43 Series · SOC 43-5031
Public Safety Telecommunicators Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $53,040
- Median / year
- $79,830
- Top 10% earn
- +3.5%
- Growth '23–'33
- 102,500
- US workers
Public Safety Telecommunicators earn a median of $53,040 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $53,040, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $37,320 (10th percentile) to $79,830 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 102,500 US workers. California pays the most ($80,120), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Public Safety Telecommunicators earn a median of $53,040, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 39% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Office and Administrative Support, it ranks #14 of 54 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 3.5% by 2033.
- $53,040
- Median annual wage
- Top 61%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #14 of 54
- in Office and Administrative Support
- 2.1×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: California at $80,120. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Public Safety Telecommunicators (SOC 43-5031) pays a national median of $53,040 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $37,320 at the 10th percentile to $79,830 at the 90th, with a mean of $56,740 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 102,500 Americans work in this occupation across 52 reporting states and 447 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +3.5% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as slower than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 10,700 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is High school diploma or equivalent and moderate-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 0.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 1 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. California pays the highest state median at $80,120, which is +51% above the national figure. The top metro is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $113,800 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
BLS OEWS May 2025 102,500 jobs Median $53,040/yr
Median Salary
$53,040
per year
Median Hourly
$25.50/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$56,740
average
Employment
102,500
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Public Safety Telecommunicators pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$53,040 Bottom 39% higher than 39% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 43-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Public Safety Telecommunicators; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 24 43-series occupations with growth data, Public Safety Telecommunicators sits on the slower-growing side at +3.5% growth and $53,040 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+3.5%
Slower than average
Annual Openings
10,700
per year (projected)
Typical Education
High school diploma or equivalent
On-the-Job Training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings → A
Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
0.5/100K
Injury Rate
1/100
Danger Index
4.3/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Public Safety Telecommunicators roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Active Listening 4.4
Speaking 4.1
Social Perceptiveness 3.9
Critical Thinking 3.8
Coordination 3.8
Service Orientation 3.8
Reading Comprehension 3.6
Judgment and Decision Making 3.4
Complex Problem Solving 3.3
Active Learning 3.1
Knowledge Areas
Public Safety and Security 4.9
Law and Government 4.5
English Language 4.5
Telecommunications 4.5
Customer and Personal Service 4.4
Geography 4.3
Communications and Media 4.2
Computers and Electronics 4.0
Administrative 3.9
Education and Training 3.5
Key Tasks
- ▸ Provide emergency medical instructions to callers.
- ▸ Question callers to determine their locations and the nature of their problems to determine type of response needed.
- ▸ Determine response requirements and relative priorities of situations, and dispatch units in accordance with established procedures.
- ▸ Receive incoming telephone or alarm system calls regarding emergency and non-emergency police and fire service, emergency ambulance service, information, and after-hours calls for departments within a city.
- ▸ Relay information and messages to and from emergency sites, to law enforcement agencies, and to all other individuals or groups requiring notification.
- ▸ Record details of calls, dispatches, and messages.
- ▸ Monitor various radio frequencies, such as those used by public works departments, school security, and civil defense, to stay apprised of developing situations.
- ▸ Read and effectively interpret small-scale maps and information from a computer screen to determine locations and provide directions.
- ▸ Maintain access to, and security of, highly sensitive materials.
- ▸ Operate and maintain mobile dispatch vehicles and equipment.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$37,320
25th Percentile
$45,210
Median
$53,040
75th Percentile
$64,260
90th Percentile
$79,830
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 52 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $80,120 | +51% above national |
| 2 | Washington | $78,850 | +49% above national |
| 3 | Oregon | $71,980 | +36% above national |
| 4 | Alaska | $66,660 | +26% above national |
| 5 | Minnesota | $66,550 | +25% above national |
| 6 | Colorado | $63,520 | +20% above national |
| 7 | Connecticut | $62,410 | +18% above national |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $61,720 | +16% above national |
| 9 | New York | $61,450 | +16% above national |
| 10 | Illinois | $61,260 | +15% above national |
| 11 | Nevada | $60,040 | +13% above national |
| 12 | Wisconsin | $60,000 | +13% above national |
| 13 | North Dakota | $59,940 | +13% above national |
| 14 | Vermont | $59,470 | +12% above national |
| 15 | New Jersey | $59,240 | +12% above national |
| 16 | District of Columbia | $59,080 | +11% above national |
| 17 | Maryland | $58,910 | +11% above national |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $58,310 | +10% above national |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $58,240 | +10% above national |
| 20 | Ohio | $58,100 | +10% above national |
| 21 | Maine | $57,250 | +8% above national |
| 22 | Hawaii | $57,020 | +8% above national |
| 23 | Iowa | $56,770 | +7% above national |
| 24 | Arizona | $56,600 | +7% above national |
| 25 | Utah | $54,120 | +2% above national |
| 26 | Michigan | $53,310 | +1% above national |
| 27 | Delaware | $53,140 | same as national |
| 28 | Idaho | $51,780 | 2% below national |
| 29 | Wyoming | $50,600 | 5% below national |
| 30 | Virginia | $50,490 | 5% below national |
| 31 | Nebraska | $50,270 | 5% below national |
| 32 | Florida | $50,170 | 5% below national |
| 33 | Texas | $50,040 | 6% below national |
| 34 | Pennsylvania | $49,890 | 6% below national |
| 35 | New Mexico | $49,060 | 8% below national |
| 36 | Indiana | $49,050 | 8% below national |
| 37 | South Dakota | $47,900 | 10% below national |
| 38 | Montana | $47,640 | 10% below national |
| 39 | Missouri | $46,990 | 11% below national |
| 40 | North Carolina | $46,550 | 12% below national |
| 41 | Tennessee | $46,390 | 13% below national |
| 42 | Kentucky | $45,670 | 14% below national |
| 43 | Kansas | $45,110 | 15% below national |
| 44 | South Carolina | $43,540 | 18% below national |
| 45 | Georgia | $42,790 | 19% below national |
| 46 | West Virginia | $40,490 | 24% below national |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $39,890 | 25% below national |
| 48 | Alabama | $38,960 | 27% below national |
| 49 | Louisiana | $38,550 | 27% below national |
| 50 | Arkansas | $38,240 | 28% below national |
| 51 | Mississippi | $34,510 | 35% below national |
| 52 | Puerto Rico | $26,620 | 50% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 447 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $113,800 | +115% above national |
| 2 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $104,910 | +98% above national |
| 3 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $90,930 | +71% above national |
| 4 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $89,090 | +68% above national |
| 5 | Vallejo, CA | $87,250 | +64% above national |
| 6 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $85,950 | +62% above national |
| 7 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $84,410 | +59% above national |
| 8 | Anchorage, AK | $83,870 | +58% above national |
| 9 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $83,840 | +58% above national |
| 10 | Napa, CA | $82,830 | +56% above national |
| 11 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $81,990 | +55% above national |
| 12 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $81,160 | +53% above national |
| 13 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $80,690 | +52% above national |
| 14 | Medford, OR | $80,620 | +52% above national |
| 15 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $80,370 | +52% above national |
| 16 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $80,180 | +51% above national |
| 17 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $79,610 | +50% above national |
| 18 | Salem, OR | $78,950 | +49% above national |
| 19 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $78,950 | +49% above national |
| 20 | Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $78,050 | +47% above national |
| 21 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $78,030 | +47% above national |
| 22 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $77,260 | +46% above national |
| 23 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $76,640 | +44% above national |
| 24 | Bellingham, WA | $76,340 | +44% above national |
| 25 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $75,740 | +43% above national |
| 26 | Redding, CA | $74,570 | +41% above national |
| 27 | Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area | $73,190 | +38% above national |
| 28 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $72,880 | +37% above national |
| 29 | Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $71,130 | +34% above national |
| 30 | Boulder, CO | $70,240 | +32% above national |
| 31 | Mankato, MN | $70,190 | +32% above national |
| 32 | Rochester, MN | $70,140 | +32% above national |
| 33 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $69,220 | +31% above national |
| 34 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $68,620 | +29% above national |
| 35 | Albany, OR | $68,280 | +29% above national |
| 36 | Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $68,240 | +29% above national |
| 37 | Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $67,790 | +28% above national |
| 38 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $67,710 | +28% above national |
| 39 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $66,980 | +26% above national |
| 40 | Yuba City, CA | $66,420 | +25% above national |
| 41 | Ithaca, NY | $66,250 | +25% above national |
| 42 | Bend, OR | $66,040 | +25% above national |
| 43 | Barnstable Town, MA | $65,300 | +23% above national |
| 44 | Omaha, NE-IA | $64,940 | +22% above national |
| 45 | Merced, CA | $64,570 | +22% above national |
| 46 | Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $64,550 | +22% above national |
| 47 | Syracuse, NY | $64,550 | +22% above national |
| 48 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $64,380 | +21% above national |
| 49 | Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $64,250 | +21% above national |
| 50 | Duluth, MN-WI | $64,010 | +21% above national |
| 51 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $63,570 | +20% above national |
| 52 | Greeley, CO | $63,520 | +20% above national |
| 53 | Chico, CA | $63,440 | +20% above national |
| 54 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $63,390 | +20% above national |
| 55 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $63,350 | +19% above national |
| 56 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $63,350 | +19% above national |
| 57 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $63,280 | +19% above national |
| 58 | Wasatch Front Fringe Utah nonmetropolitan area | $63,270 | +19% above national |
| 59 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $63,240 | +19% above national |
| 60 | Yakima, WA | $63,240 | +19% above national |
| 61 | New Haven, CT | $63,070 | +19% above national |
| 62 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $63,060 | +19% above national |
| 63 | Rochester, NY | $63,030 | +19% above national |
| 64 | Glens Falls, NY | $62,720 | +18% above national |
| 65 | Reno, NV | $62,670 | +18% above national |
| 66 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $62,660 | +18% above national |
| 67 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $62,570 | +18% above national |
| 68 | Columbus, OH | $62,490 | +18% above national |
| 69 | Lexington Park, MD | $62,460 | +18% above national |
| 70 | Modesto, CA | $62,460 | +18% above national |
| 71 | North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $62,290 | +17% above national |
| 72 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $62,260 | +17% above national |
| 73 | North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $62,260 | +17% above national |
| 74 | Appleton, WI | $62,240 | +17% above national |
| 75 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $62,130 | +17% above national |
| 76 | Akron, OH | $62,050 | +17% above national |
| 77 | Ann Arbor, MI | $62,040 | +17% above national |
| 78 | Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $62,030 | +17% above national |
| 79 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $61,790 | +16% above national |
| 80 | Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $61,750 | +16% above national |
| 81 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $61,670 | +16% above national |
| 82 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $61,660 | +16% above national |
| 83 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $61,600 | +16% above national |
| 84 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $61,450 | +16% above national |
| 85 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $61,440 | +16% above national |
| 86 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $61,260 | +15% above national |
| 87 | Midland, TX | $61,250 | +15% above national |
| 88 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $61,080 | +15% above national |
| 89 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $61,070 | +15% above national |
| 90 | Kankakee, IL | $61,010 | +15% above national |
| 91 | Fresno, CA | $60,870 | +15% above national |
| 92 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $60,600 | +14% above national |
| 93 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $60,480 | +14% above national |
| 94 | Eau Claire, WI | $60,450 | +14% above national |
| 95 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $60,450 | +14% above national |
| 96 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $60,380 | +14% above national |
| 97 | West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $60,350 | +14% above national |
| 98 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $60,310 | +14% above national |
| 99 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $60,310 | +14% above national |
| 100 | St. Cloud, MN | $60,160 | +13% above national |
| 101 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $60,060 | +13% above national |
| 102 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $59,750 | +13% above national |
| 103 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $59,710 | +13% above national |
| 104 | Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $59,560 | +12% above national |
| 105 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $59,550 | +12% above national |
| 106 | Fort Wayne, IN | $59,460 | +12% above national |
| 107 | Cleveland, OH | $59,440 | +12% above national |
| 108 | Madison, WI | $59,400 | +12% above national |
| 109 | Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $59,200 | +12% above national |
| 110 | Colorado Springs, CO | $59,160 | +12% above national |
| 111 | Reading, PA | $59,070 | +11% above national |
| 112 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $58,980 | +11% above national |
| 113 | Toledo, OH | $58,900 | +11% above national |
| 114 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $58,860 | +11% above national |
| 115 | Worcester, MA | $58,850 | +11% above national |
| 116 | Ames, IA | $58,610 | +11% above national |
| 117 | Kingston, NY | $58,590 | +10% above national |
| 118 | El Centro, CA | $58,560 | +10% above national |
| 119 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $58,560 | +10% above national |
| 120 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $58,550 | +10% above national |
| 121 | Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | $58,430 | +10% above national |
| 122 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $58,310 | +10% above national |
| 123 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $58,280 | +10% above national |
| 124 | Amarillo, TX | $57,970 | +9% above national |
| 125 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $57,950 | +9% above national |
| 126 | Pittsburgh, PA | $57,880 | +9% above national |
| 127 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $57,860 | +9% above national |
| 128 | Pueblo, CO | $57,710 | +9% above national |
| 129 | Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $57,710 | +9% above national |
| 130 | Sandusky, OH | $57,680 | +9% above national |
| 131 | Springfield, OH | $57,650 | +9% above national |
| 132 | Ogden, UT | $57,470 | +8% above national |
| 133 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $57,400 | +8% above national |
| 134 | Springfield, IL | $57,390 | +8% above national |
| 135 | Iowa City, IA | $57,310 | +8% above national |
| 136 | Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $57,300 | +8% above national |
| 137 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $57,130 | +8% above national |
| 138 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $57,110 | +8% above national |
| 139 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $56,970 | +7% above national |
| 140 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $56,960 | +7% above national |
| 141 | Bloomington, IL | $56,540 | +7% above national |
| 142 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $56,250 | +6% above national |
| 143 | Billings, MT | $56,130 | +6% above national |
| 144 | Traverse City, MI | $55,550 | +5% above national |
| 145 | Boise City, ID | $55,410 | +4% above national |
| 146 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $55,360 | +4% above national |
| 147 | Pocatello, ID | $55,310 | +4% above national |
| 148 | Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $55,140 | +4% above national |
| 149 | Niles, MI | $55,130 | +4% above national |
| 150 | Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $55,070 | +4% above national |
| 151 | Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area | $54,970 | +4% above national |
| 152 | Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $54,750 | +3% above national |
| 153 | Bismarck, ND | $54,490 | +3% above national |
| 154 | Binghamton, NY | $54,400 | +3% above national |
| 155 | Rockford, IL | $54,130 | +2% above national |
| 156 | Evansville, IN | $54,040 | +2% above national |
| 157 | Saginaw, MI | $54,000 | +2% above national |
| 158 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $53,940 | +2% above national |
| 159 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $53,820 | +1% above national |
| 160 | Sherman-Denison, TX | $53,790 | +1% above national |
| 161 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $53,670 | +1% above national |
| 162 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $53,590 | +1% above national |
| 163 | Helena, MT | $53,540 | +1% above national |
| 164 | Dover, DE | $53,490 | +1% above national |
| 165 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $53,390 | +1% above national |
| 166 | Richmond, VA | $53,390 | +1% above national |
| 167 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $53,360 | +1% above national |
| 168 | Lebanon, PA | $53,350 | +1% above national |
| 169 | Flint, MI | $53,310 | +1% above national |
| 170 | Punta Gorda, FL | $53,180 | same as national |
| 171 | Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $53,170 | same as national |
| 172 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $53,130 | same as national |
| 173 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $53,040 | same as national |
| 174 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $53,020 | same as national |
| 175 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $52,970 | same as national |
| 176 | Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $52,840 | same as national |
| 177 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $52,840 | same as national |
| 178 | Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $52,810 | same as national |
| 179 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $52,700 | 1% below national |
| 180 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $52,670 | 1% below national |
| 181 | Erie, PA | $52,620 | 1% below national |
| 182 | Bangor, ME | $52,380 | 1% below national |
| 183 | Albuquerque, NM | $52,290 | 1% below national |
| 184 | Mansfield, OH | $52,290 | 1% below national |
| 185 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $52,070 | 2% below national |
| 186 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $52,020 | 2% below national |
| 187 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $51,980 | 2% below national |
| 188 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $51,940 | 2% below national |
| 189 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $51,900 | 2% below national |
| 190 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $51,870 | 2% below national |
| 191 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $51,860 | 2% below national |
| 192 | Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $51,700 | 3% below national |
| 193 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $51,670 | 3% below national |
| 194 | Manhattan, KS | $51,640 | 3% below national |
| 195 | Abilene, TX | $51,480 | 3% below national |
| 196 | Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $51,410 | 3% below national |
| 197 | Lawton, OK | $51,270 | 3% below national |
| 198 | Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $51,270 | 3% below national |
| 199 | Gainesville, FL | $51,260 | 3% below national |
| 200 | St. George, UT | $51,260 | 3% below national |
| 201 | Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $51,220 | 3% below national |
| 202 | Kenosha, WI | $51,180 | 4% below national |
| 203 | Jacksonville, FL | $51,110 | 4% below national |
| 204 | Springfield, MA | $51,050 | 4% below national |
| 205 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $51,030 | 4% below national |
| 206 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $51,020 | 4% below national |
| 207 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $50,860 | 4% below national |
| 208 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $50,800 | 4% below national |
| 209 | York-Hanover, PA | $50,770 | 4% below national |
| 210 | Yuma, AZ | $50,680 | 4% below national |
| 211 | Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $50,630 | 5% below national |
| 212 | Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $50,590 | 5% below national |
| 213 | Arizona nonmetropolitan area | $50,330 | 5% below national |
| 214 | Vineland, NJ | $50,320 | 5% below national |
| 215 | Salisbury, MD | $50,290 | 5% below national |
| 216 | Lincoln, NE | $50,270 | 5% below national |
| 217 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $50,200 | 5% below national |
| 218 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $50,170 | 5% below national |
| 219 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $50,150 | 5% below national |
| 220 | Peoria, IL | $50,090 | 6% below national |
| 221 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $50,040 | 6% below national |
| 222 | Lubbock, TX | $50,030 | 6% below national |
| 223 | Sebring, FL | $49,930 | 6% below national |
| 224 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $49,900 | 6% below national |
| 225 | Idaho Falls, ID | $49,820 | 6% below national |
| 226 | East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $49,820 | 6% below national |
| 227 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $49,790 | 6% below national |
| 228 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $49,780 | 6% below national |
| 229 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $49,750 | 6% below national |
| 230 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $49,730 | 6% below national |
| 231 | Dalton, GA | $49,720 | 6% below national |
| 232 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $49,710 | 6% below national |
| 233 | Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $49,610 | 6% below national |
| 234 | Cheyenne, WY | $49,520 | 7% below national |
| 235 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $49,460 | 7% below national |
| 236 | East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $49,410 | 7% below national |
| 237 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $49,240 | 7% below national |
| 238 | Visalia, CA | $49,240 | 7% below national |
| 239 | Tucson, AZ | $49,200 | 7% below national |
| 240 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $49,170 | 7% below national |
| 241 | Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $49,120 | 7% below national |
| 242 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $49,080 | 7% below national |
| 243 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $48,990 | 8% below national |
| 244 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $48,930 | 8% below national |
| 245 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $48,920 | 8% below national |
| 246 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $48,890 | 8% below national |
| 247 | Southwestern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $48,880 | 8% below national |
| 248 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $48,860 | 8% below national |
| 249 | Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $48,840 | 8% below national |
| 250 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $48,840 | 8% below national |
| 251 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $48,820 | 8% below national |
| 252 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $48,750 | 8% below national |
| 253 | Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $48,730 | 8% below national |
| 254 | Tyler, TX | $48,710 | 8% below national |
| 255 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $48,690 | 8% below national |
| 256 | Columbia, MO | $48,680 | 8% below national |
| 257 | West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $48,620 | 8% below national |
| 258 | Warner Robins, GA | $48,600 | 8% below national |
| 259 | Baton Rouge, LA | $48,550 | 8% below national |
| 260 | Chambersburg, PA | $48,550 | 8% below national |
| 261 | Rocky Mount, NC | $48,530 | 9% below national |
| 262 | Topeka, KS | $48,510 | 9% below national |
| 263 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $48,500 | 9% below national |
| 264 | Roanoke, VA | $48,470 | 9% below national |
| 265 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $48,430 | 9% below national |
| 266 | Logan, UT-ID | $48,380 | 9% below national |
| 267 | Oklahoma City, OK | $48,380 | 9% below national |
| 268 | Maryland nonmetropolitan area | $48,340 | 9% below national |
| 269 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $48,340 | 9% below national |
| 270 | Beckley, WV | $48,320 | 9% below national |
| 271 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $48,270 | 9% below national |
| 272 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $48,220 | 9% below national |
| 273 | Pittsfield, MA | $48,180 | 9% below national |
| 274 | Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $48,170 | 9% below national |
| 275 | Burlington, NC | $48,160 | 9% below national |
| 276 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $48,080 | 9% below national |
| 277 | Ocala, FL | $48,050 | 9% below national |
| 278 | Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $48,050 | 9% below national |
| 279 | Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $48,000 | 10% below national |
| 280 | Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area | $47,930 | 10% below national |
| 281 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $47,880 | 10% below national |
| 282 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $47,740 | 10% below national |
| 283 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $47,740 | 10% below national |
| 284 | West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $47,640 | 10% below national |
| 285 | Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $47,570 | 10% below national |
| 286 | Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area | $47,480 | 10% below national |
| 287 | Birmingham, AL | $47,390 | 11% below national |
| 288 | Lake Charles, LA | $47,280 | 11% below national |
| 289 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $47,170 | 11% below national |
| 290 | Waco, TX | $47,170 | 11% below national |
| 291 | Northwest Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $47,160 | 11% below national |
| 292 | Lynchburg, VA | $47,140 | 11% below national |
| 293 | Auburn-Opelika, AL | $47,120 | 11% below national |
| 294 | Jacksonville, NC | $47,110 | 11% below national |
| 295 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $47,060 | 11% below national |
| 296 | Lancaster, PA | $46,970 | 11% below national |
| 297 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $46,930 | 12% below national |
| 298 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $46,870 | 12% below national |
| 299 | El Paso, TX | $46,860 | 12% below national |
| 300 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $46,750 | 12% below national |
| 301 | Springfield, MO | $46,600 | 12% below national |
| 302 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $46,580 | 12% below national |
| 303 | Asheville, NC | $46,550 | 12% below national |
| 304 | Greenville, NC | $46,490 | 12% below national |
| 305 | Jefferson City, MO | $46,430 | 12% below national |
| 306 | Savannah, GA | $46,420 | 12% below national |
| 307 | Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $46,380 | 13% below national |
| 308 | Corpus Christi, TX | $46,260 | 13% below national |
| 309 | East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | $46,240 | 13% below national |
| 310 | Wichita Falls, TX | $46,220 | 13% below national |
| 311 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $46,180 | 13% below national |
| 312 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $46,110 | 13% below national |
| 313 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $46,110 | 13% below national |
| 314 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $46,100 | 13% below national |
| 315 | Winston-Salem, NC | $46,090 | 13% below national |
| 316 | Alexandria, LA | $46,080 | 13% below national |
| 317 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $45,990 | 13% below national |
| 318 | Tallahassee, FL | $45,910 | 13% below national |
| 319 | Wichita, KS | $45,750 | 14% below national |
| 320 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $45,710 | 14% below national |
| 321 | Fayetteville, NC | $45,670 | 14% below national |
| 322 | Winchester, VA-WV | $45,670 | 14% below national |
| 323 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $45,650 | 14% below national |
| 324 | Elizabethtown, KY | $45,570 | 14% below national |
| 325 | Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $45,490 | 14% below national |
| 326 | Terre Haute, IN | $45,450 | 14% below national |
| 327 | San Angelo, TX | $45,360 | 14% below national |
| 328 | Tulsa, OK | $45,340 | 15% below national |
| 329 | Charlottesville, VA | $45,320 | 15% below national |
| 330 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $45,260 | 15% below national |
| 331 | Utica-Rome, NY | $45,260 | 15% below national |
| 332 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $45,160 | 15% below national |
| 333 | Joplin, MO-KS | $45,110 | 15% below national |
| 334 | Johnstown, PA | $45,100 | 15% below national |
| 335 | South Florida nonmetropolitan area | $44,990 | 15% below national |
| 336 | Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $44,940 | 15% below national |
| 337 | Longview, TX | $44,930 | 15% below national |
| 338 | Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $44,910 | 15% below national |
| 339 | Knoxville, TN | $44,700 | 16% below national |
| 340 | West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $44,640 | 16% below national |
| 341 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $44,630 | 16% below national |
| 342 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $44,460 | 16% below national |
| 343 | Jackson, TN | $44,450 | 16% below national |
| 344 | Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $44,430 | 16% below national |
| 345 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $44,420 | 16% below national |
| 346 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $44,070 | 17% below national |
| 347 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $43,970 | 17% below national |
| 348 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $43,870 | 17% below national |
| 349 | North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $43,820 | 17% below national |
| 350 | Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $43,800 | 17% below national |
| 351 | East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $43,710 | 18% below national |
| 352 | Huntsville, AL | $43,680 | 18% below national |
| 353 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $43,220 | 19% below national |
| 354 | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $43,140 | 19% below national |
| 355 | Gainesville, GA | $43,070 | 19% below national |
| 356 | Morgantown, WV | $43,010 | 19% below national |
| 357 | Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $42,950 | 19% below national |
| 358 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $42,910 | 19% below national |
| 359 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $42,880 | 19% below national |
| 360 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $42,340 | 20% below national |
| 361 | Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $42,210 | 20% below national |
| 362 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $42,140 | 21% below national |
| 363 | Johnson City, TN | $41,570 | 22% below national |
| 364 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $41,460 | 22% below national |
| 365 | Laredo, TX | $41,390 | 22% below national |
| 366 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $41,370 | 22% below national |
| 367 | Spartanburg, SC | $41,340 | 22% below national |
| 368 | Florence, SC | $41,040 | 23% below national |
| 369 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $40,970 | 23% below national |
| 370 | Columbia, SC | $40,930 | 23% below national |
| 371 | Jonesboro, AR | $40,930 | 23% below national |
| 372 | Bowling Green, KY | $40,840 | 23% below national |
| 373 | Bloomington, IN | $40,800 | 23% below national |
| 374 | Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $40,560 | 24% below national |
| 375 | Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $40,560 | 24% below national |
| 376 | Dothan, AL | $40,450 | 24% below national |
| 377 | Mobile, AL | $40,220 | 24% below national |
| 378 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $40,220 | 24% below national |
| 379 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $40,220 | 24% below national |
| 380 | Hot Springs, AR | $40,200 | 24% below national |
| 381 | Border Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $40,150 | 24% below national |
| 382 | Morristown, TN | $40,050 | 24% below national |
| 383 | Cleveland, TN | $40,040 | 25% below national |
| 384 | Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $39,730 | 25% below national |
| 385 | Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $39,650 | 25% below national |
| 386 | Charleston, WV | $39,460 | 26% below national |
| 387 | Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $39,460 | 26% below national |
| 388 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $39,420 | 26% below national |
| 389 | Valdosta, GA | $39,400 | 26% below national |
| 390 | Enid, OK | $39,240 | 26% below national |
| 391 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $39,060 | 26% below national |
| 392 | North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $38,840 | 27% below national |
| 393 | Montgomery, AL | $38,560 | 27% below national |
| 394 | Anniston-Oxford, AL | $38,420 | 28% below national |
| 395 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $38,360 | 28% below national |
| 396 | North Florida nonmetropolitan area | $38,280 | 28% below national |
| 397 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $38,230 | 28% below national |
| 398 | Gadsden, AL | $38,050 | 28% below national |
| 399 | Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $37,940 | 28% below national |
| 400 | Columbus, GA-AL | $37,910 | 29% below national |
| 401 | West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $37,810 | 29% below national |
| 402 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $37,810 | 29% below national |
| 403 | Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $37,640 | 29% below national |
| 404 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $37,290 | 30% below national |
| 405 | Macon-Bibb County, GA | $37,290 | 30% below national |
| 406 | Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $37,280 | 30% below national |
| 407 | Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $37,220 | 30% below national |
| 408 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $37,110 | 30% below national |
| 409 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $37,020 | 30% below national |
| 410 | Southern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $36,980 | 30% below national |
| 411 | North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $36,920 | 30% below national |
| 412 | Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $36,850 | 31% below national |
| 413 | West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $36,680 | 31% below national |
| 414 | North Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $36,610 | 31% below national |
| 415 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $36,510 | 31% below national |
| 416 | Lafayette, LA | $36,500 | 31% below national |
| 417 | Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $36,470 | 31% below national |
| 418 | Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $36,470 | 31% below national |
| 419 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $36,440 | 31% below national |
| 420 | Decatur, AL | $36,200 | 32% below national |
| 421 | Central Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $36,050 | 32% below national |
| 422 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $35,950 | 32% below national |
| 423 | Jackson, MS | $35,790 | 33% below national |
| 424 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $35,770 | 33% below national |
| 425 | West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $35,710 | 33% below national |
| 426 | Northwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $35,350 | 33% below national |
| 427 | East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $35,150 | 34% below national |
| 428 | Northeastern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $35,110 | 34% below national |
| 429 | Monroe, LA | $35,040 | 34% below national |
| 430 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $35,040 | 34% below national |
| 431 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $34,470 | 35% below national |
| 432 | Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $34,360 | 35% below national |
| 433 | Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $34,340 | 35% below national |
| 434 | Eagle Pass, TX | $34,140 | 36% below national |
| 435 | Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $33,700 | 36% below national |
| 436 | West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $33,540 | 37% below national |
| 437 | Albany, GA | $33,470 | 37% below national |
| 438 | Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $33,460 | 37% below national |
| 439 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $33,430 | 37% below national |
| 440 | East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $33,280 | 37% below national |
| 441 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $33,020 | 38% below national |
| 442 | East Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $33,000 | 38% below national |
| 443 | Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $32,550 | 39% below national |
| 444 | Hammond, LA | $31,930 | 40% below national |
| 445 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $31,920 | 40% below national |
| 446 | Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $29,910 | 44% below national |
| 447 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $27,140 | 49% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 43 (office and administrative support) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Public Safety Telecommunicators make? ▼
The median annual salary for Public Safety Telecommunicators is $53,040 ($25.50/hour). The salary range spans from $37,320 at the 10th percentile to $79,830 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Public Safety Telecommunicators the most? ▼
California pays the highest median salary for Public Safety Telecommunicators at $80,120/year, which is +51% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Public Safety Telecommunicators? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Public Safety Telecommunicators is High school diploma or equivalent. On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training.
How dangerous is being a Public Safety Telecommunicators? ▼
Public Safety Telecommunicators has a safety grade of A (Very Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 0.5 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 1 per 100 workers.
Is Public Safety Telecommunicators a good career? ▼
Employment for Public Safety Telecommunicators is projected to grow 3.5% from 2024 to 2034, which is slower than average. About 10,700 openings are projected each year.
How does Public Safety Telecommunicators pay vary by state? ▼
Public Safety Telecommunicators salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is California at $80,120/year, while Alabama pays the least at $38,960/year. BLS data covers 52 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Public Safety Telecommunicators? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Public Safety Telecommunicators is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $113,800/year. BLS reports wage data for 447 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.
What to do with this data
How to use Public Safety Telecommunicators pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $64,260/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: California leads at $80,120/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.