Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service Salary in Tuscaloosa, AL
The median pay for a switchboard operators, including answering service in Tuscaloosa, AL is $31,290/year ($15.05/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $27K at the entry level to $42K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.72), which stretches that salary to about $35,670 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,169/month — about 54.8% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $31K get you in Tuscaloosa?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Tuscaloosa’s Regional Price Parity (87.72). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About switchboard operators, including answering services
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tuscaloosa, AL
Entry-level switchboard operators, including answering services (10th percentile) start around $27K. Mid-career wages sit at $31K. Top earners bring in $42K or more, a $15K spread from bottom to top.
Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $57K | +49% | 370 |
| District of Columbia | $55K | +44% | 200 |
| California | $49K | +29% | 7,170 |
| Oregon | $49K | +29% | 360 |
| Minnesota | $48K | +26% | 340 |
| Washington | $46K | +21% | 360 |
| New York | $45K | +17% | 2,070 |
| Maine | $42K | +10% | 110 |
| Montana | $42K | +9% | 40 |
| Utah | $41K | +8% | 110 |
| New Hampshire | $41K | +6% | 150 |
| Massachusetts | $41K | +6% | 1,010 |
| Illinois | $40K | +5% | 1,830 |
| Wisconsin | $40K | +4% | 480 |
| Maryland | $40K | +4% | 530 |
| Vermont | $40K | +3% | 110 |
| Arizona | $39K | +2% | 560 |
| Rhode Island | $38K | -0% | 140 |
| Georgia | $38K | -1% | 680 |
| Michigan | $38K | -1% | 430 |
| Pennsylvania | $38K | -1% | 1,240 |
| New Jersey | $38K | -1% | 730 |
| Idaho | $38K | -2% | 70 |
| New Mexico | $37K | -2% | 220 |
| Nevada | $37K | -3% | 850 |
| Iowa | $37K | -3% | 260 |
| Delaware | $37K | -4% | 160 |
| Kansas | $37K | -4% | 180 |
| Nebraska | $37K | -4% | 220 |
| Alaska | $37K | -5% | 60 |
| Connecticut | $37K | -5% | 370 |
| Kentucky | $37K | -5% | 350 |
| Ohio | $36K | -5% | 800 |
| North Carolina | $36K | -6% | 740 |
| Missouri | $36K | -7% | 880 |
| Virginia | $36K | -7% | N/A |
| Louisiana | $35K | -8% | 870 |
| Oklahoma | $35K | -8% | 360 |
| Florida | $35K | -9% | 2,940 |
| Indiana | $35K | -10% | 500 |
| West Virginia | $35K | -10% | 150 |
| Arkansas | $34K | -12% | 290 |
| South Carolina | $34K | -12% | 630 |
| Tennessee | $33K | -13% | 870 |
| Texas | $32K | -17% | 2,860 |
| Mississippi | $32K | -18% | 300 |
| Alabama | $31K | -18% | 820 |
Showing 1–10 of 47 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track switchboard operators, including answering service salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tuscaloosa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do switchboard operators, including answering services make in Tuscaloosa, AL?
The median is $31,290 a year, that works out to about $15 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $27,040, and experienced switchboard operators, including answering services can clear $41,580. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $31K enough to live in Tuscaloosa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,148/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,169/month, which eats 54.4% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a switchboard operators, including answering service salary go in Tuscaloosa?
Tuscaloosa has a Regional Price Parity of 87.72 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median switchboard operators, including answering service salary is worth about $35,670 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do switchboard operators, including answering services get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.