Median Salary
$53,040
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$25.50
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$79,830
entry level starts ~$37,320
Pay Grade
C+
modest pay · 103,000 employed
How much does a Public Safety Telecommunicator make?
Public Safety Telecommunicators in the United States bring home a median salary of $53,040 a year, or around $25.50 an hour. Pay spans a wide range: the bottom 10% earn under $37,320, while the top 10% earn $79,830.
That is $8,350 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Public Safety Telecommunicator salary range by percentile
Half of all Public Safety Telecommunicators earn between $45,210 and $64,260 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,320 | $17.94 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $45,210 | $21.74 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $53,040 | $25.50 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $64,260 | $30.89 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,830 | $38.38 |
|
Highest-paying states for Public Safety Telecommunicator
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. California leads the country for Public Safety Telecommunicator pay at $80,120 a year, followed by Washington ($78,850) and Oregon ($71,980). At the other end, Mississippi posts the lowest median at $34,510 — a gap of $45,610 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 51 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
California $80,120Washington $78,850Oregon $71,980Alaska $66,660Minnesota $66,550Colorado $63,520Connecticut $62,410Massachusetts $61,720New York $61,450Illinois $61,260Nevada $60,040Wisconsin $60,000North Dakota $59,940Vermont $59,470New Jersey $59,240District of Columbia $59,080Maryland $58,910Rhode Island $58,310New Hampshire $58,240Ohio $58,100Maine $57,250Hawaii $57,020Iowa $56,770Arizona $56,600Utah $54,120Michigan $53,310Delaware $53,140Idaho $51,780Wyoming $50,600Virginia $50,490Nebraska $50,270Florida $50,170Texas $50,040Pennsylvania $49,890New Mexico $49,060Indiana $49,050South Dakota $47,900Montana $47,640Missouri $46,990North Carolina $46,550Tennessee $46,390Kentucky $45,670Kansas $45,110South Carolina $43,540Georgia $42,790West Virginia $40,490Oklahoma $39,890Alabama $38,960Louisiana $38,550Arkansas $38,240Mississippi $34,510
Workforce and education
About 103,000 people work as Public Safety Telecommunicators in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $56,740 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Public Safety Telecommunicator make in the United States?
The median Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in the United States is $53,040 per year, or about $25.50 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $37,320, while the top 10% of earners make $79,830 or more.
How does Public Safety Telecommunicator pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C+ (modest pay), the Public Safety Telecommunicator median of $53,040 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Public Safety Telecommunicators the most?
California is the highest-paying state for Public Safety Telecommunicators, with a median salary of $80,120 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Public Safety Telecommunicator?
Becoming a Public Safety Telecommunicator typically requires a high school diploma. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.
How many Public Safety Telecommunicators work in the United States?
About 103,000 people were employed as Public Safety Telecommunicators in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.