How much does a telemarketer make?
Answer: A typical telemarketer in the United States makes $35,450 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 58,000 people work in this job. Below the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Telemarketer pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| 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 |
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.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a telemarketer do?
Solicit donations or orders for goods or services over the telephone.
What's a typical day like?
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.
How to get this job
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.
High school plus some training (preparation level 2 of 5)
Good for people who like leading and selling and keeping things organized.
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.
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Earn more in the same field
Sales jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
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