Telephone Operators - Provide information by accessing alphabetical and geographical directories. Assist customers with special billing requests, such as charges to a third party and credits or refunds for incorrectly dialed numbers or bad connections. May handle emergency calls and assist children or people with physical disabilities to make telephone calls.
The national average annual salary for this occupation is $33,400 per year. Nationally, the average hourly wage for this occupation is $16.06. The average wage in New Mexico is well below the national average. In New Mexico, the average hourly wage is $10.72 and most workers in this occupation earn between $8.37 and $11.89 per hour.
In the table click on the "+" sign to expand/collapse areas.
| Area | Entry Wage | Average Wage | Experienced Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Annual | $33,400 | ||
| National Hourly | $16.06 | ||
| Statewide Annual | $17,403 | $22,291 | $24,735 |
| Statewide Hourly | $8.37 | $10.72 | $11.89 |
| Metro Areas | |||
| Albuquerque Annual | $21,491 | $24,910 | $26,620 |
| Hourly | $10.33 | $11.98 | $12.80 |
| Farmington Annual | - | - | - |
| Hourly | - | - | - |
| Las Cruces Annual | - | - | - |
| Hourly | - | - | - |
| Santa Fe Annual | - | - | - |
| Hourly | - | - | - |
| Regions | |||
| Central Annual | $21,491 | $24,910 | $26,620 |
| Hourly | $10.33 | $11.98 | $12.80 |
| Eastern Annual | - | - | - |
| Hourly | - | - | - |
| Northern Annual | - | - | - |
| Hourly | - | - | - |
| Southwestern Annual | - | - | - |
| Hourly | - | - | - |
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.
Click on the career cluster icon to see a plan of study that will help you complete your Next Step Plan. The Career Plan of Study is a Microsoft Excel document. Many occupations will fit into several career clusters.
New Mexico
2008 to 2018
In 2008 there were about - workers in this occupation in New Mexico. The Department of Workforce Solutions estimates that by 2018 this number will have no growth by about percent and an estmated - will be employed in this occupation. Compared to other occupations, employment growth in this occupation has little or no change. Job opportunities indicate few and keen competition, as there should be about - 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 | - | - | - | - |
| + Metro Areas | ||||
| Albuquerque | - | - | - | - |
| Farmington | - | - | - | - |
| Las Cruces | - | - | - | - |
| Santa Fe | - | - | - | - |
| + Regions | ||||
| Central | - | - | - | - |
| Eastern | - | - | - | - |
| Northern | - | - | - | - |
| 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.
Telephone Operators 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) | 84% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 16% |
| 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) | 1% |
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.
No WorkKeys scores are available for this particular occupation.
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 |
|---|---|
| Administrative and Support Services | * |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities | * |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | * |
| Self-Employed Workers, Primary Job | 1.5% |
| Telecommunications | * |
* Data is confidential.
Source: NMDWS, Economic Research and Analysis Bureau
- 411 Directory Assistance Operator
- Bilingual Operator
- Change Number Operator
- Charge Operator
- Customer Service Assistant
- Customer Service Representative
- Directory Assistance Operator
- Directory Operator
- Emergency Operator
- Information Operator
- Information Specialist
- Inward Toll Operator
- Live Source Operator
- Local Operator
- Long Distance Billing Operator
- Long Distance Operator (LD Operator)
- Long Lines Operator
- Operator
- Rate Quoting Operator
- Service Assistant
- Telecommunications Operator
- Telephone Operator
- Toll Operator
- Toll Relief Operator
- Toll Service Observer
- Traffic Administrator
- Trouble Operator