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Telecommunicator salary
Average telecommunicator salary
$39,327
Average Telecommunicator Salary
The average salary for a telecommunicator in the United States is $39,327 per year, or about $19 per hour. These professionals play a critical role in ensuring effective communication during emergencies, making their work invaluable. Salaries can vary based on several factors including experience, location, and the specific employer.
Factors Influencing Salary
Experience significantly impacts earnings. Entry-level telecommunicators may start at a lower salary, while those with several years in the field can earn upwards of $50,000 annually. Additionally, geographic location plays a crucial role, with metropolitan areas often providing higher compensation compared to rural settings.
Top-Paying States for Telecommunicators
States like California, New York, and Texas frequently offer the highest salaries for telecommunicators, reflecting the demand for skilled professionals in these regions. Understanding these dynamics can help job seekers target their applications effectively, considering both salary potential and job availability.
Opportunities for Advancement
Telecommunicators can explore career advancement through specialized training and certifications, leading to roles with greater responsibilities and higher pay. As the demand for emergency response professionals grows, the opportunities within this field continue to expand.
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Where can a Telecommunicator earn more?
Telecommunicator salaries by experience level
Telecommunicator salary estimates from across the web
Average telecommunicator salary by state
The highest-paying states for telecommunicators are California, Oregon, and Illinois. The lowest average telecommunicator salary states are Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Georgia.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for telecommunicators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $59,153 | $28.44 |
| 2 | Oregon | $56,981 | $27.39 |
| 3 | Wyoming | $48,221 | $23.18 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $50,695 | $24.37 |
| 5 | Illinois | $54,658 | $26.28 |
| 6 | West Virginia | $49,653 | $23.87 |
| 7 | Colorado | $48,012 | $23.08 |
| 8 | Wisconsin | $44,571 | $21.43 |
| 9 | Maine | $52,018 | $25.01 |
| 10 | Vermont | $45,820 | $22.03 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $45,530 | $21.89 |
| 12 | Kansas | $46,802 | $22.50 |
| 13 | Nevada | $42,508 | $20.44 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $48,325 | $23.23 |
| 15 | Washington | $46,818 | $22.51 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $46,237 | $22.23 |
| 17 | Alaska | $41,475 | $19.94 |
| 18 | Connecticut | $50,128 | $24.10 |
| 19 | Delaware | $48,448 | $23.29 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $44,431 | $21.36 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $47,357 | $22.77 |
| 22 | New York | $46,235 | $22.23 |
| 23 | Montana | $38,135 | $18.33 |
| 24 | Michigan | $40,620 | $19.53 |
| 25 | Arizona | $38,863 | $18.68 |
| 26 | Maryland | $42,027 | $20.21 |
| 27 | Iowa | $43,990 | $21.15 |
| 28 | Missouri | $37,581 | $18.07 |
| 29 | District of Columbia | $46,032 | $22.13 |
| 30 | South Dakota | $38,492 | $18.51 |
| 31 | Virginia | $40,403 | $19.42 |
| 32 | Indiana | $36,943 | $17.76 |
| 33 | New Mexico | $38,913 | $18.71 |
| 34 | Idaho | $35,652 | $17.14 |
| 35 | Pennsylvania | $39,627 | $19.05 |
| 36 | Texas | $36,649 | $17.62 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $39,140 | $18.82 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $33,561 | $16.14 |
| 39 | Ohio | $33,292 | $16.01 |
| 40 | Mississippi | $34,759 | $16.71 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $33,488 | $16.10 |
| 42 | Florida | $33,245 | $15.98 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $33,556 | $16.13 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $30,045 | $14.44 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $25,177 | $12.10 |
| 46 | Alabama | $33,656 | $16.18 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $31,529 | $15.16 |
| 48 | Utah | $34,489 | $16.58 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $32,257 | $15.51 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $30,903 | $14.86 |
| 51 | Georgia | $31,025 | $14.92 |
Highest paying cities for telecommunicators
The highest-paying cities for telecommunicators are Stockton, CA, Corvallis, OR, and Glenview, IL.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stockton, CA | $60,810 | $29.24 |
| 2 | Corvallis, OR | $57,180 | $27.49 |
| 3 | Glenview, IL | $55,082 | $26.48 |
| 4 | Saint Paul, MN | $50,757 | $24.40 |
| 5 | Charleston, WV | $48,187 | $23.17 |
| 6 | Yakima, WA | $46,704 | $22.45 |
| 7 | Appleton, WI | $44,994 | $21.63 |
| 8 | Detroit, MI | $40,728 | $19.58 |
| 9 | Albuquerque, NM | $39,097 | $18.80 |
| 10 | Altoona, PA | $38,682 | $18.60 |
| 11 | Saint Louis, MO | $37,558 | $18.06 |
| 12 | Coppell, TX | $36,882 | $17.73 |
| 13 | Canton, OH | $34,152 | $16.42 |
| 14 | Durham, NC | $34,131 | $16.41 |
| 15 | Gainesville, FL | $33,621 | $16.16 |
| 16 | Columbia, SC | $31,005 | $14.91 |
| 17 | Richmond, KY | $29,851 | $14.35 |
| 18 | Bentonville, AR | $25,656 | $12.33 |
Telecommunicator salary details
A telecommunicator's salary ranges from $28,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $53,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a telecommunicator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $53,000 | $4,417 | $25 |
| 75th Percentile | $46,000 | $3,833 | $22 |
| Average | $39,327 | $3,277 | $19 |
| 25th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $28,000 | $2,333 | $13 |
Highest paying telecommunicator jobs
The highest paying types of telecommunicators are emergency dispatch operator, communications officer, and 911 operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operations/Dispatch | $39,483 | $3,290 | $18.98 | 60,313 |
| Call Taker | $38,776 | $3,231 | $18.64 | 11,539 |
| Public Safety Dispatcher | $35,063 | $2,922 | $16.86 | 25,700 |
| Fire Dispatcher | $37,441 | $3,120 | $18.00 | 7,959 |
| Police Dispatcher | $37,402 | $3,117 | $17.98 | 6,964 |
| Communications Dispatcher | $35,153 | $2,929 | $16.90 | 19,172 |
Top companies hiring telecommunicators now:
Which companies pay telecommunicators the most?
Telecommunicator salaries at City of Detroit and Ramsey County are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average telecommunicator salary at companies like City of San Antonio and Polk County Sheriff's Office are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | City of Detroit | $47,608 | $22.89 |
| 2 | Ramsey County | $42,992 | $20.67 |
| 3 | City of San Antonio | $41,927 | $20.16 |
| 4 | Polk County Sheriff's Office | $41,014 | $19.72 |
| 5 | Chicago State University | $40,917 | $19.67 |
| 6 | City of Champaign | $40,518 | $19.48 |
| 7 | 1 8 3 Lanes | $39,827 | $19.15 |
| 8 | Orange County Government | $39,782 | $19.13 |
| 9 | Harnett County | $39,414 | $18.95 |
| 10 | City of Tuscaloosa | $39,154 | $18.82 |
| 11 | UNC Health Care | $39,086 | $18.79 |
| 12 | Middlebury College | $38,733 | $18.62 |
| 13 | City of Houston | $38,676 | $18.59 |
| 14 | New Hanover County | $38,625 | $18.57 |
| 15 | Forsyth County | $38,154 | $18.34 |
| 16 | City of Corvallis | $37,819 | $18.18 |
| 17 | The State of Oregon | $37,736 | $18.14 |
| 18 | FirstHealth of the Carolinas | $37,349 | $17.96 |
| 19 | Outagamie County | $37,145 | $17.86 |
| 20 | Rockingham County | $37,090 | $17.83 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Telecommunicator salary trends
The average telecommunicator salary has risen by $6,686 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average telecommunicator earned $32,641 annually, but today, they earn $39,327 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for telecommunicators over the last decade.
Compare telecommunicator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average telecommunicator salary over time
Compare telecommunicator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Telecommunicator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $39,300 | $18.91 | +3.2% |
| 2024 | $38,100 | $18.30 | +3.0% |
| 2023 | $36,900 | $17.76 | +2.5% |
| 2022 | $36,000 | $17.31 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $35,300 | $16.98 | +2.2% |
Recently added telecommunicator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Town of Matthews | Police Telecommunicator | Matthews, NC | 06/28/2025 | $48,851 |
| Onslow County, Nc | Telecommunicator | Jacksonville, NC | 06/28/2025 | $45,761 |
| Dunn County | Telecommunicator (911 Dispatch) | Dunn, WI | 06/27/2025 | $54,262 |
| City of Paducah | Telecommunicator | Paducah, KY | 06/26/2025 | $42,551 |
| State of North Carolina | Telecommunicator--Temporary Solutions | Boone, NC | 06/25/2025 | $41,740 |
| Sumner County, Tn | Telecommunicator | Gallatin, TN | 06/23/2025 | $37,065 |
| City of Smyrna, Tn | Telecommunicator | Smyrna, TN | 06/19/2025 | $48,799 |
| Town of Smyrna | Telecommunicator | Smyrna, TN | 06/18/2025 | $48,799 |
| City of Grants Pass, or | Telecommunicator II (Dispatcher | Grants Pass, OR | 06/16/2025 | $58,743 |
| National Testing Network | 1 Telecommunicator | Morris, IL | 06/10/2025 | $51,018 |
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