What is a call center operator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
5 min read
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A call center operator handles incoming and outgoing calls on behalf of a company or organization. They are responsible for answering questions, providing support, taking orders, resolving issues, and making sales. Call center operators use computer systems and software to manage calls and customer information. They must have excellent communication skills, be able to multitask, and work well under pressure. They are essential to maintaining customer satisfaction, building brand reputation, and increasing revenue.

ScoreCall Center OperatorUS Average
Salary
2.4

Avg. Salary $31,022

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
8.1

Growth Rate -4%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.7
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.20%

Asian 3.36%

Black or African American 14.44%

Hispanic or Latino 17.42%

Unknown 3.58%

White 60.00%

Gender

female 73.38%

male 26.62%

Age - 57
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 57
Stress Level
8.1

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
7.3

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
10.0

Work Life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Call Center Operator?

Pros

  • Develop communication skills

  • Regular training and development opportunities

  • Opportunity to work from home

  • Earn incentives and bonuses

  • Job security in a growing industry

Cons

  • High stress levels

  • Continuous exposure to negative feedback and complaints

  • Monotonous work

  • Low pay and limited benefits for entry-level positions

  • Challenging performance metrics to meet, such as call time and customer satisfaction ratings

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Call Center Operator career paths

Key steps to become a call center operator

  1. Explore call center operator education requirements

    Most common call center operator degrees

    Bachelor's

    35.8 %

    Associate

    24.2 %

    High School Diploma

    24.1 %
  2. Start to develop specific call center operator skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Strong Customer Service49.71%
    Patients10.48%
    Data Entry5.31%
    Customer Service4.77%
    Phone Calls3.73%
  3. Complete relevant call center operator training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New call center operators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a call center operator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real call center operator resumes.
  4. Research call center operator duties and responsibilities

    • Manage confidential documents and records with strict compliance to HIPAA.
    • Manage patient's records and make sure they are protected under the HIPPA laws.
    • Page all Dr's and staff when need.
    • Comply with HIPAA regulations at all times.
  5. Prepare your call center operator resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your call center operator resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a call center operator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Call Center Operator Resume templates

    Build a professional Call Center Operator resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Call Center Operator resume.
    Call Center Operator Resume
    Call Center Operator Resume
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    Call Center Operator Resume
    Call Center Operator Resume
    Call Center Operator Resume
    Call Center Operator Resume
    Call Center Operator Resume
  6. Apply for call center operator jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a call center operator job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Call Center Operator Job

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Average call center operator salary

The average Call Center Operator salary in the United States is $31,022 per year or $15 per hour. Call center operator salaries range between $22,000 and $42,000 per year.

Average Call Center Operator Salary
$31,022 Yearly
$14.91 hourly

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How do call center operators rate their job?

-/5

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Call Center Operator reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2022
Pros

Getting to know the people and the you work.with

Cons

Being required to answer a minimum number of calls a day. This pushes the idea that the caller is a number and as such, it is more difficult to personalize the call the the person calling in


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A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2020
Pros

Caring to the customer issues is what I do like first and the other thing it is a job that show determination level on the duty.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2019
Pros

Having alot of resources at hand to review

Cons

Micromanagement of the offices and the push on getting to each call as fast as possible


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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