Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
No formal educational credential
None
Short-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Telemarketers work in a role that combines customer interaction, communication, and sales-oriented activities. Nationally, the occupation employs about 67,000 people and offers a median annual salary of $34,410. The field is projected to shrink, with a -22.1% employment change, yet there are still an estimated 6,000 annual openings, reflecting ongoing turnover and replacement needs. Opportunities exist across many states and metro areas, with some locations offering notably higher pay or stronger overall opportunity scores. People considering this path can view it as an accessible way to build experience using customer service, speaking, and interpersonal abilities. It can also appeal to those who want to develop skills in adaptability, basic technology use, and communication. For career explorers, similar options include tour and travel guides, communications equipment operators (all other), switchboard operators, demonstrators and product promoters, and telephone operators, which may offer alternative ways to leverage related strengths.
Telemarketers earn a national median annual salary of $34,410. Pay varies by location, and several states and metro areas stand out for higher median wages. Among the top states by opportunity score, Colorado reports the highest median salary at $47,670, followed closely by California at $46,000 and New York at $41,400. Washington and Maryland have median salaries of $39,670 and $35,590, respectively. At the metro level, Colorado’s statewide salary lead is echoed by relatively strong figures elsewhere, such as $43,740 in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, and $42,450 in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA. The New York-Newark-Jersey City metro matches the New York state median of $41,400. These differences show that earnings for telemarketers can shift significantly by region, so location choice can meaningfully influence income potential within this career.
Telemarketing has a national employment level of 67,000, with a projected employment change of -22.1%. This indicates an expected decline in the number of positions over time. Despite this projected contraction, the occupation is still expected to generate about 6,000 annual openings. These openings reflect ongoing hiring needs, including replacement of workers who leave the occupation or move into other roles. The combination of declining total employment and continuing openings means job seekers may find opportunities, but within a shrinking overall job pool. The projected -22.1% growth rate is consistent across the highlighted states and metro areas, including California, New York, Colorado, Washington, Maryland, and major metros such as New York-Newark-Jersey City and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim. Anyone considering this career should weigh the current employment size and ongoing openings against the longer-term trend of reduced overall positions.
Location plays a significant role in the overall opportunity for telemarketers. Among states, California ranks highly with a median salary of $46,000, employment of 3,880, and an opportunity score of 67.38. New York follows with a $41,400 median salary, 1,960 employed, and a 65.78 opportunity score. Colorado stands out for its $47,670 median salary and 56.97 opportunity score, while Washington and Maryland offer median salaries of $39,670 and $35,590 and opportunity scores of 56.29 and 52.88, respectively. At the metro level, opportunity scores are even more differentiated. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, has an opportunity score of 77.42 with a $43,740 median salary. The New York-Newark-Jersey City metro closely follows with a 77.27 score and $41,400 median pay. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria posts a 64.47 score, and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim and Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue have scores of 62.99 and 61.92. These figures highlight meaningful regional differences in both pay levels and overall opportunity.
Telemarketers typically enter the field with no formal educational credential. This makes the occupation accessible to people who want to start working without completing a specific degree or certification program. While formal education is not required, a range of skills is important for success. Key strengths include customer service and strong speaking and listening abilities, which support effective interactions with customers. Interpersonal skills, adaptability, and creativity and innovation also play a role in handling a variety of conversations and situations. Basic comfort with computers and information technology is valuable, as are writing and reading skills. Fine motor skills and mechanical abilities appear in the top skill list as well, highlighting the varied capabilities that can be relevant. Critical and analytical thinking rounds out the profile, supporting problem-solving and decision-making. People who build these skills can use telemarketing as an entry point into the workforce or as a stepping stone toward related roles, including the listed similar occupations.
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