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Job outlook for police communications operators in the United States
Police communications operator job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected police communications operator job growth rate is 4% from 2018-2028.
About 3,600 new jobs for police communications operators are projected over the next decade.
Police communications operator salaries have increased 11% for police communications operators in the last 5 years.
There are over 23,953 police communications operators currently employed in the United States.
There are 42,992 active police communications operator job openings in the US.
The average police communications operator salary is $39,636.
Are police communications operator jobs in demand?
Police communications operator job and salary trends over time
Police communications operator jobs over time
Police communications operator job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 23,953 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 23,795 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 24,758 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 24,904 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 25,520 | 0.01% |
Average police communications operator salary over time
Police communications operator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $39,636 | $19.06 | +3.3% |
| 2025 | $38,373 | $18.45 | +3.1% |
| 2024 | $37,228 | $17.90 | +2.6% |
| 2023 | $36,294 | $17.45 | +2.0% |
| 2022 | $35,589 | $17.11 | +2.3% |
Police communications operator jobs by state
Most common states for police communications operators
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 339 | 49% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,728 | 25% |
| 3 | Alaska | 739,795 | 177 | 24% |
| 4 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 202 | 19% |
| 5 | Hawaii | 1,427,538 | 165 | 12% |
| 6 | Delaware | 961,939 | 118 | 12% |
| 7 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,035 | 11% |
| 8 | Vermont | 623,657 | 62 | 10% |
| 9 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 65 | 9% |
| 10 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 53 | 9% |
| 11 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 89 | 8% |
| 12 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 621 | 7% |
| 13 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 419 | 7% |
| 14 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 88 | 7% |
| 15 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 61 | 7% |
| 16 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 422 | 6% |
| 17 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 112 | 6% |
| 18 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 102 | 6% |
| 19 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 82 | 6% |
| 20 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 262 | 5% |
Most common cities for police communications operators
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gainesville | 2 | 2% | $33,616 |
| 2 | Carlsbad | 1 | 1% | $44,901 |
| 3 | Houston | 1 | 0% | $36,819 |
| 4 | Washington | 1 | 0% | $47,279 |
Police Communications Operator job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of police communications operator experts
Jill Myers
Director of the School of Law Enforcement and Justice AdministrationWhat general advice would you give to a Police Communications Operator?
Jill Myers: The more skill sets you have the better prepared you will be for future advancement and salary increases. Having a solid education, a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice and a masters degree will sometimes result in increased wages. Having federal certifications and competencies will enhance your opportunities and create potential marketability for your career. It is always a great skill set to have people skills, communication in both written and oral formats. It will enhance your ability to explain yourself in court, in the warrants one prepares, and with dealing with the public in all circumstances from victims and witnesses and suspects, to legislators, the funding sources like mayors and city council and the public at large.