Public Safety Telecommunicators Salary in the United States
As of May 2025, the median annual wage for public safety telecommunicators in the United States was $53,040 ($25.50 per hour), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES survey.
Annual Salary Percentiles
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,320 | $17.94 |
| 25th | $45,210 | $21.74 |
| Median | $53,040 | $25.50 |
| 75th | $64,260 | $30.90 |
| 90th | $79,830 | $38.38 |
Quick Facts
- Occupational code: 43-5031
- Total U.S. employment: 102,500
- Jobs per 1,000: —
- Hourly salary breakdown
- All-state comparison
What the data says
For career planning: entry-level pay (10th percentile) is about $37,320, median pay is $53,040, and experienced pay (90th percentile) reaches $79,830.
At $25.50 per hour, a full-time schedule (2,080 hours per year) works out to roughly $53,040 — in line with the reported median annual wage of $53,040.
Public Safety Telecommunicators Salary by State
The table below ranks every state by median annual wage. Click a state for detailed local data.
| State | Median Annual | Median Hourly | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $38,960 | $18.73 | -26.5% | 2,230 |
| Alaska | $66,660 | $32.05 | +25.7% | 390 |
| Arizona | $56,600 | $27.21 | +6.7% | 1,790 |
| Arkansas | $38,240 | $18.39 | -27.9% | 1,460 |
| California | $80,120 | $38.52 | +51.1% | 8,520 |
| Colorado | $63,520 | $30.54 | +19.8% | 1,800 |
| Connecticut | $62,410 | $30.00 | +17.7% | 1,820 |
| Delaware | $53,140 | $25.55 | +0.2% | 260 |
| District of Columbia | $59,080 | $28.40 | +11.4% | 60 |
| Florida | $50,170 | $24.12 | -5.4% | 6,090 |
| Georgia | $42,790 | $20.57 | -19.3% | 3,480 |
| Hawaii | $57,020 | $27.41 | +7.5% | 170 |
| Idaho | $51,780 | $24.89 | -2.4% | 580 |
| Illinois | $61,260 | $29.45 | +15.5% | 4,350 |
| Indiana | $49,050 | $23.58 | -7.5% | 2,150 |
| Iowa | $56,770 | $27.30 | +7.0% | 980 |
| Kansas | $45,110 | $21.69 | -15.0% | 1,370 |
| Kentucky | $45,670 | $21.96 | -13.9% | 1,350 |
| Louisiana | $38,550 | $18.54 | -27.3% | 1,470 |
| Maine | $57,250 | $27.52 | +7.9% | 730 |
| Maryland | $58,910 | $28.32 | +11.1% | 1,610 |
| Massachusetts | $61,720 | $29.67 | +16.4% | 2,790 |
| Michigan | $53,310 | $25.63 | +0.5% | 2,100 |
| Minnesota | $66,550 | $31.99 | +25.5% | 1,460 |
| Mississippi | $34,510 | $16.59 | -34.9% | 1,430 |
| Missouri | $46,990 | $22.59 | -11.4% | 2,750 |
| Montana | $47,640 | $22.91 | -10.2% | 560 |
| Nebraska | $50,270 | $24.17 | -5.2% | 750 |
| Nevada | $60,040 | $28.86 | +13.2% | 1,010 |
| New Hampshire | $58,240 | $28.00 | +9.8% | 560 |
| New Jersey | $59,240 | $28.48 | +11.7% | 4,010 |
| New Mexico | $49,060 | $23.59 | -7.5% | 640 |
| New York | $61,450 | $29.54 | +15.9% | 5,470 |
| North Carolina | $46,550 | $22.38 | -12.2% | 3,730 |
| North Dakota | $59,940 | $28.82 | +13.0% | 270 |
| Ohio | $58,100 | $27.94 | +9.5% | 4,550 |
| Oklahoma | $39,890 | $19.18 | -24.8% | 1,930 |
| Oregon | $71,980 | $34.61 | +35.7% | 1,110 |
| Pennsylvania | $49,890 | $23.98 | -5.9% | 3,620 |
| Rhode Island | $58,310 | $28.03 | +9.9% | 370 |
| South Carolina | $43,540 | $20.94 | -17.9% | 1,490 |
| South Dakota | $47,900 | $23.03 | -9.7% | 420 |
| Tennessee | $46,390 | $22.30 | -12.5% | 1,840 |
| Texas | $50,040 | $24.06 | -5.7% | 7,730 |
| Utah | $54,120 | $26.02 | +2.0% | 880 |
| Vermont | $59,470 | $28.59 | +12.1% | 280 |
| Virginia | $50,490 | $24.28 | -4.8% | 3,050 |
| Washington | $78,850 | $37.91 | +48.7% | 1,980 |
| West Virginia | $40,490 | $19.46 | -23.7% | 880 |
| Wisconsin | $60,000 | $28.84 | +13.1% | 1,820 |
| Wyoming | $50,600 | $24.33 | -4.6% | 350 |
Data source: BLS OES state file · U.S. BLS OES survey, May 2025
Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $72,080/yr
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $44,080/yr
- First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers — $48,520/yr
- Construction Laborers — $47,120/yr
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $83,050/yr
- Project Management Specialists — $102,320/yr
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for public safety telecommunicators?
The median annual wage for public safety telecommunicators is $53,040 ($25.50 per hour), according to the BLS OES survey for May 2025.
Which state pays public safety telecommunicators the most?
Wages vary by state. Use the state table above to compare median annual pay across all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
How many public safety telecommunicators are employed in the U.S.?
There are approximately 102,500 public safety telecommunicators employed nationally, per BLS OES.
How much do public safety telecommunicators make per hour?
The median hourly wage is $25.50. See the hourly salary page for the full percentile breakdown.