Public Safety Telecommunicators Career, Salary and Skills
Public Safety Telecommunicators have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $53,040 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 102,500. Wage data is published for 368 locations.
Occupation description
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.
O*NET code
43-5031.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
None
National salary and employment
Median annual
$53,040
Hourly median
$25.50
Employment
102,500
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | 4.38 | 4.00 |
| Speaking | 4.12 | 4.00 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.75 | 3.88 |
| Service Orientation | 3.75 | 3.38 |
| Coordination | 3.75 | 3.75 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.62 | 3.75 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.38 | 3.12 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.25 | 3.12 |
| Monitoring | 3.12 | 3.25 |
Typical tasks
- Question callers to determine their locations and the nature of their problems to determine type of response needed.
- Determine response requirements and relative priorities of situations, and dispatch units in accordance with established procedures.
- Receive incoming telephone or alarm system calls regarding emergency and non-emergency police and fire service, emergency ambulance service, information, and after-hours calls for departments within a city.
- Relay information and messages to and from emergency sites, to law enforcement agencies, and to all other individuals or groups requiring notification.
- Record details of calls, dispatches, and messages.
- Monitor various radio frequencies, such as those used by public works departments, school security, and civil defense, to stay apprised of developing situations.
- Read and effectively interpret small-scale maps and information from a computer screen to determine locations and provide directions.
- Provide emergency medical instructions to callers.
Technology
- 911 system information databases
- Computer aided dispatch software
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
- Geographic information system GIS systems
- Intrado SchoolMessenger
- Law enforcement information databases
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Microsoft Word
- National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database
Public Safety Telecommunicators salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Public Safety Telecommunicators Salary in CAMedian $80,120 · Employment 8,520
- Public Safety Telecommunicators Salary in TXMedian $50,040 · Employment 7,730
- Public Safety Telecommunicators Salary in FLMedian $50,170 · Employment 6,090
- Public Safety Telecommunicators Salary in New York, NYMedian $61,450 · Employment 5,760
- Public Safety Telecommunicators Salary in NYMedian $61,450 · Employment 5,470
- Public Safety Telecommunicators Salary in OHMedian $58,100 · Employment 4,550
- Public Safety Telecommunicators Salary in ILMedian $61,260 · Employment 4,350
- Public Safety Telecommunicators Salary in NJMedian $59,240 · Employment 4,010
- Public Safety Telecommunicators Salary in NCMedian $46,550 · Employment 3,730
- Public Safety Telecommunicators Salary in PAMedian $49,890 · Employment 3,620
- Public Safety Telecommunicators Salary in GAMedian $42,790 · Employment 3,480
- Public Safety Telecommunicators Salary in VAMedian $50,490 · Employment 3,050
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Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.