Public Safety Telecommunicators Salary by State
The national median pay for public safety telecommunicators is $53,040 a year. By state, it ranges from $34,510 in Mississippi to $80,120 in California.
Updated October 2026 · Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
U.S. pay range
- Lowest 10%
- $37,320
- 25th percentile
- $45,210
- Median
- $53,040
- 75th percentile
- $64,260
- Top 10%
- $79,830
Annual pay, all U.S. workers in this job. About 102,500 jobs.
Median pay in 50 states and DC
| # | State | Median | vs. U.S. | Lowest 10% | Top 10% | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $80,120 | +51% | $49,350 | $108,650 | 8,520 |
| 2 | Washington | $78,850 | +49% | $56,920 | $96,130 | 1,980 |
| 3 | Oregon | $71,980 | +36% | $53,750 | $96,530 | 1,110 |
| 4 | Alaska | $66,660 | +26% | $47,340 | $103,020 | 390 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $66,550 | +25% | $54,400 | $84,960 | 1,460 |
| 6 | Colorado | $63,520 | +20% | $48,250 | $83,750 | 1,800 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $62,410 | +18% | $49,290 | $78,810 | 1,820 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $61,720 | +16% | $48,470 | $79,470 | 2,790 |
| 9 | New York | $61,450 | +16% | $45,950 | $79,630 | 5,470 |
| 10 | Illinois | $61,260 | +15% | $38,920 | $94,970 | 4,350 |
| 11 | Nevada | $60,040 | +13% | $45,170 | $87,240 | 1,010 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | $60,000 | +13% | $46,430 | $74,970 | 1,820 |
| 13 | North Dakota | $59,940 | +13% | $47,790 | $63,180 | 270 |
| 14 | Vermont | $59,470 | +12% | $47,520 | $73,500 | 280 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $59,240 | +12% | $46,080 | $79,040 | 4,010 |
| 16 | District of Columbia | $59,080 | +11% | $44,480 | $67,540 | 60 |
| 17 | Maryland | $58,910 | +11% | $46,840 | $76,500 | 1,610 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $58,310 | +10% | $47,880 | $68,730 | 370 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $58,240 | +10% | $45,810 | $70,600 | 560 |
| 20 | Ohio | $58,100 | +10% | $38,490 | $69,980 | 4,550 |
| 21 | Maine | $57,250 | +8% | $44,800 | $74,280 | 730 |
| 22 | Hawaii | $57,020 | +8% | $44,350 | $65,380 | 170 |
| 23 | Iowa | $56,770 | +7% | $47,340 | $72,000 | 980 |
| 24 | Arizona | $56,600 | +7% | $46,950 | $77,890 | 1,790 |
| 25 | Utah | $54,120 | +2% | $47,070 | $75,890 | 880 |
| 26 | Michigan | $53,310 | +1% | $40,970 | $67,440 | 2,100 |
| 27 | Delaware | $53,140 | 0% | $47,150 | $82,610 | 260 |
| 28 | Idaho | $51,780 | −2% | $43,360 | $75,560 | 580 |
| 29 | Wyoming | $50,600 | −5% | $45,100 | $69,720 | 350 |
| 30 | Virginia | $50,490 | −5% | $37,840 | $73,770 | 3,050 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $50,270 | −5% | $39,670 | $65,320 | 750 |
| 32 | Florida | $50,170 | −5% | $37,060 | $77,820 | 6,090 |
| 33 | Texas | $50,040 | −6% | $37,950 | $64,190 | 7,730 |
| 34 | Pennsylvania | $49,890 | −6% | $39,350 | $64,370 | 3,620 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $49,060 | −8% | $38,240 | $62,000 | 640 |
| 36 | Indiana | $49,050 | −8% | $38,730 | $63,660 | 2,150 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $47,900 | −10% | $36,960 | $60,310 | 420 |
| 38 | Montana | $47,640 | −10% | $39,310 | $61,270 | 560 |
| 39 | Missouri | $46,990 | −11% | $35,810 | $62,100 | 2,750 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $46,550 | −12% | $38,080 | $59,770 | 3,730 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $46,390 | −13% | $33,840 | $66,180 | 1,840 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $45,670 | −14% | $29,770 | $59,060 | 1,350 |
| 43 | Kansas | $45,110 | −15% | $34,930 | $58,960 | 1,370 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $43,540 | −18% | $34,520 | $56,930 | 1,490 |
| 45 | Georgia | $42,790 | −19% | $31,820 | $59,760 | 3,480 |
| 46 | West Virginia | $40,490 | −24% | $30,060 | $52,940 | 880 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $39,890 | −25% | $29,760 | $61,490 | 1,930 |
| 48 | Alabama | $38,960 | −27% | $29,850 | $56,420 | 2,230 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $38,550 | −27% | $29,150 | $59,730 | 1,470 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $38,240 | −28% | $31,010 | $47,860 | 1,460 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $34,510 | −35% | $27,080 | $48,760 | 1,430 |
BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates. States without published data are not listed. “Not published”: BLS withheld the value or it is above the highest amount BLS publishes. Pay is not adjusted for living costs.
Public Safety Telecommunicators salary questions
Which state pays public safety telecommunicators the most?
California, with a median of $80,120 a year (+51% vs. the national median of $53,040). BLS May 2025.
Which state pays public safety telecommunicators the least?
Mississippi, with a median of $34,510 a year (−35% vs. national).
Where do most public safety telecommunicators work?
California has the most jobs, about 8,520, with a median of $80,120.
Does a higher salary mean more money left over?
Not always. These are pay figures only. Living costs, taxes and housing differ a lot between states, and this page does not adjust for them.