How much does a telemarketer make?
The median telemarketer in the United States earns $35,450 per year, about $17.04 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all telemarketers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 41-9041.
Telemarketer salary range
Pay for telemarketers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $27,040 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $50,350. The average (mean) wage of $37,370 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $27,040 | $13.00 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $29,640 | $14.25 | |
| Median (50th) | $35,450 | $17.04 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $40,230 | $19.34 | |
| 90th percentile | $50,350 | $24.21 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for telemarketers (SOC 41-9041), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Telemarketer salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Telemarketers earn the most in Kansas at $48,010 a year, and the least in Mississippi at $21,540. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas | $48,010 | N/A |
| Colorado | $47,670 | 880 |
| California | $46,000 | 3,880 |
| Connecticut | $45,200 | 110 |
| Massachusetts | $44,650 | N/A |
| Oregon | $42,060 | 420 |
| New York | $41,400 | 1,960 |
| Minnesota | $39,850 | 650 |
| Washington | $39,670 | 300 |
| Idaho | $39,400 | 280 |
| New Jersey | $39,370 | 410 |
| Arizona | $37,750 | 1,550 |
| Virginia | $37,440 | N/A |
| South Carolina | $37,090 | 1,060 |
| Utah | $36,610 | 390 |
| Georgia | $36,020 | 2,620 |
| Maryland | $35,590 | 540 |
| Florida | $35,570 | 9,760 |
| Ohio | $35,290 | 3,090 |
| Alabama | $34,840 | 1,330 |
| Kentucky | $34,450 | 910 |
| North Carolina | $34,380 | 1,820 |
| Nevada | $34,290 | 2,200 |
| Texas | $34,290 | 3,660 |
| Iowa | $33,640 | 1,100 |
| West Virginia | $33,370 | 440 |
| Wisconsin | $33,260 | 1,160 |
| Michigan | $33,040 | 1,120 |
| Maine | $32,610 | N/A |
| Indiana | $31,550 | 690 |
| Illinois | $31,200 | 870 |
| Nebraska | $31,200 | 490 |
| New Hampshire | $30,530 | 530 |
| Missouri | $29,840 | 2,710 |
| Tennessee | $29,470 | 2,210 |
| Arkansas | $29,060 | 840 |
| Louisiana | $28,910 | 380 |
| Pennsylvania | $28,430 | 1,710 |
| Oklahoma | $26,880 | 470 |
| North Dakota | $23,440 | 120 |
| Mississippi | $21,540 | 370 |
State median wages for telemarketers (SOC 41-9041), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for telemarketers
The BLS projects employment of telemarketers to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 21.4%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 60,900 jobs in 2025 moving toward 47,800 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 5,800 openings a year for telemarketers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a telemarketer
The typical entry-level education for telemarketers is no formal educational credential, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete short-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a telemarketer earns
Commission structure, product, employer, and territory drive a wide pay spread. Top performers in high ticket sales earn far above the median.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Kansas, $48,010) and the lowest (Mississippi, $21,540) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 58,430 people work as telemarketers in the United States. At $35,450 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Telemarketer salary FAQ
How much does a telemarketer make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a telemarketer is $17.04. The middle half of telemarketers earn between $14.25 and $19.34 per hour.
What is the highest telemarketer salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of telemarketers earn more than $50,350 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a telemarketer make a year?
The median annual salary for a telemarketer is $35,450. The average (mean) wage of $37,370 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a telemarketer a well paid job?
At $35,450 a year, a telemarketer earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 58,430 people work as telemarketers in the United States.
Which state pays telemarketers the most?
Kansas has the highest median salary for telemarketers at $48,010 a year. Colorado ($47,670) and California ($46,000) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a telemarketer a good career?
Employment of telemarketers is projected to shrink 21.4% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 5,800 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a telemarketer?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for telemarketers as no formal educational credential, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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