Public Safety Telecommunicators pay range in Detroit
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $41,030 a year or less, while the top 10% make $68,390 or more. The middle half of public safety telecommunicators in Detroit earn between $46,790 and $64,240.
- $41K10th
- $47K25th
- $57KMedian
- $64K75th
- $68K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $56,050 | $4,671 | $26.95 |
| Median | $57,130 | $4,761 | $27.47 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $46,790 | $3,899 | $22.50 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $64,240 | $5,353 | $30.88 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Public Safety Telecommunicators pay in Detroit vs. Michigan and the U.S.
Public safety telecommunicators in Detroit earn about the same as the Michigan average ($54,480) and about the same as the U.S. average ($56,740). At the median the gap is +8% against the U.S. median of $53,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | $56,050 | $57,130 | $41,030 | $68,390 | 960 |
| Michigan | $54,480 | $53,310 | $40,970 | $67,440 | 2,100 |
| United States | $56,740 | $53,040 | $37,320 | $79,830 | 102,500 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Public Safety Telecommunicators salary after taxes in Detroit
On the average salary of $56,050, a single filer in Detroit takes home about $43,875 a year, or $3,656 a month and $1,687 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
Is Detroit a good place for public safety telecommunicators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Detroit area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.3), so the average $56,050 buys what about $55,883 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Detroit ($52,080). A typical home costs $269,080, or 4.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Public Safety Telecommunicators salary in other Michigan cities
Detroit ranks 4th of 8 Michigan metro areas for this job; Ann Arbor pays the most ($60,990).
- Ann Arbor$60,990
- Niles$58,780
- Lansing$57,660
- Detroit$56,050
- Traverse City$55,670
- Grand Rapids$55,090
- Saginaw$52,280
- Flint$50,960
Highest-paying cities for public safety telecommunicators
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($116,260).
- San Jose, CA$116,260
- San Francisco, CA$102,130
- Santa Cruz, CA$88,570
- San Luis Obispo, CA$88,310
- Napa, CA$86,540
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Public Safety Telecommunicators salary in Detroit: questions
How much do public safety telecommunicators make an hour in Detroit?
$26.95 an hour on average, and $27.46 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level public safety telecommunicators salary in Detroit?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $41,030 a year and the 25th percentile is $46,790, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the public safety telecommunicators take-home pay in Detroit?
About $43,875 a year ($3,656 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $56,050. Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
Do public safety telecommunicators earn more in Detroit than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($56,740).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 43-5031; area Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI (19820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.77, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.77).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.