SalariesWhat the occupation covers
Operate telephone, radio, or other communication systems to receive and communicate requests for emergency assistance at 9-1-1 public safety answering points and emergency operations centers. Take information from the public and other sources regarding crimes, threats, disturbances, acts of terrorism, fires, medical emergencies, and other public safety matters. May coordinate and provide information to law enforcement and emergency response personnel. May access sensitive databases and other information sources as needed. May provide additional instructions to callers based on knowledge of and certification in law enforcement, fire, or emergency medical procedures.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 43-5031.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $37,320 | $3,110 | $718 | $17.94 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $45,210 | $3,768 | $869 | $21.74 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $53,040 | $4,420 | $1,020 | $25.50 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $64,260 | $5,355 | $1,236 | $30.90 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $79,830 | $6,652 | $1,535 | $38.38 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Public Safety Telecommunicators is $53,040, which is 4% higher. Among the 54 occupations of the field Office and Administrative Support, it ranks number 14 by median pay. With 102,500 jobs, it makes up about 6.6 of every 10,000 jobs in the country.
Public Safety Telecommunicators pay by state
The highest median pay was in California ($80,120), Washington ($78,850) and Oregon ($71,980). The lowest was in Puerto Rico ($26,620), Mississippi ($34,510) and Arkansas ($38,240). The most jobs were in California (8,520), Texas (7,730) and Florida (6,090). The occupation is most concentrated in West Virginia, where its share of all jobs is 1.9 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 8,520 | $80,120 | $81,520 | $38.52 |
| Washington | 1,980 | $78,850 | $76,460 | $37.91 |
| Oregon | 1,110 | $71,980 | $72,880 | $34.61 |
| Alaska | 390 | $66,660 | $69,910 | $32.05 |
| Minnesota | 1,460 | $66,550 | $69,740 | $31.99 |
| Colorado | 1,800 | $63,520 | $65,190 | $30.54 |
| Connecticut | 1,820 | $62,410 | $63,870 | $30.00 |
| Massachusetts | 2,790 | $61,720 | $62,680 | $29.67 |
| New York | 5,470 | $61,450 | $61,970 | $29.54 |
| Illinois | 4,350 | $61,260 | $63,570 | $29.45 |
| Nevada | 1,010 | $60,040 | $61,580 | $28.86 |
| Wisconsin | 1,820 | $60,000 | $59,040 | $28.84 |
| North Dakota | 270 | $59,940 | $57,710 | $28.82 |
| Vermont | 280 | $59,470 | $59,460 | $28.59 |
| New Jersey | 4,010 | $59,240 | $60,860 | $28.48 |
| District of Columbia | 60 | $59,080 | $58,870 | $28.40 |
| Maryland | 1,610 | $58,910 | $60,420 | $28.32 |
| Rhode Island | 370 | $58,310 | $58,840 | $28.03 |
| New Hampshire | 560 | $58,240 | $57,580 | $28.00 |
| Ohio | 4,550 | $58,100 | $55,510 | $27.94 |
| Maine | 730 | $57,250 | $57,240 | $27.52 |
| Hawaii | 170 | $57,020 | $58,910 | $27.41 |
| Iowa | 980 | $56,770 | $57,290 | $27.30 |
| Arizona | 1,790 | $56,600 | $57,660 | $27.21 |
| Utah | 880 | $54,120 | $57,920 | $26.02 |
| Michigan | 2,100 | $53,310 | $54,480 | $25.63 |
| Delaware | 260 | $53,140 | $58,710 | $25.55 |
| Idaho | 580 | $51,780 | $56,010 | $24.89 |
| Wyoming | 350 | $50,600 | $54,590 | $24.33 |
| Virginia | 3,050 | $50,490 | $53,370 | $24.28 |
| Nebraska | 750 | $50,270 | $53,230 | $24.17 |
| Florida | 6,090 | $50,170 | $54,750 | $24.12 |
| Texas | 7,730 | $50,040 | $51,580 | $24.06 |
| Pennsylvania | 3,620 | $49,890 | $52,070 | $23.98 |
| New Mexico | 640 | $49,060 | $49,590 | $23.59 |
| Indiana | 2,150 | $49,050 | $51,660 | $23.58 |
| South Dakota | 420 | $47,900 | $48,560 | $23.03 |
| Montana | 560 | $47,640 | $49,700 | $22.91 |
| Missouri | 2,750 | $46,990 | $48,310 | $22.59 |
| North Carolina | 3,730 | $46,550 | $47,180 | $22.38 |
| Tennessee | 1,840 | $46,390 | $48,500 | $22.30 |
| Kentucky | 1,350 | $45,670 | $45,400 | $21.96 |
| Kansas | 1,370 | $45,110 | $44,830 | $21.69 |
| South Carolina | 1,490 | $43,540 | $44,010 | $20.94 |
| Georgia | 3,480 | $42,790 | $44,570 | $20.57 |
| West Virginia | 880 | $40,490 | $41,650 | $19.46 |
| Oklahoma | 1,930 | $39,890 | $43,080 | $19.18 |
| Alabama | 2,230 | $38,960 | $41,260 | $18.73 |
| Louisiana | 1,470 | $38,550 | $42,070 | $18.54 |
| Arkansas | 1,460 | $38,240 | $39,270 | $18.39 |
| Mississippi | 1,430 | $34,510 | $36,530 | $16.59 |
| Puerto Rico | 120 | $26,620 | $26,440 | $12.80 |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Communications Equipment Operators, All Other$54,680 a year
- Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$54,210 a year
- Financial Clerks, All Other$53,830 a year
- Cargo and Freight Agents$52,260 a year
- Proofreaders and Copy Markers$51,120 a year
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$50,670 a year
Common questions
How much do Public Safety Telecommunicators earn in the United States?
The median pay was $53,040 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $37,320 and the highest-paid 10% more than $79,830.
How many people work as Public Safety Telecommunicators?
About 102,500 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.