Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in Ames, IA
Public Safety Telecommunicators in the Ames, IA metro area earn a median of $58,610 a year ($28.18 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $50,700 for the lowest-paid 10% to $68,020 for the top 10%. That is 11% higher than the national median of $53,040. Pay here is 3% higher than the Iowa statewide median of $56,770. There are 0.75 public safety telecommunicators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $58,550, close to the median.
Pay range for public safety telecommunicators in Ames, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,700 | $24.38 |
| 25th percentile | $53,780 | $25.86 |
| Median | $58,610 | $28.18 |
| 75th percentile | $64,850 | $31.18 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $68,020 | $32.70 |
| Average (mean) | $58,550 | $28.15 |
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 | $4,884.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,442.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,254.23 |
| Weekly | $1,127.12 |
| Hourly | $28.18 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE-IA | $64,940 | 220 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $64,380 | 170 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $62,570 | 50 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $57,860 | 120 |
| Iowa City, IA | $57,310 | 40 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $51,860 | 60 |
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 |
See Public Safety Telecommunicator pay in every state or the Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Ames, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $47,840 | $23.00 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $60,800 | $29.23 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $60,840 | $29.25 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $48,680 | $23.41 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $58,470 | $28.11 |
| Office Clerks, General | $45,450 | $21.85 |
| Customer Service Representative | $42,820 | $20.59 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $48,740 | $23.44 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $47,970 | $23.06 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $40,210 | $19.33 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $66,420 | $31.93 |
| Teller | $43,060 | $20.70 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $35,170 | $16.91 |
| Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | $61,990 | $29.80 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Ames, IA
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 Ames, IA?
The median salary for public safety telecommunicators in the Ames, IA metro area is $58,610 a year, or $28.18 an hour. Pay ranges from $50,700 for the lowest-paid 10% to $68,020 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public safety telecommunicators make in Ames, IA?
The top 10% of public safety telecommunicators in the Ames, IA metro area earn at least $68,020 a year. The top 25% earn $64,850 or more.
What is the starting pay for public safety telecommunicators in Ames, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $50,700 a year, and a quarter of public safety telecommunicators earn $53,780 or less.
How many public safety telecommunicators work in Ames, IA?
About 40 public safety telecommunicators are employed in the Ames, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.