Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in Alabama
Public Safety Telecommunicators in Alabama earn a median of $38,960 a year ($18.73 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,230 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,850 for the lowest-paid 10% to $56,420 for the top 10%. That is 27% lower than the national median of $53,040. Alabama ranks 48th of 51 states for public safety telecommunicators pay. There are 1.1 public safety telecommunicators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $41,260, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public safety telecommunicators in Alabama
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,850 | $14.35 |
| 25th percentile | $34,340 | $16.51 |
| Median | $38,960 | $18.73 |
| 75th percentile | $47,390 | $22.79 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $56,420 | $27.12 |
| Average (mean) | $41,260 | $19.84 |
Half of public safety telecommunicators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,246.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,623.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,498.46 |
| Weekly | $749.23 |
| Hourly | $18.73 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in cities in Alabama
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | $47,390 | 470 |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | $47,120 | 70 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $44,070 | 170 |
| Huntsville, AL | $43,680 | 160 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $43,140 | 100 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $42,210 | 80 |
| Dothan, AL | $40,450 | 70 |
| Mobile, AL | $40,220 | 230 |
| Montgomery, AL | $38,560 | 200 |
| Anniston-Oxford, AL | $38,420 | 70 |
| Gadsden, AL | $38,050 | 40 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | $37,910 | 120 |
| Decatur, AL | $36,200 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for public safety telecommunicators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $80,120 |
| Washington | $78,850 |
| Oregon | $71,980 |
| Alaska | $66,660 |
| Minnesota | $66,550 |
| Colorado | $63,520 |
| Connecticut | $62,410 |
| Massachusetts | $61,720 |
| New York | $61,450 |
| Illinois | $61,260 |
Related jobs in Alabama
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $38,940 | $18.72 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $57,700 | $27.74 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $57,240 | $27.52 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $48,790 | $23.46 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $61,640 | $29.64 |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $57,430 | $27.61 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $54,890 | $26.39 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $46,010 | $22.12 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $34,820 | $16.74 |
| Meter Readers, Utilities | $45,710 | $21.98 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $41,630 | $20.01 |
| Customer Service Representative | $38,400 | $18.46 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $60,360 | $29.02 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $44,640 | $21.46 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Alabama
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 43-5031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a public safety telecommunicator make in Alabama?
The median salary for public safety telecommunicators in Alabama is $38,960 a year, or $18.73 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,850 for the lowest-paid 10% to $56,420 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public safety telecommunicators make in Alabama?
The top 10% of public safety telecommunicators in Alabama earn at least $56,420 a year. The top 25% earn $47,390 or more.
What is the starting pay for public safety telecommunicators in Alabama?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,850 a year, and a quarter of public safety telecommunicators earn $34,340 or less.
How many public safety telecommunicators work in Alabama?
About 2,230 public safety telecommunicators are employed in Alabama, not counting the self-employed.