Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,810 a year or less, while the top 10% make $61,580 or more. The middle half of switchboard operators, including answering service in Washington earn between $37,530 and $52,670.
- $36K10th
- $38K25th
- $46KMedian
- $53K75th
- $62K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $46,910 | $3,909 | $22.55 |
| Median | $45,750 | $3,812 | $22.00 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $37,530 | $3,128 | $18.04 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $52,670 | $4,389 | $25.32 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service salary after taxes in Washington
On the average salary of $46,910, a single filer in Washington takes home about $38,224 a year, or $3,185 a month and $1,470 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 | $38,558 | $3,213 |
| Working in DC | $38,224 | $3,185 |
| Working in VA | $37,989 | $3,166 |
| Working in MD | $37,856 | $3,155 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for switchboard operators, including answering service? 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 $46,910 buys what about $43,083 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 12.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service salary in nearby metro areas
- Baltimore, MD$38,370
- Richmond, VA$36,770
- Harrisburg, PA$39,590
- Lancaster, PA$38,600
- Dover, DE$38,360
- Reading, PA$39,060
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service salary in Washington: questions
How much do switchboard operators, including answering service make an hour in Washington?
$22.55 an hour on average, and $21.99 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level switchboard operators, including answering service salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,810 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,530, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the switchboard operators, including answering service take-home pay in Washington?
About $38,224 a year ($3,185 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $46,910.
Do switchboard operators, including answering service earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% more than the U.S. metro average for this job ($42,858).
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.9%.
- 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 0.84, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.