What Does an Switchboard Operator Do? Salary and Outlook

What is a switchboard operator? An operator works for large companies, hospitals and hotels, which usually make phone calls. The operator helps the callers to answer the call and connect the caller with the appropriate person or service. Before modern inventions came to fruition, operators had to manually connect calls to a switchboard by connecting telephone lines to the correct circuit. Today's operators work with IT systems that require less human intervention. Today's operators are more customer oriented than before.

What does an operator do?

The operational staff manages all internal and external calls to a company. Answer the phone and divert calls to the correct destinations in the business. They also handle internal calls that must be forwarded within the company.

Operators are often responsible for pager systems within the company. When a person calls, it may be necessary to call the service or the person through the PA system to notify a call. For many operators, the job requires that they only be responsible for incoming calls. Many companies require the operator to be a receptionist. He greets customers who enter the store and takes them to the areas they need to find.

Some operators also handle customer service. You can answer brief questions from clients, such as B. Where is the business or what services do you offer? Operators carry out all kinds of activities within a company. The definition of the operator profession is very different from one company to another.

Education and Training

Employers often require managers to have a high school diploma or equivalent, and many require applicants to be at least 18 years of age. In general, no additional work experience or training is required, but applicants with previous experience in customer service or call center stand out among potential employers.

Training is provided for this entry-level job, the duration of which varies depending on the employer. The training usually lasts no more than two or three weeks, while new switchboard operators learn to work with various equipment and memorize the company's telephone protocols. During the training, the switchboard operators work in close collaboration with a senior manager or a training manager.

Operator salary and outlook

PayScale information shows that switchboard operators earn an average hourly income of $ 12.55. Receptionists earn $ 13.65 an hour, the equivalent of $ 28,390 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Receptionists answer phones and receive visits, performing many of the same activities as switchboard operators. In some companies, the two actions are interchangeable. BLS projections show that employment in the sector will increase by 9% until 2026. This rate is faster than the national average.

Full-time switchboard operators can receive basic benefits, including medical insurance. Paid vacation days can also be provided. Part-time switchboard operators do not generally receive benefits.