Office & administrative support · SOC 43-2021
Telephone operators
BLS projects 3,500 jobs in 2025 to become 2,500 by 2035 — -27.6%, against +3.5% across all occupations.
-27.6%
projected change to 2035
About 1,000 fewer jobs
200
openings a year
5.7% of the occupation a year, counting people who retire or move on
$41,740
median annual pay
Usually entered with: high school diploma or equivalent
2025 to 2035
Employment at the start and end of the projection, in jobs.
- 2025 employment3,500
- 2035 projected2,500
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025–2035 projections.
Other office & administrative support occupations
The largest occupations in the same group, by projected change to 2035.
- Customer service representatives2,666,000-5.3%
- Office clerks, general2,600,000-6.0%
- Secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive1,889,800-6.0%
- Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks1,532,400-5.6%
- First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers1,506,100+0.1%
- Medical secretaries and administrative assistants979,000+4.8%
- Receptionists and information clerks947,500-1.7%
- Shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks827,700-7.6%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.