Jobs Similar to Public Safety Telecommunicators
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to public safety telecommunicators, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers, Switchboard Operators and Customs and Border Protection Officers.
Public Safety Telecommunicators: $53,040 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Public Safety Telecommunicators) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | 79% | $76,210+44% | Training or associate |
| 2 | Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service | 78% | $38,630−27% | High school |
| 3 | Customs and Border Protection Officers | 77% | $76,210Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 4 | Bailiffs | 77% | $56,600+7% | Training or associate |
| 5 | Security Guards | 77% | $38,020−28% | High school |
| 6 | Correctional Officers and Jailers | 77% | $58,940+11% | High school |
| 7 | Transit and Railroad Police | 77% | $90,230+70% | Training or associate |
| 8 | Telephone Operators | 77% | $41,740−21% | High school |
| 9 | Compliance Officers | 77% | $80,730+52% | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Detectives and Criminal Investigators | 76% | $93,790+77% | Training or associate |
| 11 | Office Clerks, General | 75% | $45,010−15% | High school |
| 12 | File Clerks | 75% | $43,600−18% | High school |
| 13 | Receptionists and Information Clerks | 75% | $38,010−28% | High school |
| 14 | Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceSame group | 74% | $50,340−5% | High school |
| 15 | Animal Control Workers | 74% | $45,660−14% | High school |
| 16 | Medical Assistants | 74% | $45,690−14% | Training or associate |
| 17 | Retail Loss Prevention Specialists | 74% | $42,540Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 18 | Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks | 74% | $44,390−16% | High school |
| 19 | Court, Municipal, and License Clerks | 74% | $48,700−8% | High school |
| 20 | Medical Records Specialists | 74% | $51,140−4% | Training or associate |
- 1Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
79% similar · $76,210 (+44%) · Training or associate
- 2Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service
78% similar · $38,630 (−27%) · High school
- 3Customs and Border Protection Officers
77% similar · $76,210 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 4Bailiffs
77% similar · $56,600 (+7%) · Training or associate
- 5Security Guards
77% similar · $38,020 (−28%) · High school
- 6Correctional Officers and Jailers
77% similar · $58,940 (+11%) · High school
- 7Transit and Railroad Police
77% similar · $90,230 (+70%) · Training or associate
- 8Telephone Operators
77% similar · $41,740 (−21%) · High school
- 9Compliance Officers
77% similar · $80,730 (+52%) · Bachelor's degree
- 10Detectives and Criminal Investigators
76% similar · $93,790 (+77%) · Training or associate
- 11Office Clerks, General
75% similar · $45,010 (−15%) · High school
- 12File Clerks
75% similar · $43,600 (−18%) · High school
- 13Receptionists and Information Clerks
75% similar · $38,010 (−28%) · High school
- 14Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance
74% similar · $50,340 (−5%) · High school · Same group
- 15Animal Control Workers
74% similar · $45,660 (−14%) · High school
- 16Medical Assistants
74% similar · $45,690 (−14%) · Training or associate
- 17Retail Loss Prevention Specialists
74% similar · $42,540 (broader group) · High school
- 18Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks
74% similar · $44,390 (−16%) · High school
- 19Court, Municipal, and License Clerks
74% similar · $48,700 (−8%) · High school
- 20Medical Records Specialists
74% similar · $51,140 (−4%) · Training or associate
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than public safety telecommunicators.
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for public safety telecommunicators also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where public safety telecommunicators is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service (88)
- Security Guards (84)
- Telephone Operators (84)
- Correctional Officers and Jailers (77)
- Crossing Guards and Flaggers (75)
- File Clerks (75)
- Animal Control Workers (74)
- Bailiffs (74)
- Court, Municipal, and License Clerks (74)
- Customs and Border Protection Officers (74)
Questions about jobs like public safety telecommunicators
What jobs are most similar to public safety telecommunicators?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers (79% similar), Switchboard Operators (78% similar), Customs and Border Protection Officers (77% similar), Bailiffs (77% similar) and Security Guards (77% similar).
Which jobs like public safety telecommunicators pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Detectives and Criminal Investigators ($93,790, +77%; usually training or an associate degree), Transit and Railroad Police ($90,230, +70%; usually training or an associate degree) and Compliance Officers ($80,730, +52%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with public safety telecommunicators ($53,040). Without more preparation than public safety telecommunicators usually need: Correctional Officers and Jailers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.