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Telephone switchboard operator

Also called receptionist, telephone operator, switchboard operator

Telephone switchboard operators establish telephone connections by using switchboards and consoles. They also answer customer inquiries and service problem reports.

Will there be jobs?Average prospects29 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Customer services clerksWhat does it pay?About averageFrom about €1,000 (Bulgaria) to €5,000 (Luxembourg) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Customer services clerksWhat do I need to study?Upper secondary or vocational5 in 10 finished upper secondary or vocational training.Customer services clerksWill AI change it?SignificantlyLevel 5 of 6. AI could take on part of most tasks, but none fully.Telephone switchboard operators · ILO

What you'd do

Telephone switchboard operators · ILO
  • Operating switchboards and consoles to connect, hold, transfer, and disconnect telephone calls
  • Making connections for outgoing calls
  • Dealing with telephone inquiries and recording messages
  • Forwarding messages to staff or clients
  • Investigating operating system problems and informing repair services
Answer incoming callsCommunicate by telephoneRedirect callersMaintain telephony systemUse computer telephony integration+ 1 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • A mix of sitting and standing
  • Constant contact with people, including the public
  • Some freedom to decide
  • Usually under 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines now and then
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service"

Will there be jobs?

Average prospects

A typical number of jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as customer services clerks in the EU
3.83m3.74m3.78m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
18,000 new jobs 1,067,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Customer services clerks29
All jobs29
Right now
2 of 27 countries report a shortage of telephone switchboard operators, 7 a surplus.
Telephone switchboard operators · EURES

What does it pay?

About average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,000 a month (Bulgaria) to €5,000 (Luxembourg), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among clerical support workers in the EU, women earn 9% less per hour than men. Clerical support workers · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Upper secondary or vocational

Upper secondary or vocational training is the usual route.

Highest qualification of customer services clerks (EU, 2025)
Degree 39%Vocational 33%General secondary 19%Basic schooling 9%

Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Significantly

AI could take on part of most tasks, but none fully.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.54 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 5 tasks
Operating switchboards and consoles to connect, hold, transfer, and disconnect telephone calls0.67
Dealing with telephone inquiries and recording messages0.61
Forwarding messages to staff or clients0.58
Making connections for outgoing calls0.54
Investigating operating system problems and informing repair services0.29

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for telephone switchboard operators. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).