Telephone Operators pay range in Philadelphia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,980 a year or less, while the top 10% make $81,850 or more. The middle half of telephone operators in Philadelphia earn between $37,790 and $46,640.
- $37K10th
- $38K25th
- $45KMedian
- $47K75th
- $82K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $49,150 | $4,096 | $23.63 |
| Median | $45,000 | $3,750 | $21.63 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $37,790 | $3,149 | $18.17 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $46,640 | $3,887 | $22.42 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Telephone Operators pay in Philadelphia vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Telephone operators in Philadelphia earn 9% more than the U.S. average ($44,970). At the median the gap is +8% against the U.S. median of $41,740.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $49,150 | $45,000 | $36,980 | $81,850 | 140 |
| United States | $44,970 | $41,740 | $31,510 | $62,950 | 3,430 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Telephone Operators salary after taxes in Philadelphia
On the average salary of $49,150, a single filer in Philadelphia takes home about $40,163 a year, or $3,347 a month and $1,545 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NJ | $40,504 | $3,375 |
| Working in PA | $40,163 | $3,347 |
| Working in MD | $39,549 | $3,296 |
| Working in DE | $39,511 | $3,293 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Philadelphia a good place for telephone operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Philadelphia area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 102.6), so the average $49,150 buys what about $47,926 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Philadelphia ($54,310). A typical home costs $390,463, or 7.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Telephone Operators salary in nearby metro areas
- Baltimore, MD$44,500
- New York, NY$52,200
- Washington, DC$50,210
- Buffalo, NY$43,750
- Boston, MA$52,680
- Cleveland, OH$42,730
Highest-paying cities for telephone operators
Los Angeles, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($55,510).
- Los Angeles, CA$55,510
- Boston, MA$52,680
- New York, NY$52,200
- Washington, DC$50,210
- Philadelphia, PA$49,150
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Telephone Operators salary in Philadelphia: questions
How much do telephone operators make an hour in Philadelphia?
$23.63 an hour on average, and $21.63 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level telephone operators salary in Philadelphia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,980 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,790, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the telephone operators take-home pay in Philadelphia?
About $40,163 a year ($3,347 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $49,150. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do telephone operators earn more in Philadelphia than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% more than the U.S. average for this job ($44,970).
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 43-2021; area Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD (37980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.5%.
- 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). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.18, this job is 2.2 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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