Public Safety Telecommunicators pay range in Charleston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,210 a year or less, while the top 10% make $50,680 or more. The middle half of public safety telecommunicators in Charleston earn between $36,820 and $44,240.
- $36K10th
- $37K25th
- $39KMedian
- $44K75th
- $51K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $41,600 | $3,467 | $20.00 |
| Median | $39,460 | $3,288 | $18.97 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,820 | $3,068 | $17.70 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $44,240 | $3,687 | $21.27 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Public Safety Telecommunicators pay in Charleston vs. West Virginia and the U.S.
Public safety telecommunicators in Charleston earn about the same as the West Virginia average ($41,650) and 27% less than the U.S. average ($56,740). At the median the gap is -26% against the U.S. median of $53,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $41,600 | $39,460 | $36,210 | $50,680 | 110 |
| West Virginia | $41,650 | $40,490 | $30,060 | $52,940 | 880 |
| 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 Charleston
On the average salary of $41,600, a single filer in Charleston takes home about $34,512 a year, or $2,876 a month and $1,327 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Charleston a good place for public safety telecommunicators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charleston area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.7), so the average $41,600 buys what about $46,891 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Charleston ($45,830). A typical home costs $148,817, or 3.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Public Safety Telecommunicators salary in other West Virginia cities
Charleston ranks 5th of 6 West Virginia metro areas for this job; Beckley pays the most ($45,670).
- Beckley$45,670
- Wheeling$45,090
- Huntington$42,340
- Morgantown$41,810
- Charleston$41,600
- Parkersburg$35,720
All Public Safety Telecommunicators salaries in West Virginia
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 Charleston: questions
How much do public safety telecommunicators make an hour in Charleston?
$20.00 an hour on average, and $18.97 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level public safety telecommunicators salary in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,210 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,820, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the public safety telecommunicators take-home pay in Charleston?
About $34,512 a year ($2,876 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $41,600.
Do public safety telecommunicators earn more in Charleston than elsewhere?
The average here is 27% 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 Charleston, WV (16620). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
- 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 1.62, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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