Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
Click a state. States: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Customer service representatives (SOC 43-4051) employed 2,595,750 people in May 2025. The median pay is $44,770 a year ($21.53 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $31,750 and the highest-paid 10% more than $63,590. BLS projects its employment to change by -5.3% between 2025 and 2035 (about 289,500 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest median pay: Washington ($50,330), California ($49,560), Massachusetts ($49,120). Most jobs: Texas (337,170), Florida (228,000), California (176,850).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,750 | $15.26 |
| 25th percentile | $36,870 | $17.73 |
| Median | $44,770 | $21.53 |
| Mean | $46,590 | $22.40 |
| 75th percentile | $51,780 | $24.89 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $63,590 | $30.57 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 2,666,000 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 2,524,100 |
| Change in jobs | -141,800 |
| Percent change | -5.3% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 289,500 |
| Self-employed share | 0.5% |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Short-term on-the-job training |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 33,290 | 0.94 | $38,400 | $29,920 | $55,670 | -14% | 34% |
| Alaska | 2,410 | 0.44 | $45,150 | $35,990 | $62,840 | +1% | 38% |
| Arizona | 87,020 | 1.61 | $45,690 | $35,140 | $62,970 | +2% | 44% |
| Arkansas | 20,680 | 0.95 | $37,840 | $30,150 | $56,630 | -15% | 31% |
| California | 176,850 | 0.58 | $49,560 | $38,110 | $75,700 | +11% | 51% |
| Colorado | 38,770 | 0.81 | $47,540 | $36,510 | $66,040 | +6% | 46% |
| Connecticut | 24,490 | 0.86 | $48,090 | $37,290 | $73,650 | +7% | 39% |
| Delaware | 7,470 | 0.92 | $48,190 | $36,080 | $75,970 | +8% | 38% |
| District of Columbia | 7,550 | 0.64 | $48,250 | $37,440 | $77,120 | +8% | 48% |
| Florida | 228,000 | 1.38 | $40,440 | $31,620 | $59,770 | -10% | 54% |
| Georgia | 97,850 | 1.20 | $39,630 | $29,340 | $60,270 | -11% | 46% |
| Hawaii | 8,010 | 0.76 | $45,650 | $33,860 | $64,130 | +2% | 51% |
| Idaho | 18,770 | 1.31 | $43,200 | $29,990 | $62,190 | -4% | 38% |
| Illinois | 100,970 | 0.99 | $46,130 | $33,590 | $71,400 | +3% | 34% |
| Indiana | 44,630 | 0.84 | $43,140 | $31,060 | $62,620 | -4% | 31% |
| Iowa | 30,100 | 1.16 | $46,090 | $32,450 | $64,540 | +3% | 26% |
| Kansas | 29,200 | 1.22 | $40,320 | $29,730 | $59,870 | -10% | 32% |
| Kentucky | 38,630 | 1.16 | $38,700 | $29,440 | $59,810 | -14% | 31% |
| Louisiana | 25,780 | 0.80 | $37,330 | $28,440 | $51,010 | -17% | 34% |
| Maine | 7,560 | 0.71 | $47,160 | $35,930 | $63,490 | +5% | 31% |
| Maryland | 37,740 | 0.82 | $42,830 | $32,600 | $64,000 | -4% | 48% |
| Massachusetts | 49,990 | 0.82 | $49,120 | $35,440 | $74,880 | +10% | 45% |
| Michigan | 71,310 | 0.97 | $43,950 | $30,670 | $63,830 | -2% | 32% |
| Minnesota | 53,340 | 1.08 | $48,800 | $35,730 | $72,830 | +9% | 32% |
| Mississippi | 20,860 | 1.07 | $36,380 | $28,970 | $49,540 | -19% | 33% |
| Missouri | 50,530 | 1.03 | $44,190 | $31,980 | $63,890 | -1% | 29% |
| Montana | 4,910 | 0.57 | $45,290 | $35,100 | $62,250 | +1% | 31% |
| Nebraska | 15,340 | 0.90 | $43,940 | $34,210 | $59,400 | -2% | 30% |
| Nevada | 32,110 | 1.24 | $40,560 | $29,340 | $57,930 | -9% | 51% |
| New Hampshire | 12,750 | 1.12 | $47,300 | $33,950 | $66,280 | +6% | 40% |
| New Jersey | 59,690 | 0.83 | $47,740 | $35,520 | $72,040 | +7% | 45% |
| New Mexico | 16,950 | 1.17 | $39,030 | $31,060 | $56,480 | -13% | 34% |
| New York | 141,090 | 0.87 | $48,000 | $36,270 | $76,280 | +7% | 41% |
| North Carolina | 89,510 | 1.09 | $40,240 | $30,200 | $59,820 | -10% | 40% |
| North Dakota | 5,750 | 0.80 | $44,670 | $34,190 | $68,350 | -0% | 26% |
| Ohio | 85,930 | 0.93 | $45,610 | $31,340 | $63,210 | +2% | 29% |
| Oklahoma | 34,460 | 1.21 | $38,650 | $28,620 | $58,050 | -14% | 32% |
| Oregon | 19,440 | 0.59 | $47,450 | $36,710 | $64,130 | +6% | 40% |
| Pennsylvania | 94,340 | 0.93 | $44,630 | $31,430 | $63,370 | -0% | 34% |
| Rhode Island | 7,890 | 0.94 | $47,550 | $36,160 | $65,010 | +6% | 36% |
| South Carolina | 51,000 | 1.33 | $38,860 | $29,720 | $59,300 | -13% | 39% |
| South Dakota | 6,120 | 0.80 | $40,650 | $31,050 | $55,680 | -9% | 29% |
| Tennessee | 59,730 | 1.09 | $42,830 | $31,100 | $60,070 | -4% | 36% |
| Texas | 337,170 | 1.44 | $40,420 | $29,320 | $59,590 | -10% | 44% |
| Utah | 44,490 | 1.54 | $43,140 | $32,940 | $59,550 | -4% | 44% |
| Vermont | 2,870 | 0.57 | $47,500 | $35,140 | $66,530 | +6% | 33% |
| Virginia | 59,850 | 0.87 | $42,730 | $31,210 | $61,350 | -5% | 46% |
| Washington | 39,760 | 0.67 | $50,330 | $39,290 | $73,610 | +12% | 43% |
| West Virginia | 9,860 | 0.84 | $38,430 | $29,590 | $56,970 | -14% | 28% |
| Wisconsin | 50,840 | 1.04 | $46,970 | $34,260 | $63,650 | +5% | 29% |
| Wyoming | 2,110 | 0.45 | $42,340 | $29,760 | $59,790 | -5% | 28% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 8,860 | $60,480 | $43,700 | $88,910 | 0.47 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 19,930 | $57,830 | $42,390 | $84,780 | 0.50 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 25,840 | $53,550 | $41,200 | $76,280 | 0.74 |
| Napa, CA | 640 | $53,360 | $40,910 | $73,610 | 0.49 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 1,750 | $51,810 | $39,990 | $77,970 | 0.51 |
| Vallejo, CA | 1,130 | $51,210 | $38,560 | $72,150 | 0.47 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | 1,250 | $50,160 | $35,550 | $68,350 | 0.62 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 2,650 | $49,990 | $38,060 | $102,460 | 0.55 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 5,660 | $49,970 | $38,700 | $77,200 | 0.84 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 11,510 | $49,940 | $37,710 | $75,470 | 0.64 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 37,780 | $49,920 | $35,720 | $75,950 | 0.84 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | 690 | $49,750 | $37,120 | $73,830 | 0.56 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | 4,680 | $49,630 | $34,220 | $66,280 | 1.40 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | 1,430 | $49,630 | $37,580 | $61,860 | 0.66 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 125,570 | $49,590 | $36,930 | $77,290 | 0.79 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 38,630 | $49,480 | $36,180 | $73,920 | 1.19 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | 380 | $49,460 | $37,270 | $71,740 | 0.55 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 2,860 | $49,190 | $37,950 | $72,160 | 0.53 |
| Yuba City, CA | 480 | $49,170 | $37,290 | $64,440 | 0.56 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | 400 | $49,160 | $37,900 | $67,130 | 0.46 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 1,350 | $49,080 | $38,000 | $71,090 | 0.40 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 12,070 | $48,880 | $35,920 | $66,240 | 1.79 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 66,590 | $48,840 | $37,950 | $74,860 | 0.64 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 14,030 | $48,730 | $37,710 | $72,170 | 0.55 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 12,720 | $48,650 | $37,750 | $64,990 | 0.63 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 23,560 | $48,590 | $37,970 | $71,700 | 0.88 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | 450 | $48,590 | $36,960 | $66,350 | 0.52 |
| Kenosha, WI | 1,000 | $48,360 | $33,360 | $61,930 | 0.79 |
| Midland, MI | 620 | $48,250 | $29,680 | $98,990 | 0.99 |
| St. Cloud, MN | 1,850 | $48,120 | $33,010 | $64,140 | 1.07 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 820 | $48,110 | $38,210 | $76,510 | 0.50 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 9,750 | $48,050 | $37,220 | $71,890 | 0.97 |
| Salinas, CA | 880 | $48,010 | $36,770 | $71,330 | 0.28 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | 1,540 | $48,000 | $31,410 | $65,260 | 0.72 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 3,480 | $47,910 | $36,780 | $64,930 | 0.72 |
| Redding, CA | 630 | $47,890 | $36,720 | $60,720 | 0.53 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | 1,310 | $47,880 | $35,840 | $70,290 | 0.83 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 14,080 | $47,840 | $33,910 | $66,390 | 1.03 |
| Boulder, CO | 2,070 | $47,830 | $36,340 | $69,850 | 0.65 |
| Salem, OR | 2,140 | $47,790 | $37,300 | $70,300 | 0.68 |
| Sheboygan, WI | 900 | $47,720 | $32,850 | $63,750 | 0.89 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 3,140 | $47,590 | $34,710 | $72,320 | 0.78 |
| Worcester, MA | 4,740 | $47,540 | $35,140 | $66,980 | 0.81 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | 530 | $47,500 | $33,930 | $62,120 | 0.73 |
| Madison, WI | 7,120 | $47,500 | $35,190 | $70,350 | 1.05 |
| New Haven, CT | 3,520 | $47,490 | $37,330 | $76,330 | 0.75 |
| Mankato, MN | 1,030 | $47,320 | $30,590 | $67,080 | 1.10 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 1,970 | $47,310 | $36,210 | $62,180 | 0.35 |
| Modesto, CA | 1,290 | $47,230 | $37,220 | $66,800 | 0.39 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 10,620 | $47,170 | $35,200 | $64,240 | 0.89 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 15,180 | $47,150 | $37,210 | $65,170 | 0.53 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 75,240 | $47,100 | $34,480 | $71,530 | 1.00 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 41,740 | $47,070 | $34,040 | $67,650 | 0.86 |
| Rochester, MN | 1,250 | $47,050 | $32,580 | $64,940 | 0.61 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | 680 | $47,000 | $36,940 | $64,380 | 0.43 |
| Bellingham, WA | 1,000 | $46,940 | $38,480 | $61,880 | 0.65 |
| Green Bay, WI | 3,670 | $46,880 | $33,400 | $61,810 | 1.26 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 4,660 | $46,800 | $31,840 | $62,360 | 0.81 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | 1,130 | $46,790 | $32,470 | $64,540 | 0.88 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 2,850 | $46,790 | $36,670 | $60,980 | 0.67 |
The median is $44,770 a year ($21.53 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $31,750 and the highest-paid tenth over $63,590 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
2,595,750 in May 2025, and BLS projects -5.3% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS).
Washington, with a median of $50,330 (among states with published figures).