SOC 43-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service — Birmingham
Birmingham, AL · 5 metro areas compared
The median wage for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service in Birmingham, AL is $33,690 per year, 12.8% below the national median of $38,630.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service in Birmingham, AL is $33,690 per year, 12.8% below the national median of $38,630. Pay ranges from under $30,370 at the tenth percentile to more than $38,590 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $32,600 to $37,610.
Employment stands at 180, or 0.3 jobs per thousand held locally. Huntsville leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $34,300. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 443rd of 489 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $30,370 | −21.4% |
| 25th | $32,600 | −15.6% |
| Median (50th) | $33,690 | −12.8% |
| 75th | $37,610 | −2.6% |
| 90th | $38,590 | −0.1% |
| Mean | $34,840 | −9.8% |
Other metro areas in Alabama
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Huntsville | $34,300 | 60 | |
| 2 | Tuscaloosa | $32,210 | 40 | |
| 3 | Montgomery | $32,130 | 60 | |
| 4 | Mobile | $30,970 | 110 | |
| 5 | Daphne | $30,160 | 30 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Birmingham run 11.2% below the national average, so the median of $33,690 goes as far as $37,939 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 1.8% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$33,690as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$37,939US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $33,690 a year, 12.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $30,370 to $38,590 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 180 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Huntsville, at $34,300.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service in Birmingham, AL?
The median annual wage is $33,690, or $16.20 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $38,630, so pay in Birmingham, AL is 12.8% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Birmingham, AL earns more than $38,590 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $30,370 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Huntsville, at $34,300 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 180 jobs in this occupation in Birmingham, AL. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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