Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service - Operate telephone business systems equipment or switchboards to relay incoming, outgoing, and interoffice calls. May supply information to callers and record messages.
The national average annual salary for this occupation is $26,280 per year. Nationally, the average hourly wage for this occupation is $12.63. The average wage in New Mexico is slightly below the national average. In New Mexico, the average hourly wage is $11.87 and most workers in this occupation earn between $8.41 and $13.60 per hour.
In the table click on the "+" sign to expand/collapse areas.
| Area | Entry Wage | Average Wage | Experienced Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Annual | $26,280 | ||
| National Hourly | $12.63 | ||
| Statewide Annual | $17,486 | $24,692 | $28,295 |
| Statewide Hourly | $8.41 | $11.87 | $13.60 |
| Metro Areas | |||
| Albuquerque Annual | $17,552 | $25,714 | $29,795 |
| Hourly | $8.44 | $12.36 | $14.32 |
| Farmington Annual | $18,875 | $26,862 | $30,856 |
| Hourly | $9.07 | $12.91 | $14.83 |
| Las Cruces Annual | $17,616 | $20,468 | $21,894 |
| Hourly | $8.47 | $9.84 | $10.53 |
| Santa Fe Annual | $19,252 | $26,297 | $29,820 |
| Hourly | $9.26 | $12.64 | $14.34 |
| Regions | |||
| Central Annual | $17,552 | $25,714 | $29,795 |
| Hourly | $8.44 | $12.36 | $14.32 |
| Eastern Annual | $17,011 | $24,082 | $27,618 |
| Hourly | $8.18 | $11.58 | $13.28 |
| Northern Annual | $18,066 | $24,520 | $27,748 |
| Hourly | $8.69 | $11.79 | $13.34 |
| Southwestern Annual | $17,629 | $20,567 | $22,035 |
| Hourly | $8.48 | $9.89 | $10.59 |
A dash '-' indicates that information is not available for this occupation or area.
Metro Areas refer to Metropolitan Statistical Areas.
Regions refer to Workforce Investment Areas.
For more detailed information about New Mexico wages visit the Occupational Employment Statistics program website.
Information displayed represents annual 2010 wages.
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New Mexico
2008 to 2018
In 2008 there were about 990 workers in this occupation in New Mexico. The Department of Workforce Solutions estimates that by 2018 this number will decrease by about -11 percent and an estmated 880 will be employed in this occupation. Compared to other occupations, employment growth in this occupation is declining. Job opportunities indicate few and keen competition, as there should be about 0 openings each year for workers in this occupation.
In the Table click on the "+" sign to expand/collapse areas
| Area | Estimated Employment 2008 | Projected Employment 2018 | Annual Percent Change | Total Annual Average Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | 990 | 880 | -1.12% | 0 |
| + Metro Areas | ||||
| Albuquerque | 460 | 410 | -1.14% | 0 |
| Farmington | 50 | 50 | -1.01% | 0 |
| Las Cruces | - | - | - | - |
| Santa Fe | 100 | 90 | -0.76% | 0 |
| + Regions | ||||
| Central | 460 | 410 | -1.14% | 0 |
| Eastern | 160 | 140 | -1.33% | 0 |
| Northern | 240 | 220 | -0.89% | 0 |
| Southwestern | - | - | - | - |
A dash '-' indicates that information is not available for this occupation or area.
Metro Areas refer to Metropolitan Statistical Areas.
Regions refer to Workforce Investment Areas.
Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service usually need High School Diploma (or GED or High School Equivalence Certificate).
| Education Level | Percentage |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma (or GED or High School Equivalence Certificate) | 60% |
| Some College Courses | 17% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 7% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 6% |
| Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 5% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in Personnel Services, Engineering-related Technologies, Vocational Home Economics, Construction Trades, Mechanics and Repairers, Precision Production Trades) | 5% |
Information based on O*NET data and is the result of a national survey.
Use this list to find educational opportunities for this occupation. Contact the specific schools directly to find out application requirements and program availability.
In the table click on the "+" sign to expand/collapse areas.
No New Mexico public based training programs found for this specific occupation. However, please consider reviewing the list of NM Educational Opportunities and contacting a New Mexico Institution of Higher Education to see if a program in the related Career Cluster is available. |
This list is updated once a year and is compiled from the NM Department of Higher Education and other sources.
No New Mexico occupational license is required.
| Applied Mathematics | Applied Technology | Listening | Locating Information | Obersvation | Reading for Information | Teamwork | Writing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
For further information on WorkKeys please visit the ACT-WorkKeys website. Skill levels are provided for individuals who know thier scores.
| Industry | Percent of Employed |
|---|---|
| Accommodation | 2.6% |
| Administrative and Support Services | * |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services | * |
| Construction of Buildings | * |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities | * |
| Educational Services | 4.7% |
| General Merchandise Stores | * |
| Hospitals | 14.4% |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities | 2.4% |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 3.0% |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | * |
| Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers | 9.8% |
| Nursing and Residential Care Facilities | 2.8% |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1.5% |
| Social Assistance | 1.5% |
| Telecommunications | 2.4% |
| Truck Transportation | * |
* Data is confidential.
Source: NMDWS, Economic Research and Analysis Bureau
- Administrative Assistant
- Cbx Operator
- Clerk, Route
- Combination Operator
- Command and Control Specialist
- Communication Center Operator
- Communication Coordinator
- Communication Specialist
- Complaint Operator
- Customer Communications Specialist
- Customer Service Representative
- Desk Operator
- Dispatcher
- Exchange Operator
- Front Desk Receptionist
- Office Assistant
- Operator
- PBX Operator (Private Branch Exchange Operator)
- Private Branch Exchange Service Adviser
- Receptionist
- Registration Clerk
- Secretary
- Switchboard Operator
- Switchboard Operator, Police District
- Switchboard Receptionist
- Switching Clerk
- Tandem Operator
- Teacher, Operators
- Teacher, PBX
- Telecommunications Clerk
- Telecommunications Operator
- Telecommunicator
- Telephone Answering Service Operator
- Telephone Clerk, Telegraph Office
- Telephone Operator
- Telephone Operator, Answering Service or Answering Phones
- Telephone Switchboard Operator
- Test Operator
- Through Operator
- Traffic Observer
- Traffic Operator