Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service Salary in Columbia, SC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Columbia, SC

Median annual salary $33,640 -12.3% vs national
Median hourly $16.18
10th percentile $29,790
90th percentile $39,110
Employed locally 50
National median $38,370

Compare Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service salary & buying power

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Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service
in
Columbia, SC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $29,790
    25th
    $30,120
    50th (median)
    $33,640
    75th
    $37,100
    90th
    $39,110

    Columbia economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $66,146 2023 • Census ACS
    Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service salary vs area income 51% Median Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service salary is 49% 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
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $54,850
    Wisconsin $39,910
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $38,910
    Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC $38,280
    Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $38,030
    South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $37,530

    Related occupations in Columbia, SC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Customer Service Representatives $37,670
    Office Clerks, General $37,610
    Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive $42,490
    First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers $64,380
    Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks $45,130
    Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks $38,790

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service in Columbia, SC is $16.18, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $16.95 or more per hour.

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

    The median Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service salary in Columbia, SC is 12.3% below 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 Columbia?

    Entry-level Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service (10th percentile) earn around $29,790 per year in Columbia, SC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $30,120.