ANZSCO 5616

Switchboard Operators

Overview

EMPLOYED

2,400

PART-TIME SHARE

44%

FEMALE SHARE

73%

MEDIAN WEEKLY EARNINGS

N/A

MEDIAN AGE

57

ANNUAL EMPLOYMENT GROWTH

0

About this data

Summary

Switchboard Operators operate telecommunication switchboards and consoles to assist callers establish telephone connections, and receive caller inquiries and fault reports.

Tasks

  • Operating switchboards and consoles to connect, hold, transfer and disconnect telephone calls
  • Responding to callers' inquiries by providing information such as telephone numbers, dialling codes, call costs, time delays and service difficulties
  • Investigating operating system problems and informing maintenance services
  • Alerting emergency services when required
  • Recording details and determining charges for designated types of calls
  • May monitor the efficiency of systems and maintain service sampling records

ANZSCO Classification

Details

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    Earnings and Hours

    Weekly Earnings (Before Tax)
    Source: Share of workers who work full-time hours: ABS, Labour Force Survey, 2024, four-quarter average, customised report.
    Average full-time hours worked per week: ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on place of usual residence.
    Median full-time earnings per week and Median hourly earnings: ABS, Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2023, customised report.
    Note: median earnings data have not been produced for some occupations where there is a high standard error, and are published with "N/A" values.
    Earnings and Hours Switchboard Operators All Occupations
    Share of workers who work full-time hours 56% 69%
    Average full-time hours worked per week 40 hours 44 hours
    Median full-time earnings per week N/A $1,697
    Median hourly earnings N/A $43

    Industries

    Switchboard Operators work in industries like:

    Source: Ranked using ABS, Labour Force Survey, 2024, four-quarter average data, custom report.
    Note: industries that comprise less than 5% of an occupation have been suppressed.

    States and territories

    New South Wales

    5.9%

    Victoria

    12.4%

    Queensland

    61.9%

    South Australia

    4.9%

    Tasmania

    2.7%

    Northern Territory

    2.7%

    Australian Capital Territory

    2.8%

    Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, Detailed, February 2025, Jobs and Skills Australia trend data.

    Age and gender

    Age and Gender Profile
    Source: ABS, Labour Force Survey, 2024, four-quarter average, customised report.
    Age and Gender Switchboard Operators All Occupations
    Median age 57 years 39 years
    Female share of employment 73% 48%
    Source: ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on place of usual residence.
    Age Profile (% Share) All Occupations Switchboard Operators
    15–19 5.2 4.2
    20–24 9.1 12.7
    25–34 22.7 19.1
    35–44 22.3 14.1
    45–54 20.4 17.0
    55–59 8.8 10.3
    60–64 6.5 12.2
    65 and Over 4.9 10.4

    Education

    Visit

    • Your Career to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
    Source: ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on place of usual residence.
    Highest Level of Educational Attainment (% Share) All Occupations Switchboard Operators
    Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 12.2 3.1
    Bachelor degree 23.2 10.3
    Advanced Diploma/Diploma 11.1 10.9
    Certificate III/IV 19.5 15.0
    Year 12 15.9 28.1
    Year 11 4.0 7.2
    Year 10 and below 9.7 19.5
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      Occupation profiles data

      This file contains data displayed on the Occupation Profile pages.

      Use of data in this file must include the relevant attribution text provided.

      Occupation profiles data - February 2025.xlsx

      occupation_profiles_data_-_february_2025.xlsx946792

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      Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations

      Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) is the skill-based classification system used to categorise occupations in the Australian and New Zealand labour markets. ANZSCO provides a basis for the standardised collection, analysis and dissemination of occupation data. Visit the ABS website to learn how ANZSCO works. Jobs and Skills Australia displays data for occupations that are defined by ANZSCO 2013 Version 1.3.