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Telephone Operator - Federal Salaries of 2021
Pay Rates for "Telephone Operator"
How much does a Telephone Operator in the federal government get paid? $38,409.14* *Based on the 2021 average.Telephone Operator was the 258th most popular job in the U.S. Government in 2021, with 388 employed. The most common payscale was the general schedule payscale.
In 2021, the Veterans Health Administration hired the most employees titled Telephone Operating, with an average salary of $38,696.
Government Telephone Operating jobs are classified under the General Schedule (GS) payscale. The minimum paygrade for a Telephone Operating job is GS-1, and the highest paygrade that can be attained within this job series is GS-9. Remember that the starting and maximum yearly pay listed above reflect base pay only - your actual salary will be higher based on the Locality Pay Adjustment for the area in which you work.
This occupation includes one grade interval work that involves operating or supervising the operation of telephone switchboard equipment to connect incoming and outgoing calls. The work involves routing the calls to their proper destinations and providing telephone and organizational information to callers.
Agencies that have hired a Telephone Operator
| Agency | Employees Hired | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Veterans Health Administration | 333 | $38,696.11 |
| Indian Health Service | 54 | $36,644.81 |
| Executive Office of U.S. Attorneys and the Office of U.s Attorneys | 1 | $0.00 |
Telephone Operator Pay Distribution
The average pay for a Telephone Operator is $38,409.14. The highest paid Telephone Operator made $60,801 in 2021.
Common Telephone Operator Payscales
| Payscale | Number of Telephone Operating Employees |
|---|---|
| GS - General Schedule | 388 |
| Starting Paygrade: | $20,999.00 / year base pay at paygrade GS-1, Step 1 |
| Maximum Paygrade: | $63,734.00 / year base pay at paygrade GS-9, Step 10 |
| Category: | Clerical and Administrative Support |
| Occupation Family: | 0300 GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE, CLERICAL, AND OFFICE SERVICES GROUP |
Other Jobs at the GS-1 Paygrade
GS-1 is the starting paygrade for Telephone Operating jobs. Here are some other Federal Government jobs that can be held by employees at the GS-1 paygrade.
| Occupation | Occupation Category | Starting Paygrade | Maximum Paygrade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Transcriber | Clerical and Administrative Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
| Supply Clerical and Technician | Clerical and Administrative Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
| Health Aid and Technician | Technical and Medical Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
| Procurement Clerical and Technician | Clerical and Administrative Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
| Rehabilitation Therapy Assistant | Technical and Medical Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
Average Telephone Operating Pay Trend from 2004 to 2021
In 2004, the average pay for a Telephone Operator was $28,668. Since then, the average pay has increased to $38,409 in 2021.
Data Sources
The information provided on these pages is sourced from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) 
Enterprise Human Resources Integration (EHRI) dataset. Postal Service data is managed exclusively by the USPS . All information is displayed unmodified and as provided by the source agency.
Federal employee salaries are public information under open government laws (5 U.S.C. § 552). FederalPay provides this data in the interest of government transparency — employee data may not be used for commercial soliciting or vending of any kind. Learn more about the FederalPay Employees Dataset here.
The series code of this occupation is 0382.