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Emergency communications officer salary
Average emergency communications officer salary
$39,422
Understanding Emergency Communications Officer Salaries
Emergency Communications Officers serve as critical links between the public and emergency services. Their primary duty involves managing incoming emergency calls, dispatching first responders, and ensuring public safety. As of October 2025, the average salary for an Emergency Communications Officer is approximately $39,422 per year, equating to about $19 per hour. Salary can vary significantly based on factors such as location, experience, and the specific agency employed by.
For instance, states like California and New York often offer higher salaries due to the increased cost of living and demand for qualified professionals. Entry-level positions may start at around $31,000, while experienced officers can earn upwards of $50,000 annually. Additionally, specialized roles within emergency management may offer enhanced compensation opportunities.
Exploring Salary by State
Understanding the salary landscape across different states can help prospective officers identify lucrative job markets. For example, states with higher population densities typically have greater demand for emergency services, leading to competitive salaries. By researching and comparing state averages, candidates can better position themselves in the job market.
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Where can an Emergency Communications Officer earn more?
Emergency communications officer salaries by experience level
Emergency communications officer salary estimates from across the web
Average emergency communications officer salary by state
The average emergency communications officer salary in Oregon, Maine, and Illinois are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average emergency communications officer salary states are Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Georgia.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for emergency communications officers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $52,481 | $25.23 |
| 2 | West Virginia | $49,817 | $23.95 |
| 3 | Oregon | $56,926 | $27.37 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $50,486 | $24.27 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $50,776 | $24.41 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $48,766 | $23.45 |
| 7 | Vermont | $46,158 | $22.19 |
| 8 | North Dakota | $44,480 | $21.38 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $47,665 | $22.92 |
| 10 | Illinois | $51,041 | $24.54 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $48,883 | $23.50 |
| 12 | New York | $47,620 | $22.89 |
| 13 | Washington | $46,426 | $22.32 |
| 14 | Colorado | $45,290 | $21.77 |
| 15 | Nevada | $42,626 | $20.49 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | $44,608 | $21.45 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $48,195 | $23.17 |
| 18 | Kansas | $47,078 | $22.63 |
| 19 | New Jersey | $46,428 | $22.32 |
| 20 | Delaware | $48,402 | $23.27 |
| 21 | Texas | $42,853 | $20.60 |
| 22 | South Dakota | $38,480 | $18.50 |
| 23 | Arizona | $38,998 | $18.75 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $39,148 | $18.82 |
| 25 | Iowa | $40,320 | $19.38 |
| 26 | Virginia | $39,634 | $19.05 |
| 27 | District of Columbia | $46,082 | $22.15 |
| 28 | Maryland | $41,931 | $20.16 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $39,711 | $19.09 |
| 30 | California | $45,847 | $22.04 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $39,061 | $18.78 |
| 32 | Michigan | $40,633 | $19.54 |
| 33 | Florida | $36,830 | $17.71 |
| 34 | Alaska | $41,343 | $19.88 |
| 35 | Mississippi | $35,209 | $16.93 |
| 36 | Missouri | $37,801 | $18.17 |
| 37 | Alabama | $34,083 | $16.39 |
| 38 | Montana | $38,142 | $18.34 |
| 39 | Indiana | $35,321 | $16.98 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $34,008 | $16.35 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $33,898 | $16.30 |
| 42 | Idaho | $35,652 | $17.14 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $32,523 | $15.64 |
| 44 | Ohio | $33,301 | $16.01 |
| 45 | Georgia | $31,422 | $15.11 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $31,811 | $15.29 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $25,486 | $12.25 |
| 48 | Utah | $34,463 | $16.57 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $31,334 | $15.06 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $33,390 | $16.05 |
| 51 | Kentucky | $30,200 | $14.52 |
Highest paying cities for emergency communications officers
The highest-paying cities for emergency communications officers are Bloomington, IL, San Francisco, CA, and Kansas City, KS.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bloomington, IL | $49,550 | $23.82 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $47,676 | $22.92 |
| 3 | Kansas City, KS | $47,346 | $22.76 |
| 4 | Austin, TX | $42,867 | $20.61 |
| 5 | Las Vegas, NV | $42,492 | $20.43 |
| 6 | Richmond, VA | $39,557 | $19.02 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $39,073 | $18.79 |
| 8 | Kansas City, MO | $37,970 | $18.25 |
| 9 | Tallahassee, FL | $37,336 | $17.95 |
| 10 | Twin Falls, ID | $35,331 | $16.99 |
| 11 | Durham, NC | $34,449 | $16.56 |
| 12 | Hoover, AL | $34,070 | $16.38 |
| 13 | Marietta, GA | $31,583 | $15.18 |
Emergency communications officer salary details
An emergency communications officer's salary ranges from $28,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $53,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an emergency communications officer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $53,000 | $4,417 | $25 |
| 75th Percentile | $46,000 | $3,833 | $22 |
| Average | $39,422 | $3,285 | $19 |
| 25th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $28,000 | $2,333 | $13 |
Highest paying emergency communications officer jobs
The highest paying types of emergency communications officers are emergency dispatch operator, police communications operator, and 911 operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Safety Dispatcher | $35,063 | $2,922 | $16.86 | 25,700 |
| Fire Dispatcher | $37,441 | $3,120 | $18.00 | 7,959 |
| Call Taker | $38,776 | $3,231 | $18.64 | 11,539 |
| Police Dispatcher | $37,402 | $3,117 | $17.98 | 6,964 |
| Operations/Dispatch | $39,483 | $3,290 | $18.98 | 60,313 |
| Telecommunicator | $39,327 | $3,277 | $18.91 | 4,083 |
Top companies hiring emergency communications officers now:
Which companies pay emergency communications officers the most?
Emergency communications officer salaries at City of Austin and Duke University Health System are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average emergency communications officer salary at companies like City of Richmond and Securitas Electronic Security are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | City of Austin | $41,087 | $19.75 |
| 2 | Duke University Health System | $38,947 | $18.72 |
| 3 | City of Richmond | $38,064 | $18.30 |
| 4 | Securitas Electronic Security | $37,370 | $17.97 |
| 5 | City of Durham | $37,218 | $17.89 |
| 6 | SEi Security | $35,800 | $17.21 |
| 7 | Pasco | $34,762 | $16.71 |
| 8 | Securitas AB | $34,571 | $16.62 |
| 9 | GardaWorld Federal Services | $34,554 | $16.61 |
| 10 | G4S | $34,543 | $16.61 |
| 11 | Richmond Ambulance Authority | $34,279 | $16.48 |
| 12 | State of Arizona | $34,116 | $16.40 |
| 13 | G4s Secure Solutions International Inc. | $33,495 | $16.10 |
| 14 | Allied Universal | $33,364 | $16.04 |
| 15 | MGM Resorts International | $32,461 | $15.61 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Emergency communications officer salary trends
The average emergency communications officer salary has risen by $6,702 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average emergency communications officer earned $32,720 annually, but today, they earn $39,422 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for emergency communications officers over the last decade.
Compare emergency communications officer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average emergency communications officer salary over time
Compare emergency communications officer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Emergency communications officer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $39,400 | $18.95 | +3.2% |
| 2025 | $38,200 | $18.35 | +3.0% |
| 2024 | $37,000 | $17.80 | +2.5% |
| 2023 | $36,100 | $17.35 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $35,400 | $17.02 | +2.2% |
Recently added emergency communications officer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Universal Security | Emergency Deployment Officer-Utility Company | Stockton, CA | 06/27/2025 | $45,914 |
| Town of Cary | 911 Emergency Communications Officer | Cary, NC | 06/24/2025 | $55,723 |
| City of O'Fallon, Mo | Emergency Communications Officer-Dispatcher | OFallon, MO | 06/24/2025 | $57,497 |
| Erickson Senior Living | Emergency Response Officer | Highlands Ranch, CO | 06/23/2025 | $41,740 |
| Prosper, Town of | Emergency Communications Officer | Tye, TX | 06/22/2025 | $50,273 |
| DHRM | Emergency Response Team Officer | Enon, VA | 06/15/2025 | $44,807 |
| Securitas Inc. | Emergency Response Officer | Princeton, IN | 06/14/2025 | $37,629 |
| City of Twin Falls, Id | Emergency Communications Officer (911 Dispatcher) | Twin Falls, ID | 06/05/2025 | $44,516 |
| Cobb County Government | Emergency Communications Officer I | Centerville, GA | 06/01/2025 | $52,175 |
| Kootenai County, Id | Emergency Communications Officer | Coeur dAlene, ID | 05/31/2025 | $59,751 |
Emergency communications officer salary FAQs
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