switchboard operator vs telephonist

switchboard operator and telephonist both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
switchboard operator	Yes	No	No	No
telephonist	Yes	No	No	No

As nouns, switchboard operator and telephonist are synonyms defined as:

switchboard operator and telephonist: someone who helps callers get the person they are calling

Other synonyms of switchboard operator include telephone operator.

switchboard operator (noun)	telephonist (noun)
someone who helps callers get the person they are calling	someone who helps callers get the person they are calling