Public Safety Telecommunicators pay range in Memphis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,330 a year or less, while the top 10% make $73,270 or more. The middle half of public safety telecommunicators in Memphis earn between $44,390 and $73,060.
- $37K10th
- $44K25th
- $54KMedian
- $73K75th
- $73K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $55,030 | $4,586 | $26.46 |
| Median | $53,820 | $4,485 | $25.88 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $44,390 | $3,699 | $21.34 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $73,060 | $6,088 | $35.12 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Public Safety Telecommunicators pay in Memphis vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Public safety telecommunicators in Memphis earn 13% more than the Tennessee average ($48,500) and 3% less than the U.S. average ($56,740). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $53,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $55,030 | $53,820 | $37,330 | $73,270 | 410 |
| Tennessee | $48,500 | $46,390 | $33,840 | $66,180 | 1,840 |
| 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 Memphis
On the average salary of $55,030, a single filer in Memphis takes home about $46,397 a year, or $3,866 a month and $1,784 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $46,397 | $3,866 |
| Working in MS | $44,927 | $3,744 |
| Working in AR | $44,848 | $3,737 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Memphis a good place for public safety telecommunicators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Memphis area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.2), so the average $55,030 buys what about $59,699 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Memphis ($46,890). A typical home costs $247,229, or 4.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Public Safety Telecommunicators salary in other Tennessee cities
Memphis ranks 1st of 10 Tennessee metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Memphis$55,030
- Nashville$54,140
- Jackson$47,340
- Clarksville$46,610
- Kingsport$44,440
- Morristown$44,090
- Knoxville$43,980
- Chattanooga$43,440
- Cleveland$41,750
- Johnson City$40,750
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
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Public Safety Telecommunicators salary in Memphis: questions
How much do public safety telecommunicators make an hour in Memphis?
$26.46 an hour on average, and $25.88 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level public safety telecommunicators salary in Memphis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,330 a year and the 25th percentile is $44,390, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the public safety telecommunicators take-home pay in Memphis?
About $46,397 a year ($3,866 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $55,030. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do public safety telecommunicators earn more in Memphis than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% less than 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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR (32820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.7%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.01, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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