Public Safety Telecommunicator salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A public safety telecommunicator earns a median of $53,040 a year ($25.50 an hour) in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $56,740. About 102,500 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $53,040
- Gross pay
- $2,040.00
- Federal income tax
- −$160.95
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$126.48
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$29.58
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $1,722.99
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $53,040
- Federal
- $4,185
- FICA
- $4,058
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $44,798
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
Public Safety Telecommunicator salary by state
| State | Median salary | Average | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $80,120 | $81,520 | 8,520 |
| Washington | $78,850 | $76,460 | 1,980 |
| Oregon | $71,980 | $72,880 | 1,110 |
| Alaska | $66,660 | $69,910 | 390 |
| Minnesota | $66,550 | $69,740 | 1,460 |
| Colorado | $63,520 | $65,190 | 1,800 |
| Connecticut | $62,410 | $63,870 | 1,820 |
| Massachusetts | $61,720 | $62,680 | 2,790 |
| New York | $61,450 | $61,970 | 5,470 |
| Illinois | $61,260 | $63,570 | 4,350 |
| Nevada | $60,040 | $61,580 | 1,010 |
| Wisconsin | $60,000 | $59,040 | 1,820 |
| North Dakota | $59,940 | $57,710 | 270 |
| Vermont | $59,470 | $59,460 | 280 |
| New Jersey | $59,240 | $60,860 | 4,010 |
| District of Columbia | $59,080 | $58,870 | 60 |
| Maryland | $58,910 | $60,420 | 1,610 |
| Rhode Island | $58,310 | $58,840 | 370 |
| New Hampshire | $58,240 | $57,580 | 560 |
| Ohio | $58,100 | $55,510 | 4,550 |
| Maine | $57,250 | $57,240 | 730 |
| Hawaii | $57,020 | $58,910 | 170 |
| Iowa | $56,770 | $57,290 | 980 |
| Arizona | $56,600 | $57,660 | 1,790 |
| Utah | $54,120 | $57,920 | 880 |
| Michigan | $53,310 | $54,480 | 2,100 |
| Delaware | $53,140 | $58,710 | 260 |
| Idaho | $51,780 | $56,010 | 580 |
| Wyoming | $50,600 | $54,590 | 350 |
| Virginia | $50,490 | $53,370 | 3,050 |
| Nebraska | $50,270 | $53,230 | 750 |
| Florida | $50,170 | $54,750 | 6,090 |
| Texas | $50,040 | $51,580 | 7,730 |
| Pennsylvania | $49,890 | $52,070 | 3,620 |
| New Mexico | $49,060 | $49,590 | 640 |
| Indiana | $49,050 | $51,660 | 2,150 |
| South Dakota | $47,900 | $48,560 | 420 |
| Montana | $47,640 | $49,700 | 560 |
| Missouri | $46,990 | $48,310 | 2,750 |
| North Carolina | $46,550 | $47,180 | 3,730 |
| Tennessee | $46,390 | $48,500 | 1,840 |
| Kentucky | $45,670 | $45,400 | 1,350 |
| Kansas | $45,110 | $44,830 | 1,370 |
| South Carolina | $43,540 | $44,010 | 1,490 |
| Georgia | $42,790 | $44,570 | 3,480 |
| West Virginia | $40,490 | $41,650 | 880 |
| Oklahoma | $39,890 | $43,080 | 1,930 |
| Alabama | $38,960 | $41,260 | 2,230 |
| Louisiana | $38,550 | $42,070 | 1,470 |
| Arkansas | $38,240 | $39,270 | 1,460 |
| Mississippi | $34,510 | $36,530 | 1,430 |
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BLS occupation: Public Safety Telecommunicators. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 43-5031). Excludes the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a public safety telecommunicator make an hour?
The median hourly wage is $25.50; the average is $27.28.
Which state pays public safety telecommunicators the most?
California ($80,120 median), followed by Washington and Oregon.
What is the salary range for a public safety telecommunicator?
The bottom 10% earn under $37,320 and the top 10% earn over $79,830 a year.
How much is $53,040 after taxes?
About $44,798 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $42,886 in California for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.