SOC 43-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Telephone Operators — Detroit
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
The median wage for Telephone Operators in Detroit, MI is $37,550 per year, 10.0% below the national median of $41,740.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Telephone Operators in Detroit, MI is $37,550 per year, 10.0% below the national median of $41,740. Half of workers earn between $37,060 and $41,510. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $35,650 and the ninetieth at $44,820.
The area has 50 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.0 of every thousand jobs. Of the 671 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 598th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,650 | −14.6% |
| 25th | $37,060 | −11.2% |
| Median (50th) | $37,550 | −10.0% |
| 75th | $41,510 | −0.6% |
| 90th | $44,820 | +7.4% |
| Mean | $39,770 | −4.7% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Detroit run 3.8% below the national average, so the median of $37,550 goes as far as $39,033 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 6.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$37,550as reported by BLSLocal price level
96.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$39,033US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $37,550 a year, 10.0% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $35,650 to $44,820 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 50 jobs in this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Telephone Operators in Detroit, MI?
The median annual wage is $37,550, or $18.05 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 $41,740, so pay in Detroit, MI is 10.0% 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 Detroit, MI earns more than $44,820 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $35,650 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.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 50 jobs in this occupation in Detroit, MI. 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.
Explore related data