Relay operator demographics and statistics in the US
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Relay operator demographics by:
Relay operator gender statistics
69.8% of relay operators are women and 30.2% of relay operators are men.
- Female, 69.8%
- Male, 30.2%
Relay operator gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 69.8% |
| Male | 30.2% |
Relay operator gender pay gap
Women earn 98¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$38,406
Female income
$37,485
Relay operator gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in relay operator positions over time. Currently, 69.8% of relay operators are female.
Relay operator gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 33.60% | 66.40% |
| 2011 | 35.51% | 64.49% |
| 2012 | 33.82% | 66.18% |
| 2013 | 37.55% | 62.45% |
| 2014 | 33.97% | 66.03% |
| 2015 | 36.90% | 63.10% |
| 2016 | 40.17% | 59.83% |
| 2017 | 34.76% | 65.24% |
| 2018 | 33.60% | 66.40% |
| 2019 | 45.87% | 54.13% |
| 2020 | 48.02% | 51.98% |
| 2021 | 30.16% | 69.84% |
Relay operator related jobs gender ratio
We compared relay operators with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, tandem operator and feeder switchboard operator have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Switchboard Operator, Receptionist | 6% | 94% |
| Complaint Operator | 9% | 91% |
| Switchboard Operator | 13% | 87% |
| Relay Operator | 30% | 70% |
| Interceptor Operator | 77% | 23% |
| Feeder Switchboard Operator | 83% | 17% |
| Tandem Operator | 90% | 10% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Relay operator demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among relay operators is White, which makes up 59.3% of all relay operators. Comparatively, 17.1% of relay operators are Hispanic or Latino and 14.3% of relay operators are Black or African American.
- White, 59.3%
- Hispanic or Latino, 17.1%
- Black or African American, 14.3%
- Asian, 4.0%
- Unknown, 3.9%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4%
Relay operator race
| Relay operator race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 59.3% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 17.1% |
| Black or African American | 14.3% |
| Asian | 4.0% |
| Unknown | 3.9% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 1.4% |
Relay operator race and ethnicity over time
See how relay operator racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Relay operator race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 64.59% | 12.99% | 3.04% | 16.84% |
| 2011 | 61.10% | 13.21% | 5.60% | 17.48% |
| 2012 | 60.56% | 16.64% | 3.20% | 14.83% |
| 2013 | 62.34% | 15.53% | 2.67% | 16.60% |
| 2014 | 60.99% | 12.83% | 3.89% | 18.34% |
| 2015 | 60.51% | 14.35% | 5.54% | 16.81% |
| 2016 | 58.00% | 14.01% | 4.05% | 19.98% |
| 2017 | 62.67% | 16.20% | 3.66% | 12.60% |
| 2018 | 63.50% | 13.44% | 3.97% | 15.80% |
| 2019 | 57.60% | 17.30% | 4.83% | 16.13% |
| 2020 | 52.72% | 15.24% | 3.85% | 20.10% |
| 2021 | 59.34% | 14.31% | 3.97% | 17.09% |
Relay operator wage gap by race
According to our data, hispanic or latino relay operators have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american relay operators have the lowest average salary at $37,379.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $38,045 |
| White | $38,426 |
| Black or African American | $37,379 |
| Asian | $38,604 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $39,612 |
Average relay operator age
See how the average age of relay operators varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Relay operator age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| White | 59 | |
| Black or African American | 53 | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 51 |
Relay operator age breakdown
The average age of relay operators is 40+ years years old, representing 82% of the relay operator population.
Relay operator age breakdown
| Relay Operator Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 82% |
| 30-40 years | 12% |
| 20-30 years | 6% |
Relay operator educational attainment
The most common degree for relay operators is high school diploma, with 31% of relay operators earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 29% and bachelor's degree degree at 24%.
- High School Diploma, 31%
- Bachelor's, 29%
- Associate, 24%
- Diploma, 8%
- Other Degrees, 8%
Relay operators by degree level
| Relay operator degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 31% |
| Bachelor's | 29% |
| Associate | 24% |
| Diploma | 8% |
| Other Degrees | 8% |
Relay operator jobs you might like
Relay operator employment statistics
Most relay operators work for a private in the telecommunication industry.
Company size where relay operators work
Below, you can see the size of companies where relay operators work.
Relay operator jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 5% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 20% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 26% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 8% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 20% |
| > 10,000 employees | 21% |
Relay operator jobs by company type
Employees with the relay operator job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most relay operators prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Relay operator jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 6% |
| Public | 17% |
| Private | 72% |
| Government | 6% |
Relay operator jobs by industry
The most common industries for relay operators are telecommunication, professional and non profits.
Relay operator industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Telecommunication | 18% |
| Professional | 11% |
| Fortune 500 | 8% |
| Non Profits | 6% |
| Technology | 6% |
| Finance | 6% |
| Retail | 5% |
| Government | 5% |
| Media | 5% |
| Health Care | 5% |
| Education | 5% |
| Transportation | 3% |
| Start-up | 3% |
| Real Estate | 3% |
| Internet | 3% |
| Hospitality | 3% |
| Utilities | 2% |
| Construction | 2% |
| Automotive | 2% |
| Insurance | 2% |
Relay operator turnover and employment statistics
Relay operator unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for relay operators between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Relay operator unemployment rate by year
| Year | Relay operator unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 9.91% |
| 2011 | 10.86% |
| 2012 | 9.07% |
| 2013 | 9.46% |
| 2014 | 8.20% |
| 2015 | 6.13% |
| 2016 | 5.22% |
| 2017 | 4.58% |
| 2018 | 4.44% |
| 2019 | 3.88% |
| 2020 | 4.57% |
| 2021 | 10.47% |
Average relay operator tenure
The average relay operator stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 675 relay operators resumes in Zippia's database.
Relay operator tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 27% |
| 1-2 years | 45% |
| 3-4 years | 14% |
| 5-7 years | 7% |
| 8-10 years | 3% |
| 11+ years | 4% |
Relay operator LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of relay operators that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Call Taker | 6.75% | 11,539 |
| Accounting Clerk | 6.76% | 106,969 |
| Executive/Personal Assistant | 7.79% | 110,560 |
| Postal Clerk | 8.68% | 93,101 |
| Mortgage Processor | 9.31% | 9,057 |
| Live Source Operator | 10.75% | 27,745 |
| Relay Operator | 19.13% | - |
Similar relay operator jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Call Taker | 6.75% | 11,539 |
| Accounting Clerk | 6.76% | 106,969 |
| Executive/Personal Assistant | 7.79% | 110,560 |
| Postal Clerk | 8.68% | 93,101 |
| Mortgage Processor | 9.31% | 9,057 |
| Live Source Operator | 10.75% | 27,745 |
Foreign languages spoken by relay operators
The most common foreign language among relay operators is Spanish at 48.1%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 11.1% and German is the third-most popular at 7.4%.
- Spanish, 48.1%
- French, 11.1%
- German, 7.4%
- Hindi, 7.4%
- Chinese, 3.7%
- Other, 22.3%
Relay operator languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 48.1% |
| French | 11.1% |
| German | 7.4% |
| Hindi | 7.4% |
| Chinese | 3.7% |
| Other | 22.3% |