Public Safety Telecommunicators earn a median of $53,040 per year ($25.50/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 3.7% through 2035, with about 9,000 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 43-5031
- Office and Administrative Support
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Public Safety Telecommunicator in four numbers
- Median pay
- $53,040a year, or $25.50/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $37KTop 10% $80K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +3.7%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+3.7%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +3.7% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 9,000105,600 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025105.6K
- Projected 2035109.5K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 105.6K Projected 2035 109.5K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school63.4%
- Certificate10.6%
- Some college11%
- Associate's10.3%
- Bachelor's4.7%
Highest education held by public safety telecommunicators Segment Value High school 63.4% Certificate 10.6% Some college 11% Associate's 10.3% Bachelor's 4.7%
Also advertised as: 911 Dispatcher, Communications Officer, Communications Operator, Communications Specialist, Emergency Communications Dispatcher, Emergency Communications Operator (ECO).
Pay
How much do Public Safety Telecommunicators make?
Every public safety telecommunicator in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$53,040
Middle half earn $45,210 to $64,260
- 10th
- $37,320
- 25th
- $45,210
- 75th
- $64,260
- 90th
- $79,830
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $37,320 |
| 25th | $45,210 |
| Median | $53,040 |
| 75th | $64,260 |
| 90th | $79,830 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $53,040
- Median hourly wage
- $25.50/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $56,740
- People employed
- 102,500
Versus all US occupations
At $53,040, Public Safety Telecommunicators earn 4% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $2,060 a year.
Versus office and administrative support occupations
Inside the Office and Administrative Support group, where the middle occupation pays $49,230, this is 8% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $79,830 or more while the bottom 10% earn $37,320, a gap of 2.1×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 26% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
California posts the highest raw median ($80,120), but once local prices are taken into account Washington leads at $73,683 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Public Safety Telecommunicators the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1California | $80,120 | $72,363 | 8,520 |
| 2Washington | $78,850 | $73,683 | 1,980 |
| 3Oregon | $71,980 | $69,639 | 1,110 |
| 4Alaska | $66,660 | $65,124 | 390 |
| 5Minnesota | $66,550 | $67,481 | 1,460 |
| 6Colorado | $63,520 | $61,639 | 1,800 |
| 7Connecticut | $62,410 | $60,235 | 1,820 |
| 8Massachusetts | $61,720 | $58,360 | 2,790 |
| 9New York | $61,450 | $56,940 | 5,470 |
| 10Illinois | $61,260 | $61,286 | 4,350 |
Job outlook
Is Public Safety Telecommunicator a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +3.7% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Public Safety Telecommunicators | +3.7% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Public Safety Telecommunicators to change 3.7% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 3,900 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 9,000 openings are projected each year, 8.5% of the 105,600 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Population growth and the commensurate increase in 9-1-1 call volume is expected to create demand for these workers. However, state and local government budget constraints may limit the number of public safety telecommunicators hired over the projections decade.
Getting in
How to become a Public Safety Telecommunicator
Public safety telecommunicators typically need a high school diploma to enter the occupation and then are trained on the job. Many states and localities require these workers to become certified.
In addition, candidates usually must pass an exam and a typing test. In some instances, candidates may need to pass a background check, lie detector and drug tests, and tests for hearing and vision.
The ability to communicate in another language, such as Spanish or American Sign Language, may be helpful.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as public safety telecommunicators.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)63.4%
- Some College Courses11%
- Post-Secondary Certificate10.6%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree10.3%
- Bachelor's Degree4.7%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 63.4% |
| Some College Courses | 11% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 10.6% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 10.3% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 4.7% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Public Safety Telecommunicator do?
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.
Public safety telecommunicators, including 911 operators and fire dispatchers, answer emergency and nonemergency calls and provide resources to assist those in need.
Day-to-day tasks
- Question callers to determine their locations and the nature of their problems to determine type of response needed.
- Answer routine inquiries, and refer calls not requiring dispatches to appropriate departments and agencies.
- Learn material and pass required tests for certification.
- Determine response requirements and relative priorities of situations, and dispatch units in accordance with established procedures.
- Read and effectively interpret small-scale maps and information from a computer screen to determine locations and provide directions.
- 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.
- Record details of calls, dispatches, and messages.
- Relay information and messages to and from emergency sites, to law enforcement agencies, and to all other individuals or groups requiring notification.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most public safety telecommunicators work full time, often in 8- to 12-hour shifts.
Because emergencies happen at any time, public safety telecommunicators are needed to staff PSAPs around the clock. They may be required to work shifts that are outside standard business hours, such as evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayHandling conflict situations at least monthly.
Cost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where public safety telecommunicators work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Local government, excluding education and hospitals79%
- State government, excluding education and hospitals5%
- Ambulance services5%
- Educational services; state, local, and private4%
- Hospitals; state, local, and private3%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 79% |
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 5% |
| Ambulance services | 5% |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 4% |
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 3% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening4.4
- Speaking4.1
- Critical Thinking3.8
- Reading Comprehension3.6
- Active Learning3.1
- Monitoring3.1
- Writing3.0
- Learning Strategies2.8
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 4.4 |
| Speaking | 4.1 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.8 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.6 |
| Active Learning | 3.1 |
| Monitoring | 3.1 |
| Writing | 3.0 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.8 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Social Perceptiveness3.9
- Coordination3.8
- Service Orientation3.8
- Judgment and Decision Making3.4
- Complex Problem Solving3.3
- Persuasion3.1
- Instructing3.0
- Negotiation2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.9 |
| Coordination | 3.8 |
| Service Orientation | 3.8 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.4 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.3 |
| Persuasion | 3.1 |
| Instructing | 3.0 |
| Negotiation | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Geographic information system
- Helpdesk or call center software
- Internet browser software
- Mobile messaging service software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Public Safety Telecommunicator?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Public Safety Telecommunicator |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 4 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 4 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around organising, following procedures and working precisely with data, combined with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
- Conventional5.5
- Realistic4.3
- Social3.6
- Investigative2.9
- Enterprising2.9
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
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More office and administrative support careers
Median annual pay, with public safety telecommunicators highlighted
- Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant$76,590
- Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant$55,570
- Public Safety Telecommunicator$53,040
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerk$50,670
- Human Resources Assistant, Except Payroll and Timekeeping$50,610
- Secretary and Administrative Assistant, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$47,540
- Customer Service Representative$44,770
- Teller$43,030
- Receptionist and Information Clerk$38,010
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant | $76,590 |
| Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant | $55,570 |
| Public Safety Telecommunicator | $53,040 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerk | $50,670 |
| Human Resources Assistant, Except Payroll and Timekeeping | $50,610 |
| Secretary and Administrative Assistant, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $47,540 |
| Customer Service Representative | $44,770 |
| Teller | $43,030 |
| Receptionist and Information Clerk | $38,010 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Public Safety Telecommunicator appears on
Questions
Public Safety Telecommunicator: frequently asked questions
How much do Public Safety Telecommunicators make?
Public Safety Telecommunicators earn a median of $53,040 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 4% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $25.50/hr. The middle half earn between $45,210 and $64,260. The top 10% earn $79,830 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Public Safety Telecommunicator?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Public Safety Telecommunicators. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 63.4% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Public Safety Telecommunicator a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 3.7% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 9,000 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Public Safety Telecommunicator do?
Public safety telecommunicators, including 911 operators and fire dispatchers, answer emergency and nonemergency calls and provide resources to assist those in need. A core O*NET task: question callers to determine their locations and the nature of their problems to determine type of response needed. Employers most often ask for Data base user interface and query software, Document management software, Electronic mail software.
Which states pay Public Safety Telecommunicators the most?
The highest state medians for Public Safety Telecommunicators are California ($80,120), Washington ($78,850), Oregon ($71,980) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Washington moves to the top at $73,683.
What personality type suits a Public Safety Telecommunicator?
O*NET scores Public Safety Telecommunicators highest on the Conventional, Realistic and Social interest areas, so the work mixes organising, following procedures and working precisely with data with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISFJ, ISTJ, ESTJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.