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.
National median · BLS
$53,040
▲ +4.55%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$56,740
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
102,500
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Public Safety Telecommunicators
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$37,320
25th
$45,210
Median (50th)
$53,040
75th
$64,260
90th — top pay
$79,830
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
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Weekly—
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Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Public Safety Telecommunicators
BLS projects employment of public safety telecommunicators to grow 3.7% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations.
About 9,000 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
105,600 → 109,500
+3,900 jobs
Projected change
+3.7%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
9,000
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
0.1% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
BLS state medians, plus the same figure adjusted for local prices (BEA Regional Price Parities). Tap a state for its full range and H-1B pay.
State
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Public Safety Telecommunicators salaries by metro area
Search by city, ZIP code or metro name. Tap a metro for its full range.
Metro area
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Skills & tools
Skills needed for Public Safety Telecommunicators
How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.
Top skills
Active Listening4.4
Speaking4.1
Social Perceptiveness3.9
Coordination3.8
Critical Thinking3.8
Service Orientation3.8
Reading Comprehension3.6
Judgment and Decision Making3.4
Complex Problem Solving3.3
Active Learning3.1
Top knowledge areas
Public Safety and Security4.9
Law and Government4.5
English Language4.5
Telecommunications4.5
Customer and Personal Service4.4
Geography4.3
Communications and Media4.2
Computers and Electronics4.0
Software and technology used
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft SharePointMicrosoft WordSAP software911 system information databasesComputer aided dispatch softwareCorel WordPerfect Office SuiteGeographic information system GIS systemsIntrado SchoolMessengerLaw enforcement information databasesNational Crime Information Center (NCIC) databaseNational Law Enforcement Telecommunications System NLETSSpillman Technologies Spillman Computer-Aided DispatchWeb browser software
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
About the job
What public safety telecommunicators do
Provide emergency medical instructions to callers.
Question callers to determine their locations and the nature of their problems to determine type of response needed.
Determine response requirements and relative priorities of situations, and dispatch units in accordance with established procedures.
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.
Relay information and messages to and from emergency sites, to law enforcement agencies, and to all other individuals or groups requiring notification.
Record details of calls, dispatches, and messages.
Monitor various radio frequencies, such as those used by public works departments, school security, and civil defense, to stay apprised of developing situations.
Read and effectively interpret small-scale maps and information from a computer screen to determine locations and provide directions.
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Public Safety Telecommunicators, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $53,040.
