Jobs Similar to Telephone Operators
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to telephone operators, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Receptionists and Information Clerks, Switchboard Operators and Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks.
Telephone Operators: $41,740 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
- 1Receptionists and Information Clerks
82% similar · $38,010 (−9%) · High school
- 2Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service
82% similar · $38,630 (−7%) · High school · Same group
- 3Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks
80% similar · $35,070 (−16%) · High school
- 4Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive
79% similar · $47,540 (+14%) · High school
- 5Office Clerks, General
79% similar · $45,010 (+8%) · High school
- 6File Clerks
79% similar · $43,600 (+4%) · High school
- 7Court, Municipal, and License Clerks
78% similar · $48,700 (+17%) · High school
- 8Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
78% similar · $45,930 (+10%) · High school
- 9Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs
78% similar · $54,210 (+30%) · Training or associate
- 10Customer Service Representatives
78% similar · $44,770 (+7%) · High school
- 11Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks
77% similar · $49,230 (+18%) · High school
- 12Library Assistants, Clerical
77% similar · $36,910 (−12%) · High school
- 13Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping
77% similar · $50,610 (+21%) · Training or associate
- 14Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan
77% similar · $45,920 (+10%) · Training or associate
- 15Pharmacy Aides
77% similar · $37,680 (−10%) · High school
- 16Public Safety Telecommunicators
77% similar · $53,040 (+27%) · High school
- 17Cashiers
76% similar · $32,880 (−21%) · High school
- 18Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants
76% similar · $76,590 (+83%) · Training or associate
- 19Library Technicians
75% similar · $44,580 (+7%) · Training or associate
- 20Correspondence Clerks
75% similar · $46,800 (+12%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than telephone operators.
- Public Safety Telecommunicators77% similar · $53,040 (+27%)
- Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks77% similar · $49,230 (+18%)
- Court, Municipal, and License Clerks78% similar · $48,700 (+17%)
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive79% similar · $47,540 (+14%)
- Correspondence Clerks75% similar · $46,800 (+12%)
- Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants78% similar · $45,930 (+10%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for telephone operators also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where telephone operators is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Receptionists and Information Clerks (82)
- Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks (80)
- File Clerks (79)
- Office Clerks, General (79)
- Customer Service Representatives (78)
- Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants (78)
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive (78)
- Library Assistants, Clerical (77)
- Pharmacy Aides (77)
- Public Safety Telecommunicators (77)
Questions about jobs like telephone operators
What jobs are most similar to telephone operators?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Receptionists and Information Clerks (82% similar), Switchboard Operators (82% similar), Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks (80% similar), Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive (79% similar) and Office Clerks (79% similar).
Which jobs like telephone operators pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants ($76,590, +83%; usually training or an associate degree), Eligibility Interviewers ($54,210, +30%; usually training or an associate degree) and Public Safety Telecommunicators ($53,040, +27%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with telephone operators ($41,740). Without more preparation than telephone operators usually need: Public Safety Telecommunicators, Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks and Court, Municipal, and License Clerks.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.