Post job

Explore jobs

Find specific jobs

Explore careers

Explore professions

Best companies

Explore companies

OverviewJobsSkillsEducationDemographicsBest CompaniesJob Outlook

Compare

Answering service telephone operator vs phone operator

The differences between answering service telephone operators and phone operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an answering service telephone operator and a phone operator. Additionally, an answering service telephone operator has an average salary of $35,244, which is higher than the $30,289 average annual salary of a phone operator.

The top three skills for an answering service telephone operator include customer service, appointment scheduling and transferring calls. The most important skills for a phone operator are patients, customer service, and phone calls.

Answering service telephone operator vs phone operator overview

Answering Service Telephone OperatorPhone Operator
Yearly salary$35,244$30,289
Hourly rate$16.94$14.56
Growth rate--4%
Number of jobs26,94587,484
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 32%High School Diploma, 39%
Average age5353
Years of experience22

Answering service telephone operator vs phone operator salary

Answering service telephone operators and phone operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

Answering Service Telephone OperatorPhone Operator
Average salary$35,244$30,289
Salary rangeBetween $23,000 And $52,000Between $25,000 And $36,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between answering service telephone operator and phone operator education

There are a few differences between an answering service telephone operator and a phone operator in terms of educational background:

Answering Service Telephone OperatorPhone Operator
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 32%High School Diploma, 39%
Most common majorHealth Care AdministrationBusiness
Most common college--

Answering service telephone operator vs phone operator demographics

Here are the differences between answering service telephone operators' and phone operators' demographics:

Answering Service Telephone OperatorPhone Operator
Average age5353
Gender ratioMale, 14.6% Female, 85.4%Male, 22.7% Female, 77.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 13.0% Unknown, 3.5% Hispanic or Latino, 13.3% Asian, 4.4% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%Black or African American, 14.3% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.1% Asian, 3.2% White, 59.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
LGBT Percentage19%19%

Differences between answering service telephone operator and phone operator duties and responsibilities

Answering service telephone operator example responsibilities.

  • Protect patient privacy by following HIPAA regulations, as well as maintaining confidential information within the hospital intranet.
  • Maintain great customer relations with VIP arrivals

Phone operator example responsibilities.

  • Manage incoming calls from patients and medical professionals by utilizing telephonic paging system and manual messaging.
  • Answer phone calls for att and directv
  • Up sell customers to DirecTV bundles as well as internet, cell phone service, long distance and home phone service.
  • Illistrate confidentiality of veterans when discussing concerns as it relate to medical treatments in compliance with HIPPA regulations.
  • Up sell customers to DirecTV bundles as well as internet, cell phone service, long distance and home phone service.

Answering service telephone operator vs phone operator skills

Common answering service telephone operator skills
  • Customer Service, 38%
  • Appointment Scheduling, 12%
  • Transferring Calls, 12%
  • Two-Way Radio, 10%
  • Switchboards, 9%
  • Computer System, 7%
Common phone operator skills
  • Patients, 15%
  • Customer Service, 15%
  • Phone Calls, 13%
  • Telephone Calls, 9%
  • Front Desk, 4%
  • Computer System, 4%

Answering Service Telephone Operator vs. similar jobs

Answering Service Telephone Operator related careers

Answering Service Telephone Operator related jobs

What similar roles do

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse office and administrative jobs