SOC 43-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service — Florida
Florida · 10 metro areas compared
In Florida the median wage is $35,410.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Florida the median wage is $35,410. That is 8.3% lower than the national median of $38,630. Pay ranges from under $29,410 at the tenth percentile to more than $43,360 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $33,370 to $37,800.
The area has 3,090 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.41 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Florida ranks number 40th out of 46 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Orlando records the highest median at $36,830. Of the 777 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 717th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,410 | −23.9% |
| 25th | $33,370 | −13.6% |
| Median (50th) | $35,410 | −8.3% |
| 75th | $37,800 | −2.1% |
| 90th | $43,360 | +12.2% |
| Mean | $37,210 | −3.7% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Florida
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orlando | $36,830 | 400 | |
| 2 | North Port | $36,770 | 90 | |
| 3 | Lakeland | $36,570 | 90 | |
| 4 | Jacksonville | $36,490 | 180 | |
| 5 | Deltona | $35,830 | 70 | |
| 6 | Tampa | $35,830 | 350 | |
| 7 | Pensacola | $35,820 | 40 | |
| 8 | Cape Coral | $35,290 | 90 | |
| 9 | Ocala | $35,100 | 40 | |
| 10 | Miami | $35,080 | 1,270 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Florida run 3.4% above the national average, so the median of $35,410 buys what $34,246 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 11.3% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$35,410as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.4US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$34,246US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $35,410 a year, 8.3% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $29,410 to $43,360 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 3,090 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 40th of 46 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Orlando, at $36,830.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service in Florida?
The median annual wage is $35,410, or $17.03 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 Florida is 8.3% 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 Florida earns more than $43,360 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $29,410 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 Orlando, at $36,830 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 3,090 jobs in this occupation in Florida. 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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