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How to hire a service operator

Service operator hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring service operators in the United States:

  • There are a total of 6,687 service operators in the US, and there are currently 87,078 job openings in this field.
  • The median cost to hire a service operator is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per service operator on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Prudhoe Bay, AK, has the highest demand for service operators, with 16 job openings.

How to hire a service operator, step by step

To hire a service operator, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire a service operator, you should follow these steps:

Here's a step-by-step service operator hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a service operator job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new service operator
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a service operator do?

A service operator is responsible for providing the best customer service by responding to the callers' inquiries and concerns, depending on which business they are employed. Service operators process callers' requests by directing them to specific resources or coordinate with the appropriate person to resolve callers' issues. They also keep an organized record of resolutions for the business reference, as well as for immediate callbacks as needed. A service operator must have excellent knowledge of the industry they are working for, as well as impeccable communication skills to verify and address the callers' needs.

Learn more about the specifics of what a service operator does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you post your service operator job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a service operator for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a service operator to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a service operator that fits the bill.

    The following list breaks down different types of service operators and their corresponding salaries.

    Type of Service OperatorDescriptionHourly rate
    Service Operator$9-34
    Receptionist/Customer ServiceReceptionists or customer service professionals are considered as the first contact point of the clients. They usually greet and welcome guests visiting an office or organization... Show more$12-17
    Customer Service AdvisorA customer service advisor is responsible for providing the best customer service by responding to the customers' inquiries and concerns regarding the goods and services offered by the organization. Customer service advisors assist customers with their needs by recommending product selection, offering new products and services, and informing the customers of promotional offers to generate revenues and increase profitability... Show more$12-18
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Customer Service
    • Food Handling
    • Emergency Calls
    • CDL
    • Inbound Calls
    • Service Calls
    • Preventative Maintenance
    • Scheduling Appointments
    • Well Control
    • Computer Aided Dispatch
    • Computer System
    • Telephone Calls
    • Hazmat
    • Room Service Orders
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage incoming calls from patients and medical professionals by utilizing telephonic paging system and manual messaging.
    • Train to be CDL certify by PVTA.
    • Comply with HIPAA standards and procedures.
    • Operate and drive commercial HAZMAT liquid nitrogen transports.
    • Operate CDL trucks in a safe manner to and from location.
    • Hang drywall, painting; install windows, plumbing, and walls.
    More service operator duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your service operator job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A service operator salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, service operators' average salary in north dakota is 53% less than in new york.
    • Seniority. Entry-level service operators earn 73% less than senior-level service operators.
    • Certifications. A service operator with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a service operator's salary.

    Average service operator salary

    $36,971yearly

    $17.77 hourly rate

    Entry-level service operator salary
    $19,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 17, 2025

    Average service operator salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$52,866$25
    2New York$51,950$25
    3Pennsylvania$51,515$25
    4Massachusetts$48,402$23
    5Washington$43,329$21
    6Virginia$41,699$20
    7North Carolina$41,019$20
    8Florida$40,577$20
    9Louisiana$38,023$18
    10Michigan$37,665$18
    11Kentucky$37,332$18
    12Utah$35,698$17
    13Illinois$34,977$17
    14Georgia$34,923$17
    15Wisconsin$33,297$16
    16Colorado$32,641$16
    17Indiana$31,988$15
    18Texas$30,802$15
    19Nebraska$28,650$14
    20North Dakota$26,543$13

    Average service operator salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Google$144,349$69.4029
    2Citi$132,339$63.627
    3Microsoft$127,345$61.224
    4BNY Mellon$126,342$60.744
    5Tri-State G&T$117,586$56.532
    6JPMorgan Chase & Co.$113,846$54.7384
    7Thomson Reuters$104,442$50.211
    8Deloitte$102,264$49.1710
    9Wabtec Corporation$101,207$48.663
    10Siemens$95,470$45.902
    11Softpath System$95,465$45.902
    12City of San Jos$92,835$44.63
    13Edward Jones$91,579$44.03
    14Halliburton$87,140$41.8915
    15UMass Memorial Health$81,251$39.062
    16Baptist Health Home Care$78,084$37.546
    17Instrumentation Laboratory$74,661$35.89
    18BioCryst Pharmaceuticals$73,614$35.39
    19VIVA USA$72,668$34.94
    20HomeStreet Bank$67,169$32.29
  4. Writing a service operator job description

    A service operator job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a service operator job description:

    Service operator job description example

    *Current plan for hybrid work schedule is 2 home based work days and 3 in office work days after a training period in office

    **Office hours are scheduled as Monday-Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm

    POSITION :

    Full Time – Salaried position with Benefits

    Virginia Farm Bureau is seeking a dependable, customer service oriented Service Center Operator for the Underwriting and Policy Services department. This position is responsible for handling in-bound and out-bound calls, policy processing activities and requests, and responding to inquiries and requests from both our insured members and our internal agents and team members to support an excellent customer experience. The ideal candidate will have excellent data entry skills, paired with exceptional oral and written communication skills, professional phone presence and ability to handle a high volume of processing work activities with precision.

    On a daily basis the Service Center Operator will spend time answering inquiries, supporting policy updates and changes, researching information and requests and documenting information in systems with approximately 50-70% of engagements being phone based.

    PRIMARY DUTIES

    • Respond with high level of customer service to telephone inquiries and requests.

    • Enter premium transactions associated with statistical data into computer system.

    • Communicate with others (agents, policyholders, home office employees) to secure information needed to perform policy transactions.

    • Revise policy information as requested by policyholders and follow through on requests forwarded for agent or underwriting approval.

    • Maintain performance within acceptable Service Center quality standards including:

    o Call volume database standards

    o Service Center call database standards

    o Recorded calls audit

    o Entry audits

    o Desk audits

    MINIMUM EDUCATIONAL/EXPERIENCE QUALIFICATIONS

    • High school diploma or equivalent

    • Minimum 1 year data processing / documentation / reporting or similar experience

    • Experience or interest in phone customer service role

    • Experience working with customers to solve inquiries and document detailed information preferred

    • Obtain P & C license within three months of hire

    BENEFITS OVERVIEW

    We provide an exceptional benefits package, including ongoing job development, continuing education reimbursement, medical and dental insurance on your first day, generous 401K options and PTO plans, on-site gym wellness facility, cafeteria, and more!

    Applicant must be prepared to comply with Company COVID restrictions

    Visit www.vafb.com today to learn more about our teams and apply!

    Virginia Farm Bureau Companies provide equal employment in all aspects of employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, gender, pregnancy, age disability, orientation, or veteran status.

    Keywords: team collaborate service learning communication claims file adjuster auto automotive vehicle transportation underwriting insurance terms policy deductible accident collision damages repair insured flexible remote virtual license reliable coverage documentation document policies organization audit banking operations processing processor detail

  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find service operators for your business:

    • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your service operator job on Zippia to find and recruit service operator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Your first interview with service operator candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new service operator

    Once you've found the service operator candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

    It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    To prepare for the new service operator first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
    Sign up to download full list

How much does it cost to hire a service operator?

Before you start to hire service operators, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire service operators pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

You can expect to pay around $36,971 per year for a service operator, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for service operators in the US typically range between $9 and $34 an hour.

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