Solicit donations or orders for goods or services over the telephone.
Telemarketers
SOC: 41-9041 O*NET: 41-9041.00
Median Salary
$34,410
per year
Job Growth
📉 -22.1%
Slower (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
6.5
projected jobs/year
Education Level
High school diploma or equivalent
Job Zone 2
Solicit donations or orders for goods or services over the telephone.
What does a Telemarketers do?
How much can you earn?
Entry Level
$24,620
10th percentile
Early Career
$29,120
25th percentile
Median
$34,410
50th percentile
Experienced
$38,640
75th percentile
Top Earners
$48,930
90th percentile
National Salary Distribution
10th
$24,620
25th
$29,120
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$34,410
Mean: $36,340
75th
$38,640
90th
$48,930
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)
Key Insights
- •Salary range spans $24,310 from entry level to top earners
- •Middle 50% earn between $29,120 and $38,640
- •Salary spread is 27.7% around the median, showing moderate variation
- •Total national employment: 66,430 professionals
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
Low Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk
Current Employment
National Employment:67,400
Top Industries
Administrative and Support Services72.2%
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services72.2%
Business Support Services69.9%
10-Year Outlook
Growth Rate:-22.1%
Annual Openings:6,500
Employment Projections
2024 (Current)67,400
Current
2034 (Projected)52,500
-22.1%
-14,900
Employment Change
-22.1%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection
Growth Category: Decline
Geographic Salary & Employment Data
Explore where Telemarketers professionals work across the United States
Showing 15 of 44 locations
Texas
6,930 jobs$34,3801.16x
Virginia
6,880 jobs$36,3803.93x
Florida
6,510 jobs$35,9901.54x
California
3,480 jobs$37,4500.45x
Ohio
3,040 jobs$29,9101.28x
Missouri
2,840 jobs$28,3802.26x
Nevada
2,820 jobs$34,5904.28x
Georgia
2,580 jobs$29,7501.23x
Tennessee
2,380 jobs$28,1101.69x
New York
2,180 jobs$36,5100.53x
Wisconsin
2,170 jobs$32,2801.72x
Illinois
2,050 jobs$29,1200.78x
Iowa
1,880 jobs$29,0602.79x
Arizona
1,870 jobs$34,3301.36x
North Carolina
1,410 jobs$32,3500.67x
Understanding the Data
Location Quotient (LQ):
- • LQ > 1.0: More jobs than national average
- • LQ = 1.0: Same as national average
- • LQ < 1.0: Fewer jobs than national average
Data Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024
Key Growth Factors
- •Employment decline projected
What skills do you need?
Top 10 Most Important Skills
#1
Persuasion
100%
#2
Speaking
92%
#3
Active Listening
82%
#4
Service Orientation
74%
#5
Reading Comprehension
66%
#6
Social Perceptiveness
58%
#7
Critical Thinking
48%
#8
Negotiation
40%
Skills Overview
Persuasion
advanced5.0
100%
Speaking
advanced4.6
92%
Active Listening
intermediate4.1
82%
Service Orientation
intermediate3.7
74%
Reading Comprehension
basic3.3
66%
Social Perceptiveness
basic2.9
58%
Critical Thinking
basic2.4
48%
Negotiation
basic2.0
40%
Skills are rated on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most important. The complexity level indicates how advanced the skill typically needs to be.
Filter:
Sort by:
Persuasion
advancedImportance100%
skills
5.0/5.0
Speaking
advancedImportance92%
skills
4.6/5.0
Active Listening
intermediateImportance82%
skills
4.1/5.0
Service Orientation
intermediateImportance74%
skills
3.7/5.0
Reading Comprehension
basicImportance66%
abilities
3.3/5.0
Social Perceptiveness
basicImportance58%
skills
2.9/5.0
Critical Thinking
basicImportance48%
abilities
2.4/5.0
Negotiation
basicImportance40%
skills
2.0/5.0
Highly Transferable Skills
These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:
Advertising Sales Agents80%
5 shared skills
Bill and Account Collectors80%
5 shared skills
Customer Service Representatives80%
5 shared skills
Fundraisers80%
5 shared skills
Insurance Sales Agents80%
5 shared skills
Real Estate Sales Agents80%
5 shared skills
Skills by Career Stage
Entry Level
Must Have:
- ✓Persuasion
- ✓Speaking
- ✓Active Listening
Learn on the Job:
- →Social Perceptiveness
- →Reading Comprehension
Mid Career
Expected:
- ✓Persuasion
- ✓Speaking
- ✓Active Listening
Senior Level
Mastery Required:
- ★Speaking
- ★Active Listening
- ★Service Orientation
Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
- •Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
- •Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
- •Entry-level positions prioritize foundational skills that can be built upon over time
What technology will you use?
Technology & Digital Skills
Essential technology proficiencies for Telemarketers
Technology Intensity
High
Digital Literacy Requirements
This career requires advanced digital literacy
1
Basic
2
Intermediate
3
Advanced
4
Expert
Key Digital Competencies:
Proficiency with specialized softwareTechnical documentationData analysis toolsSystem integration
🔥
Hot Technologies in Demand
These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field
Microsoft Dynamics
🔥 Hot TechSalesforce software
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Outlook
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Office software
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft PowerPoint
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Excel
🔥 Hot TechZoom
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Word
🔥 Hot TechTechnology Stack
Technology Stack Overview
Key technologies used in this career
Microsoft Dynamics
Salesforce software
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft Office software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft Excel
Zoom
Microsoft Word
📚 Technology Learning Resources
Recommended Certifications
- •Vendor-specific software certifications
- •Industry-recognized technology credentials
- •Professional development courses
Online Learning Platforms
- •LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
- •Coursera - University-level programs
- •Udemy - Practical skills training
💡 Technology Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
- •Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
- •Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
- •Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers
What's the work environment like?
🏢
Location
MOSTLY INDOOR
💪
Physical Demand
MODERATE
👥
Team Orientation
SOME TEAM
🤝
Customer Interaction
CONSTANT
💡Is This Work Environment Right for You?
Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:
- •Are you comfortable working in mostly indoor environments?
- •Can you meet moderate physical demands?
- •Do you enjoy some team team environments?
- •Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?
What are the key tasks?
Tasks & Responsibilities
12
Core Tasks
8
Daily Tasks
20
Work Activities
0
Emerging Tasks
Filter:
Sort by:
Documentation & Record-Keeping (3)General Responsibilities (8)Management & Supervision (1)
1
Deliver prepared sales talks, reading from scripts that describe products or services, to persuade potential customers to purchase a product or service or to make a donation.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping100% perform100%
2
Contact businesses or private individuals by telephone to solicit sales for goods or services, or to request donations for charitable causes.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities97% perform98%
3
Explain products or services and prices, and answer questions from customers.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities94% perform96%
4
Obtain customer information such as name, address, and payment method, and enter orders into computers.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities91% perform94%
5
Record names, addresses, purchases, and reactions of prospects contacted.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping88% perform92%
6
Adjust sales scripts to better target the needs and interests of specific individuals.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities85% perform90%
7
Obtain names and telephone numbers of potential customers from sources such as telephone directories, magazine reply cards, and lists purchased from other organizations.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Management & Supervision82% perform88%
8
Answer telephone calls from potential customers who have been solicited through advertisements.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities79% perform86%
9
Telephone or write letters to respond to correspondence from customers or to follow up initial sales contacts.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities76% perform84%
10
Maintain records of contacts, accounts, and orders.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping73% perform82%
💡 Key Takeaways
- •Daily tasks focus primarily on documentation & record-keeping activities
- •58% of tasks are performed by most workers in this occupation
- •Career advancement brings increased leadership and strategic responsibilities
What career paths are available?
Career Pathways
0
Advancement Opportunities
0
Lateral Move Options
0%
Avg. Salary Increase
Advancement Opportunities
Typical career progression paths from Telemarketers
💡 Career Planning Tips
- •Most successful advancement happens after 3-5 years of experience
- •Lateral moves can provide valuable cross-functional experience for future leadership roles
- •Focus on developing skills that are transferable across multiple career paths
- •Consider industry trends when planning long-term career moves
Is this career right for you?
Personality & Values Fit
Is This Career Right for You?
Telemarketers professionals typically have a ECS Holland code and highly value relationships
EEnterprising
CConventional
SSocial
Important Personality Traits
Work styles that contribute to success as a Telemarketers
Persistence
Very ImportantPersistence
Importance Level4.22
Integrity
Very ImportantIntegrity
Importance Level4.08
Initiative
Very ImportantInitiative
Importance Level4.05
Adaptability/Flexibility
Very ImportantAdaptability/Flexibility
Importance Level4.02
Stress Tolerance
Very ImportantStress Tolerance
Importance Level4.00
Dependability
ImportantDependability
Importance Level3.94
Complete Work Styles Profile
Persistence
4.2
Integrity
4.1
Initiative
4.0
Adaptability/Flexibility
4.0
Stress Tolerance
4.0
Dependability
3.9
Self-Control
3.9
Achievement/Effort
3.9
Cooperation
3.9
Attention to Detail
3.7
💡 Tips for Career Fit Success
- •While personality fit is important, skills can be developed with practice and training
- •Consider informational interviews to better understand the day-to-day personality requirements
- •Work environments vary by employer - research specific companies for cultural fit
- •Your interests and values may evolve - reassess periodically throughout your career
What education is required?
Education Level
High school diploma or equivalent
Typical duration: High school diploma or GED
Preparation Level
Job Zone 2
Some Preparation Needed
Experience Needed
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful
📚 Education Requirement
Required Level:High school diploma or equivalent
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work.
Training:
Training of a few months to a year
💼 Experience Requirement
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful
Common pathways to gain experience:
- • Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience
- • Vocational school programs (6 months to 2 years)
- • Industry certifications helpful
2
Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work.
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experienceVocational school programs (6 months to 2 years)Industry certifications helpful
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