How much does a telemarketer make?
a year · about $17 an hour
A typical telemarketer in the United States makes $35,450 a year, about $17 an hour, below a typical US worker ($50,980) (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
At a desk or call-center station, they call people, use a sales script, explain a product or charity appeal, and answer questions. They enter names, orders, and reactions on a computer, then follow up or book appointments.
Did you know? In the U.S., telemarketers generally cannot call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. in the person’s local time.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $27,040 and $50,350How do you become one?
In the United States, telemarketing usually has no formal education requirement, though some employers ask for a high-school diploma/GED or some college. New hires generally need no related experience and learn through short on-the-job training.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like leading and selling and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, experience and sales results can affect telemarketers’ pay; some sales jobs add commissions for what they sell. Pay also differs by employer or industry and by location.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Colorado ($47,670), lowest in Pennsylvania ($28,430).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $27,040 | $35,450 | $50,350 | about 58,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $47,670 | about 880 |
| California | $46,000 | about 4,000 |
| New York | $41,400 | about 2,000 |
| South Carolina | $37,090 | about 1,000 |
| Georgia | $36,020 | about 3,000 |
Official definition: Solicit donations or orders for goods or services over the telephone.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.onetonline.org/link/details/41-9041.00
- www.mynextmove.org/profile/summary/41-9041.00
- www.bls.gov/emp/tables/education-and-training-by-occupation.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- consumer.ftc.gov/articles/national-do-not-call-registry-faqs
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY