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Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service

	Median Wage (USD, 2024)	Projected Job Openings (2023-2033)	Projected Growth (2023-2033)
National Statistics	$38,370	2700	-25.2%
State Statistics	-	-	-
City Statistics	-	-	-

Statistics

National

State

City

State

City

$38,370

Median Wage (USD, 2023)

2700

Projected Job Openings (2023-2033)

-25.2%

Projected Growth (2023-2033)

Operate telephone business systems equipment or switchboards to relay incoming, outgoing, and interoffice calls. May supply information to callers and record messages.

Experience Requirements Overview

Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Education, Training and Experience

Required Level of Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

Related Work Experience: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years

On-Site or In-Plant Training: Up to and including 1 month

On-the-Job Training: Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month

Detailed Work Activities

Proofread documents, records, or other files to ensure accuracy.
Type documents.
Sort mail.
Schedule appointments.
Execute sales or other financial transactions.
Monitor alarm systems.
Answer telephones to direct calls or provide information.
Refer customers to appropriate personnel.
Greet customers, patrons, or visitors.
Prepare cash for deposit or disbursement.
Collect deposits, payments or fees.
Order materials, supplies, or equipment.
Operate communications equipment or systems.
Answer telephones to direct calls or provide information.
Operate communications equipment or systems.
Relay information between personnel.
Operate communications equipment or systems.
Monitor alarm systems.
Maintain security.
Maintain call records.
Operate audio recording equipment.
File documents or records.
Answer customer questions about goods or services.
Prepare documentation for contracts, transactions, or regulatory compliance.

Work Values

Achievement

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions

Recognition

Relationships

Support

Independence

Tasks

Operate communication systems, such as telephone, switchboard, intercom, two-way radio, or public address.
Answer incoming calls, greeting callers, providing information, transferring calls or taking messages as necessary.
Greet visitors, log them in and out of the facility, assign them security badges, and contact employee escorts.
Monitor emergency and code alarms, make emergency announcements, or route emergency calls to the appropriate location.
Record messages, suggesting rewording for clarity or conciseness.
Page individuals to inform them of telephone calls, using paging or interoffice communication equipment.
Relay or route written or verbal messages.
Perform various cash handling tasks, such as collecting payments, making bank deposits, or managing petty cash.
Place telephone calls or arrange conference calls as instructed.
Process incoming or outgoing mail, packages, or deliveries.
Perform various data entry or word processing tasks, such as updating phone directories, typing or proofreading documents, or creating schedules.
Perform administrative tasks, such as accepting orders, scheduling appointments or meeting rooms, or sending and receiving faxes.
Monitor alarm systems to ensure that secure conditions are maintained.
Contact security staff members when necessary, using radio-telephones.
Complete forms for sales orders.
Answer simple questions about clients' businesses, using reference files.
Stamp messages with time and date and file them appropriately.
Keep records of calls placed and charges incurred.
Place orders, such as for equipment, supplies, or catering for meetings.

Work Styles

Achievement/Effort

Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Persistence

Initiative

Leadership

Cooperation

Concern for Others

Social Orientation

Self-Control

Stress Tolerance

Adaptability/Flexibility

Dependability

Attention to Detail

Integrity

Independence

Innovation

Analytical Thinking

Data Source: This page includes information from the O*NET 30.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This page includes Employment Projections program, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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