median annual salary $43,020 +12.1% vs national
Median hourly $20.68
10th percentile $34,940
90th percentile $55,140
Employed locally 1,140
National median $38,370

Compare Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service salary & buying power

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Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $34,940
    25th
    $37,850
    50th (median)
    $43,020
    75th
    $46,710
    90th
    $55,140

    Chicago economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $88,850 2023 • Census ACS
    Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service salary vs area income 48% Median Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service salary is 52% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $73,220
    Modesto, CA $61,760
    Urban Honolulu, HI $61,350
    Barnstable Town, MA $59,810
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $59,500
    Stockton-Lodi, CA $58,750

    Nearby metros — Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $59,500
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $49,690
    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $47,380
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $42,760
    Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $42,580
    Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $40,960

    Related occupations in Chicago, IL-IN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Customer Service Representatives $45,820
    Office Clerks, General $45,450
    Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive $49,690
    Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks $50,390
    First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers $67,940
    Receptionists and Information Clerks $37,790

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service make per hour in Chicago?

    The median hourly wage for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service in Chicago, IL-IN is $20.68, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $27.28 or more per hour.

    Is Chicago above or below average for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service salaries?

    The median Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service salary in Chicago, IL-IN is 12.1% above the national median of $38,370. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service in Chicago?

    Entry-level Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service (10th percentile) earn around $34,940 per year in Chicago, IL-IN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $37,850.