Make Extra Money as a Phone Sex Operator?
(I’ve been sitting on this post for a while, debating whether I wanted to deal with the comment moderation that will inevitably follow. Oh well, gotta stir things up a little bit now and then. 
Just don’t take this too seriously.)
If you have insomnia like I do, you’ve probably seen those commercial for 900 numbers to talk to beautiful, attentive women (or men). Well, if you think about it, wouldn’t being on the other end of the phone be an interesting part-time job? Obviously, not for everyone, but let’s look at the pros:
- No experience required.
- You can work from home.
- No upfront fees (there shouldn’t be), and all you need is a telephone.
- Flexible hours, and probably mostly at night.
- No in-person interaction. Your real information is kept private.
- Reportedly, get paid around $10-$20 per hour. (This is your cut after they charge $2 a minute, or $120 an hour.)
How do I get paid? You get paid for your actual talk time, but your per-minute wage is based on how long you keep the caller on the phone. Many sites claim to send checks out weekly. According to one report:
For the first 5 or so minutes that you take a call you will be paid about .12 - .15 cents per minute. If you keep the caller on the line for more than 5 minutes, but up to 9 minutes, the pay raises to .30 cents. If the caller remains on the line for 10 minutes or more, expect to make between .40 cents - .60 cents or more. A good sex operator should be able to keep the customer on the line for 15 minutes or more.
Where do I find work? The job goes by a lot of names - phone sex operator (PSO), adult phone actress, phone talk entertainer. You can do it by phone, by online chat, or even by text message. Some quick google-fu turned up these related job websites:
April 17th, 2009 at 3:11 am
With those margins, it sounds like a great business to set up and own. Jonathan, I am looking for adult telephone actors, are you and your lusty voice available? Pays $20 an hour!
April 17th, 2009 at 4:07 am
hahah….i remember watching a documentary on this where a lady went undercover to see how the phone sex business worked. she said it was easy to get in and get paid but the work left her feeling dirty and unsustainable. i guess depends on the person you are.
April 17th, 2009 at 4:09 am
Exotic Telephonic Counselors
April 17th, 2009 at 5:02 am
It sounds like a valid form of alternative income, especially if you are going to be awake doing nothing anyway. Might as well make a few bucks chatting with some strange people.
April 17th, 2009 at 5:24 am
Great part time activity for those over achieving “soccer moms” to make some extra money for their precious children. Now they can say they are “working moms” too. After all, all women are sitting on a pot of gold. Ha ha ha. the oldest profession in the world updated for the 21st century - gotta love it. “Hello, dahling, how are you tonight?”
How about a sideline business selling “scripts” for phone sex operators who are clueless and don’t know what to say. There’s another moneymaker! Just love it. Keep up these “controversial” posts.
April 17th, 2009 at 6:06 am
Indeed, sounds like an idea for that extra few bucks. It could be more attractive if rates for the initial few minutes are a bit higher.
April 17th, 2009 at 6:28 am
Ummmm… wouldn’t these phone calls be the first thing 86′d from one’s budget in this economy?
April 17th, 2009 at 7:24 am
Mother Jones had a short photo essay on PSOs last summer. It’s not graphic, but it’s probably not work-safe either.
My favorite is the women who says “I think if all women did phone sex before they lost their virginity, they would make much better choices.” Yeah, they be so freaked out they’d stop talking to guys altogether.
April 17th, 2009 at 8:05 am
Well, that’s one industry that will always have openings. In fact, the worse things get economically, the more people will be searching for ways to escape from reality.
If you have the stomach for it, I say go for it. I have a friend who did this in college and she was pretty successful at it. She treated it like an acting job, stayed completely in character at all times, and really learned a LOT about the psyche of the types of people that use the service.
It’s always interesting hearing her stories from that time period.
April 17th, 2009 at 8:06 am
“Hey, big boy…”
April 17th, 2009 at 8:07 am
I agree with C. Maoxian - this looks like an owner operator type business instead of an employment opportunity. That way you could operate the business a bit differently as well, perhaps something that would match with your schedule.
If you’re going to make serious money, you have to make it your business, and then perhaps you could have employees or contract workers to help multiply your efforts and your income.
It’s not for everyone, but then it most certainly works well for some people.
Clair
April 17th, 2009 at 10:10 am
I always love these posts because i get to see what pops into adsense
funny enough, there is a “Christian Mom Makes $5K/M” ad!!! haha….nice.
And no, i’d never do it - too much Catholic guilt. But i have no problem w/ others doing it.
April 17th, 2009 at 11:15 am
I hope they meant 40 ~ 60 cents per minute.
Ah, this brings back memories of the Verizon customer service debacle from a few years back (http://verizonmath.blogspot.com/2006/12/verizon-doesnt-know-dollars-from-cents.html).
April 17th, 2009 at 11:26 am
I would guess that a lot of the money as the business owners goes into advertising. I wonder how much a 30-second spot on cable at 2am costs.
I don’t know there if there would be that much correlation with bad economy. I would imagine the people who call this are pretty lonely and/or socially awkward, and probably dedicate a good chunk of their disposable income on this instead of, say, eating out or movies or other social activities.
April 17th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
One of my customers is a “adult content site”. You would think the economy is affecting their business but , not so. They have been buying more equipment and are expanding. So I’m sure someone could make money via the phone in that business.
April 17th, 2009 at 2:49 pm
This is pretty funny, but all phone sex operation aside, part-time jobs that supplement income is one of the smartest moves someone with a full-time job yet job insecurity can make - as long as performance at their current job does not suffer as a result. Funnel the extra cash generated into an emergency fund just in case.
April 17th, 2009 at 3:57 pm
Ten years ago I got a huge phone bill at my business. Turns out someone was tapping into the line at the back of the building and calling 900 numbers. While I’m sure some callers are healthy people having fun, I suspect many are addicted. I don’t know that I’d like to make money promoting any business that feeds addiction, like gambling cigarettes or a business like this.
April 17th, 2009 at 7:16 pm
Of course people can be addicted to anything… having kids, church, running, etc. Anything in moderation can be good (or at least OK - except things like crack) and anything in excess is bad - even water.
If it serves as an outlet for someone that needs to escape life, hey, why not. Vegas sells the same thing. So does Disney. Conceptually anyway. Its all about fantasy.
Personally, I had never considered this “career option”… of course, I would have to get a land line again, or a lot more cell minutes, or only answer off-peak calls!
April 17th, 2009 at 7:36 pm
This is a delayed april fools post?
April 17th, 2009 at 9:09 pm
How long until these are outsourced to India? I don’t like the long term prospects.
April 18th, 2009 at 12:03 am
Sounds like a fun and stimulating job
April 18th, 2009 at 12:04 am
I actually new a girl who did this for a living.
She had a way with words, let’s just say.
Hey, I have no problem anyone earning an honest days work.
April 18th, 2009 at 7:39 pm
Really? Very interesting post — it would be fascinating to hear from someone who actually did this! It seems like there aren’t great rates for the “exotic counselors.”
April 18th, 2009 at 7:40 pm
@P - you have something here. An easy job to outsource.
I imagine for unemployed actors this beats waiting tables. Once upon a time, there was a program on HBO that followed 4 aspiring actors going on auditions in NYC. All talented including a girl who had good voice and could dance, all working in Manhattan restaurants and going on auditions and hoping for a break. It seems this job would leave a whole lot more free time for singing/dancing/acting classes and auditions than a job in a restaurant.
In normal, non-porn movies where they show the clouds or turn off lights when the heroes do sex yet keep the sound on. Why would doing it on the phone with your clothes on be any more difficult for a professional actor?
April 18th, 2009 at 9:53 pm
I heard once that many of the people working these services are gay men or senior women. I *think* people would recognize a man’s voice, but I thought it’d be pretty funny if it was a bunch of 70 year old biddies talking dirty…
April 19th, 2009 at 7:46 am
[...] though about making extra money by being a phone sex operator late at night? I haven’t but My Money Blog discusses the topic this week. It really was interesting to learn a little about how it works, I [...]
April 19th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
Why not watch Girl 6 by Spike Lee from 1995. Covers the topic.
April 19th, 2009 at 7:11 pm
Hmm… you learn something new everyday, I suppose.
April 20th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
I’m not entirely sure why anyone would use phone sex. For roughly the same price, you could go to a (ahem) special massage spa. I’m sure your (ahem) therapist would be happy to talk dirty to you as well as provide the usual (ahem) massage services.
April 20th, 2009 at 9:52 pm
Therapist Bob (raises eyebrow)? Funny, Inga never did anything but rub my back and shoulders.
April 22nd, 2009 at 8:44 am
Jonathan, lack of sleep has been shown to contribute to a wealth of health problems! It’s very very important that you try to get at least 7 hours of shut-eye each night. In fact, a recent study even showed that if you had to pick between sleep and exercise, you should sleep, because the benefits of exercise were erased (and then some) if you didn’t get enough sleep. In fact, looking at the computer monitor and the television (and other artificial lights) before sleep have been shown to decrease production of the hormone melatonin, which aids sleep. Even worse, decreased melatonin has been linked to breast and prostate cancers! So, because I like your blog so much and I want you to stay healthy, I want you to try to get more sleep. Sorry to play mom/doctor
April 25th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
[...] My Money Blog gives new meaning to the thought of making some side income. Sex is involved. [...]
April 27th, 2009 at 5:29 am
I have not been on your site in a while, but after reading this I will be back more often. I read many money sites and it has been a long time since I have laughed to myself. You have quite a sense of humor.
I needed this after reading John Hussman’s most recent weekly commentary.
Very funny
April 27th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
As a phone sex operator and business owner myself, I will tell you its not all about moaning and panting in the phone for .30/minute. Well, of course that is a part of it in sme cases. However the most successful operators are well versed in their trade, creative, articulate, dedicated, enjoy sex and are extremely savvy businesswomen. They spend hours researching (or practicing) fetishes, learning to market themselves and carving a niche out in a VERY competitive industry.
Companies pay between .15 cents a minute to over $1.00 a minute depending on the marketing level required. Then there are companies that allow you to set up your own business and set your own pay scales. It really does depend on what your needs are.
As an independent operator, you have to keep track of your taxes & your advertising and expenses such as phone lines, computers etc just like any other small business. Obviously you have less overhead if you work from your home, but there are the same concerns balancing your life and your work, except it is harder to escape your work.
I always laugh when people think phone sex is easy money. Maybe 5-7 years ago it was easier money, but in todays economy I put in roughly 16 hours a day, marketing and promoting. There is no such thing as weekends. Paid vacation? Sometimes if you are very good at your job and careful with your money. Health insurance? Expensive but necessary.
Its not an easy industry to succeed in. As most of the people who have been laid off are finding out. But if you are willing to put in the work, you can certainly make money doing it.
April 27th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
** Correction ** Paragraph 3 should read independent contractor.. not operator
Apologies
April 30th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
I would like to become a PSO. Please give me info to get starte. Who do I call to get this going?????
May 17th, 2009 at 11:51 am
TO: C. Maoxian
You asked Jonathan, You are looking for Adult Telephone Actors.
Well I would like to become one, and my voice is available.
Thanks
Jimmie
May 24th, 2009 at 5:59 pm
I have been a phone sex operator for over a decade, people don’t understand it isn’t some easy job where you make all this money. There are very slow times where you make hardly anything, and you have to put up with the gentlemen, there are some real sicko’s and some real manipulators, then you also have the guys that want to latch on to you, and they don’t give up, either. It does change you mentally and once you go there you will never be the same, I have heard it all, and you get burned out it gets so boring, and at times you really don’t care about the men and their stupid kinky fantasies. I am being totally honest the business isn’t glamerous at all.
May 25th, 2009 at 6:54 pm
how do I sign up to be a phone operator?
May 25th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
I’m a pso, self-employed. I specialize I only do fantasies where I’m a dominatrix and I cleared 50k last year, I was down-sized about two years ago, so much for my BA being useful and started working in the adult sector. I have no intentions of going back to the world of finance.
June 16th, 2009 at 11:03 pm
The numbers quoted in this article are fairly low. I assume they are coming from a bottom rung company. Most PSOs make between 50 cents to 1.25 a minute depending on if they work dispatch (where calls are send to you) or direct dial (where you bring in your own clients)
July 30th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
TAKE THE BLVDENT.COM LINK DOWN! You don’t want to make people think you endorse that company, especially since they’re guilty of using dirty tricks to lower an operators pay.
Replace that link with this site–
psosupport.com
It’s a forum run by PSO’s (Phone Sex Operators, as mentioned earlier) entirely. It has LOADS of information on every company out there to help you decide which to go with, or to decided if you even want to do it. Everyone there is very supportive and helpful!
Thanks
August 8th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
I have to agree with Trisha, I have been doing this sort of work for a few months taking calls while watching TV at night. For about 25 hours logged in I make about $180 a week before any taxes, and that is on a good week. About a third of the men are naive and want to be your boyfriend, another third are intoxicated, and the other third are just bizarre, either bizarre in terms of manners or sex preferences. Very rarely does a nice normal guy call in, it is more work than fun.
August 9th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
I am a pso and I can tell you that I make way more than when I was a restaurant manager Working 20 hour weeks I make over $1000/ weekly but I am extremely creative and put lots of effort in and have several regular clients that I cater my hours for and they talk from 2-5 hours each time the call. I also receive bonuses for blogs, audios, and chatroom hours. I log in and out as I please and would never go back to vanilla workings. I don’t moan or scream into the phone I deal with men with extreme fetish and talk and listen to them play but I never ever do anything in fact most times I laugh and humilate them on the phone.
August 10th, 2009 at 8:22 pm
i thought i was interested in becoming a pso just because i have a telemarketing job as it is and i have a sexy young voice(not to toot my own horn) because i am young and sexy(haha). but my supervise asked me if i was trying to be a phone sex operator the way i was talking to customers. so i thought about it. but i get paid way more signing up mystery shoppers and getting their credit card information. but that doesnt mean im gonna stop talkin dirty to all my guy friends. they are ever so sweet. XD
–hali, 18, tx
August 11th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
How do I strat up my own phone sex line?
August 13th, 2009 at 8:38 am
Ive been a phonesex operator for a good few years now and I would never go back to doing a normal boring job. A lot of people think its easy to make a quick buck doing this but its not. You have to do the hard work, keep em on the line, put the hours in, build your regs up before you start earning the big dollars. I often do a 60 or 70 hour week. I know RFS (ringforsex) are looking for more ops at the moment and they are giving newbies a £250 bonus after the first 3 months.they are probably one of the higher paying companys out there but you need to be able to schedule 30 hours minimum a week with them. they dont take on part timers or men.
November 16th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
Hi my name is Amanda. and I amm 22 years old and I am very interested in becoming a phone sex operator think for you time and consideration