Public Safety Telecommunicators pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,740 a year or less, while the top 10% make $80,480 or more. The middle half of public safety telecommunicators in Washington earn between $51,480 and $73,590.
- $48K10th
- $51K25th
- $61KMedian
- $74K75th
- $80K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $63,710 | $5,309 | $30.63 |
| Median | $61,260 | $5,105 | $29.45 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $51,480 | $4,290 | $24.75 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $73,590 | $6,132 | $35.38 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Public Safety Telecommunicators pay in Washington vs. Washington, D.C. and the U.S.
Public safety telecommunicators in Washington earn 8% more than the Washington, D.C. average ($58,870) and 12% more than the U.S. average ($56,740). At the median the gap is +15% against the U.S. median of $53,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $63,710 | $61,260 | $47,740 | $80,480 | 1,320 |
| Washington, D.C. | $58,870 | $59,080 | $44,480 | $67,540 | 60 |
| 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 Washington
On the average salary of $63,710, a single filer in Washington takes home about $50,676 a year, or $4,223 a month and $1,949 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $51,342 | $4,279 |
| Working in DC | $50,676 | $4,223 |
| Working in MD | $50,556 | $4,213 |
| Working in VA | $50,522 | $4,210 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for public safety telecommunicators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $63,710 buys what about $58,512 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 9.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Public Safety Telecommunicators salary in nearby metro areas
- Hagerstown, MD$54,290
- Baltimore, MD$61,840
- Winchester, VA$47,190
- Lexington Park, MD$60,870
- Chambersburg, PA$50,000
- Charlottesville, VA$47,690
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 Washington: questions
How much do public safety telecommunicators make an hour in Washington?
$30.63 an hour on average, and $29.45 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level public safety telecommunicators salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,740 a year and the 25th percentile is $51,480, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the public safety telecommunicators take-home pay in Washington?
About $50,676 a year ($4,223 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $63,710.
Do public safety telecommunicators earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% more 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.5%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.64, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.64).
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