Public Safety Telecommunicators Salary in Des Moines, IA
In the 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS dataset, Public Safety Telecommunicators in Des Moines, IA have a median annual salary of $64,380, with 170 recorded jobs in this area. Recorded earnings range from $50,070 at the 10th percentile to $78,630 at the 90th percentile.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · Data year: 2025 · Last updated: 2026-09-22
Salary overview
Median annual salary
$64,380
Data year: 2025
Hourly median
$30.95
Employment
170
Source
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS
Salary distribution
$50,070
10th
$59,480
25th
$64,380
Median
$78,630
75th
$78,630
90th
Local compared with national
Des Moines, IA
$64,380
Median annual · 2025
United States
$53,040
Median annual · 2025
The Des Moines, IA median is 21.4% above the national median in the available dataset (a difference of $11,340).
Top skills
- 1.Active ListeningImportance 4.4
- 2.SpeakingImportance 4.1
- 3.Social PerceptivenessImportance 3.9
- 4.Critical ThinkingImportance 3.8
- 5.CoordinationImportance 3.8
- 6.Service OrientationImportance 3.8
- 7.Reading ComprehensionImportance 3.6
- 8.Judgment and Decision MakingImportance 3.4
- 9.Complex Problem SolvingImportance 3.3
- 10.Active LearningImportance 3.1
- 11.MonitoringImportance 3.1
- 12.PersuasionImportance 3.1
Career information
Education and experience
- Typical education
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Experience
- None
- Job zone
- 2
Technology used
- 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
- National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System NLETS
Common tasks
- Provide emergency medical instructions to callers.
- 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.
- Maintain access to, and security of, highly sensitive materials.
- Enter, update, and retrieve information from teletype networks and computerized data systems regarding such things as wanted persons, stolen property, vehicle registration, and stolen vehicles.
Related careers
Occupations recorded as related in the dataset. A relationship does not imply a guaranteed transition.
- Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists
- Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters
- Security Management Specialists
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers
- Air Traffic Controllers
- First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives
- Security Managers
- First-Line Supervisors of Passenger Attendants
- Security Guards
- Emergency Management Directors
Public Safety Telecommunicators salary in other locations
- Public Safety Telecommunicators Salary in San Jose, CAMedian $113,800
- Public Safety Telecommunicators Salary in San Francisco, CAMedian $104,910
- Public Safety Telecommunicators Salary in San Luis Obispo, CAMedian $90,930
- Public Safety Telecommunicators Salary in Olympia, WAMedian $89,090
- Public Safety Telecommunicators Salary in Vallejo, CAMedian $87,250
- Public Safety Telecommunicators Salary in Santa Cruz, CAMedian $85,950
- Public Safety Telecommunicators Salary in Santa Maria, CAMedian $84,410
- Public Safety Telecommunicators Salary in Anchorage, AKMedian $83,870
- Public Safety Telecommunicators Salary in Oxnard, CAMedian $83,840
- Public Safety Telecommunicators Salary in Napa, CAMedian $82,830
- Public Safety Telecommunicators Salary in Santa Rosa, CAMedian $81,990
- Public Safety Telecommunicators Salary in Portland, ORMedian $81,160
Other occupations in Des Moines, IA
- Emergency Medicine Physicians Salary in Des Moines, IAMedian $426,310
- Obstetricians and Gynecologists Salary in Des Moines, IAMedian $369,390
- Psychiatrists Salary in Des Moines, IAMedian $358,020
- Allergists and Immunologists Salary in Des Moines, IAMedian $309,880
- Preventive Medicine Physicians Salary in Des Moines, IAMedian $309,880
- Urologists Salary in Des Moines, IAMedian $309,880
- Physicians, All Other Salary in Des Moines, IAMedian $309,880
- Sports Medicine Physicians Salary in Des Moines, IAMedian $309,880
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians Salary in Des Moines, IAMedian $309,880
- Hospitalists Salary in Des Moines, IAMedian $309,880
- Chief Executives Salary in Des Moines, IAMedian $290,870
- Chief Sustainability Officers Salary in Des Moines, IAMedian $290,870