Public Safety Telecommunicators Salary - BLS OEWS Wage Benchmarks
SOC 43-5031 · National · May 2025 OEWS Data
Median Annual Salary
$53,040
$25.50/hr
Verified BLS OEWS data · Updated May 18, 2026
Source: BLS OEWS · Published May 15, 2026
Next refresh: May 2027
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The national median salary for Public Safety Telecommunicators is $53,040 per year ($25.50/hr) according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025. The middle 50% of earners make between $45,219 and $64,272 annually. Top earners at the 90th percentile reach $79,830 per year. There are approximately 102,500 public safety telecommunicators employed in the United States.
About This Role
BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018
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.
Career Outlook
BLS Employment Projections · 2024-2034
10-year growth
+3.5%
About as fast as average
Annual openings
11K
per year, on avg
Workforce today
105K
as of 2024
Why those openings exist
3% from new growth97% from people leaving the role
Most openings come from replacement, not growth. Retention matters more than recruiting here.
Typical entry requirements
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Experience
None
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Industry Wage Breakdown
Top 5 industries by employment · median annual wage, sector-specific
Industry
Workforce
Median Pay
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
NAICS 999300
81K
$54,280
State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
NAICS 999200
5K
$60,840
Other Ambulatory Health Care Services
NAICS 621900
5K
$46,390
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
NAICS 622100
3K
$48,270
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
NAICS 611300
3K
$48,220
Wage range across top 5 industries: $46,390 to $60,840 (31% spread)
Wage Percentiles
Hourly & annualized (2,080 hours)
Percentile
Hourly Rate
Annual Salary
P10
$17.94
$37,315
P25
$21.74
$45,219
P50MEDIAN
$25.50
$53,040
P75
$30.90
$64,272
P90
$38.38
$79,830
Market Context Signal
JOLTS · other sector
Active
Openings Rate
3.4%
Quits Rate
2.0%
The labor market rebounded in March: hires jumped to 5.6M (+655K) and separations rose to 5.4M (+356K), both more than offsetting February's drop. Job openings held at 6.9M. Quits ticked to 2.0%.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average public safety telecommunicators salary?
The national median salary for Public Safety Telecommunicators is $53,040 per year ($25.50/hr) according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data. The middle 50% earn between $45,219 and $64,272 annually.
How much do top-earning public safety telecommunicators make?
The 90th percentile salary for Public Safety Telecommunicators is $79,830 per year ($38.38/hr). The 75th percentile is $64,272 per year.
What is the entry-level salary for public safety telecommunicators?
Entry-level Public Safety Telecommunicators (10th percentile) earn approximately $37,315 per year ($17.94/hr). The 25th percentile is $45,219 per year.
Wage figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release. OEWS surveys roughly 1.1 million establishments annually. It is the most comprehensive employer-reported wage dataset in the United States.
P10 through P90 percentiles represent the wage distribution across all surveyed employers (not self-reported by workers). Geographic adjustments use BLS-derived cost multipliers calibrated from regional wage variation.
Wages are estimates. Individual compensation depends on experience, education, employer size, industry, and negotiation. Use this as benchmark context, not absolute ground truth.
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