Office & Admin · SOC 43-2011
Call routing, message relay, and information lookup are largely automated by AI; physical access control provides limited durability.
Core tasks are highly automatable — expect major disruption.
Timeline: AI-driven auto-attendants and VoIP routing systems are already replacing most of this role's core function; consolidation will accelerate through 2027.
Tap a skill to find courses on Coursera.
Some links are affiliate links — if you sign up or buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
$54,140 median pay
$48,450 median pay
$47,170 median pay
$62,940 median pay
$44,660 median pay
$49,180 median pay
Industry pages show which sectors this occupation feeds and the AI companies driving the shift.
AI job-risk card
Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service is high risk on AIFear. Core tasks are highly automatable — expect major disruption.
AIFear.com
Our AI Fear Score for Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service is 75/100 (High risk). Core tasks are highly automatable — expect major disruption.
75 out of 100, based on an AI-model review of this occupation's O*NET tasks against what current AI can actually do.
Most exposed: Answering and routing incoming calls, Recording and relaying verbal or written messages, Updating phone directories and typing documents, Paging individuals via intercom systems. Harder to automate: Physically greeting visitors and issuing security badges, Managing cash handling and petty cash on-site, Monitoring emergency alarms requiring physical response.
Lean into Multi-line communication systems, Security and access management, Customer de-escalation, Administrative software fluency. Consider roles such as Office services coordinator or Security desk officer or Administrative assistant.
Tasks, skills and AI-exposure for this role were reviewed by an AI model against its O*NET task profile (curated roles use published research anchors). Pay and employment, where shown, are U.S. BLS OEWS (May 2024) figures. This is an estimate, not a prediction about any individual's job. Compare all occupations.