BETA
Updated: Feb 6
BETA
Updated: Feb 6
Changing fast
Last Update: 11/21/2025
Your role’s AI Resilience Score is
20.5%
Median Score
Changing Fast
Evolving
Stable
What does this resilience result mean?
These roles are undergoing rapid transformation. Entry-level tasks may be automated, and career paths may look different in the near future.
AI Resilience Report for
Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service
They connect phone calls, answer questions, and pass messages to the right person or department to help keep communication smooth.
Summary
Switchboard operator jobs are labeled as "Changing fast" because many routine tasks like answering and transferring calls or taking messages are now automated by AI systems. These AI tools can handle simple questions and tasks more cheaply and efficiently than a human.
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View analysisChat with CoachLatest newsMore career infoSummary
Switchboard operator jobs are labeled as "Changing fast" because many routine tasks like answering and transferring calls or taking messages are now automated by AI systems. These AI tools can handle simple questions and tasks more cheaply and efficiently than a human.
Read full analysisContributing Sources
AI Resilience
All scores are converted into percentiles showing where this career ranks among U.S. careers. For models that measure impact or risk, we flip the percentile (subtract it from 100) to derive resilience.
CareerVillage.org's AI Resilience Analysis
AI Task Resilience
Changing fast1.7%
1.7%
Microsoft's Working with AI
AI Applicability
Changing fast5.1%
5.1%
Anthropic's Economic Index
AI Resilience
Stable73.6%
73.6%
Will Robots Take My Job
Automation Resilience
Changing fast6.5%
6.5%
Low Demand
Labor Market Outlook
We use BLS employment projections to complement the AI-focused assessments from other sources.
Learn about this scoreGrowth Rate (2024-34):
-26.3%
Growth Percentile:
0.3%
Annual Openings:
2.8
Annual Openings Pct:
27.8%
Analysis of Current AI Resilience
Switchboard Operator
Updated Quarterly • Last Update: 11/21/2025
State of Automation & Augmentation
Many routine phone tasks are now done by machines or AI. Modern phone systems can automatically connect callers or take voice‐mail messages without a person [1]. Companies even sell AI “receptionists” that talk with callers.
For example, Zoom’s new Virtual Agent greets customers in natural language and routes calls on its own [2]. Tech news reports that services like RingCentral and Amazon offer AI agents to replace old menu systems [3]. These bots can read a company’s website or docs to answer basic questions, schedule appointments, or take messages.
In short, answering, transferring, and scheduling tasks are increasingly automated by voice‐AI and software, and simple clerical work is done by office software today.
Still, not everything is automated. Physical jobs (like sorting mail or delivering packages) remain manual. Also, human judgement is important for tricky calls.
In fact, a 2025 study found most people prefer talking to a real person—71% of younger customers (Gen Z) and 94% of older customers say a live call is fastest for solving problems [4]. AI can handle routine questions well, but it can’t show empathy or easily handle unusual requests. So while AI helps with basic call‐taking and information tasks, human skills (empathy, problem solving) remain key on harder calls [4] [1].
Sources
AI Adoption
AI tools for answering calls are widely available and can be cheaper than paying a full‐time person. For example, Zoom lets businesses set up an AI agent by just uploading their own documents or website (no coding needed) [2]. Vendors like RingCentral, AWS, and Twilio now offer AI receptionist services to improve customer service [3].
Small companies have used these tools to cut costs: one security firm cut routine call volume by about 60% after adding an AI receptionist [3]. And switchboard operators earn only about \$37,000 per year on average [5], so automating even part of their work can save money.
However, adoption can be slow because of practical and social factors. Companies must link the new AI systems to their existing phone and data networks, which takes time and staff training. McKinsey reports that leaders often face integration hurdles and “human resistance” when adding AI [4].
Customers’ preferences also matter: many people still want a friendly voice on the line for complex or personal issues. In places like hospitals or hotels, a real receptionist may be seen as more caring or secure. All these factors – ease of use, cost savings, technical work, and customer trust – will affect how quickly AI spreads in switchboard roles.
In the meantime, AI can take over repetitive tasks, freeing human operators to focus on the personal side of communication.
Sources
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More Career Info
Career: Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service
Parent Careers
Employment & Wage Data
Median Wage
$38,370
Jobs (2024)
36,600
Growth (2024-34)
-26.3%
Annual Openings
2,800
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Experience
None
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2024-2034
Task-Level AI Resilience Scores
AI-generated estimates of task resilience over the next 3 years
1
Contact security staff members when necessary, using radio-telephones.
2
Page individuals to inform them of telephone calls, using paging or interoffice communication equipment.
3
Monitor alarm systems to ensure that secure conditions are maintained.
4
Perform various cash handling tasks, such as collecting payments, making bank deposits, or managing petty cash.
5
Operate communication systems, such as telephone, switchboard, intercom, two-way radio, or public address.
6
Answer incoming calls, greeting callers, providing information, transferring calls or taking messages as necessary.
7
Relay or route written or verbal messages.
Tasks are ranked by their AI resilience, with the most resilient tasks shown first. Core tasks are essential functions of this occupation, while supplemental tasks provide additional context.
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