Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,110 a year or less, while the top 10% make $68,160 or more. The middle half of switchboard operators, including answering service in San Diego earn between $42,740 and $56,480.
- $38K10th
- $43K25th
- $46KMedian
- $56K75th
- $68K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $49,660 | $4,138 | $23.88 |
| Median | $46,080 | $3,840 | $22.15 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $42,740 | $3,562 | $20.55 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $56,480 | $4,707 | $27.15 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Switchboard operators, including answering service in San Diego earn 9% less than the California average ($54,360) and 17% more than the U.S. average ($42,300). At the median the gap is +19% against the U.S. median of $38,630.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $49,660 | $46,080 | $38,110 | $68,160 | 570 |
| California | $54,360 | $48,840 | $37,380 | $79,260 | 6,680 |
| United States | $42,300 | $38,630 | $29,990 | $59,470 | 34,280 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service salary after taxes in San Diego
On the average salary of $49,660, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $40,910 a year, or $3,409 a month and $1,573 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Diego a good place for switchboard operators, including answering service? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $49,660 buys what about $44,384 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 19.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 8th of 17 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($73,450).
- San Jose$73,450
- San Francisco$61,160
- Stockton$57,560
- Sacramento$53,540
- Napa$53,060
- Oxnard$52,840
- Santa Rosa$52,410
- San Diego$49,660
- Los Angeles$49,520
- Modesto$48,940
All Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service salaries in California
Highest-paying cities for switchboard operators, including answering service
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($73,450).
- San Jose, CA$73,450
- San Francisco, CA$61,160
- Kahului, HI$60,220
- Honolulu, HI$57,600
- Stockton, CA$57,560
Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service salary by city
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Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service salary in San Diego: questions
How much do switchboard operators, including answering service make an hour in San Diego?
$23.87 an hour on average, and $22.16 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level switchboard operators, including answering service salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,110 a year and the 25th percentile is $42,740, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the switchboard operators, including answering service take-home pay in San Diego?
About $40,910 a year ($3,409 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $49,660. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do switchboard operators, including answering service earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% more than the U.S. average for this job ($42,300).
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 43-2011; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
- 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 (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.68, this job is 1.7 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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