Annual Salary
£15,000 to £28,000
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
Swap to Customer services or Online & distribution or go back to all job sectors
Swap to Customer services or Online & distribution or go back to all job sectors
Call centre operators answer enquiries from customers by telephone, email, webchat, text and post.
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
You could work: evenings / weekends / bank holidays; on shifts
There will be
4% more Call centre operator jobs in 2027.
Depending on your role, you could:
You could work in a contact centre.
You can get into this job through:
You can start by doing a course like:
You could get into this job through an intermediate customer service practitioner or advanced customer service specialist apprenticeship.
You'll usually need:
There are no set requirements for applying directly for jobs, though employers may ask for some GCSEs. Basic computer skills and admin experience can be useful.
If the job requires more specialised knowledge, for example on an IT support helpline or an advice service, you'll usually need a relevant qualification.
Employers look for people with personal qualities like confidence and a good telephone manner. Job interviews often include practical telephone and keyboard tests.
Temporary work can be a useful way to get started in this career and can lead to permanent jobs.
You can join the The Institute of Customer Service to access training and meet other people working in customer service roles.
With experience and training, you could progress to team leader or manager.
Depending on your interests and experience, you could also move into human resources, resource planning, marketing and training.
Opportunities are available with employers such as Specsavers
You'll need: