Telephonists: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time telephonists in the UK earned a median £31,568 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): 19% less than the £39,039 median for all full-time jobs.
What the figures show
That puts it 252nd of 382, in the middle third of occupations.
Median full-time pay: women £29,717 a year, men £31,668 a year.
Since 2021 it has risen 18.4%, from £26,655, slower than the 25.0% for all jobs.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20th percentile | – | – | – | – | £12.22 |
| 25th percentile | – | – | – | – | £12.53 |
| 30th percentile | – | £536.70 | £12.89 | – | £12.65 |
| 40th percentile | £29,728* | £601.50 | £13.44 | £447.20* | £13.17 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £31,568* | £619.30* | £15.46 | £472.30* | £15.27 |
| 60th percentile | £32,599* | £699.00* | £16.39* | £548.20* | £16.34 |
| 70th percentile | – | £722.10* | – | £616.90* | £17.20* |
| Mean | £30,767 | £649.20 | £15.89 | £492.10 | £15.56 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median | Jobs (thousands, indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | £26,655 | £530.90 | £13.50 | £22,691* | £468.60* | 14* |
| 2022 revised | £27,426* | £536.30 | £13.38* | £24,233* | – | 7* |
| 2023 revised | £28,830* | £538.60* | £14.25 | – | – | 6* |
| 2024 revised | £28,431* | £573.50 | £13.91 | – | £384.40* | 5* |
| 2025 provisional | £31,568* | £619.30* | £15.46 | – | £472.30* | 5* |
What telephonists do
Telephonists receive and direct callers in commercial, industrial and other establishments, and operate telephone (public) and office (private) switchboards to advise on, and assist with, making telephone calls and to relay incoming, outgoing and internal calls. (ONS SOC 2020, 7212)
Also covers: call handler (motoring organisation), operator (telephone), switchboard operator (telephone), telephonist, telephonist-receptionist, call handler, night operator, phone operator, shorthand telephonist, telephone attendant, telephone operative, directory enquiry operator and switch board attendant (telephone).
- Receives callers and directs them to appropriate person or department
- Operates switchboard to connect outgoing calls or to relay incoming or internal calls
- Reports any faults on telephone operating system
- Gives advice on dialling and other special features available
- Provides directory information, dialling codes and details of charges
- Alerts emergency services in cases of fire, crime or accident
Academic qualifications may not be required. On-the-job training is provided.
Related
Customer service occupations (median £28,036) · Call and contact centre occupations · Communication operators · salary percentile · UK average weekly earnings growth · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026