Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in Arizona
Public Safety Telecommunicators in Arizona earn a median of $56,600 a year ($27.21 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,790 workers.
Pay ranges from $46,950 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,890 for the top 10%. That is 7% higher than the national median of $53,040. Arizona ranks 24th of 51 states for public safety telecommunicators pay. There are 0.55 public safety telecommunicators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $57,660, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public safety telecommunicators in Arizona
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,950 | $22.57 |
| 25th percentile | $49,520 | $23.81 |
| Median | $56,600 | $27.21 |
| 75th percentile | $62,220 | $29.92 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,890 | $37.45 |
| Average (mean) | $57,660 | $27.72 |
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 | $4,716.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,358.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,176.92 |
| Weekly | $1,088.46 |
| Hourly | $27.21 |
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 Arizona
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $59,710 | 1,000 |
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $52,840 | 80 |
| Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $52,810 | 110 |
| Yuma, AZ | $50,680 | 80 |
| Tucson, AZ | $49,200 | 260 |
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 Arizona
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $45,410 | $21.83 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $58,580 | $28.16 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $47,880 | $23.02 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $62,390 | $30.00 |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $55,350 | $26.61 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $49,880 | $23.98 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $61,710 | $29.67 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $38,980 | $18.74 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $45,790 | $22.01 |
| Meter Readers, Utilities | $44,760 | $21.52 |
| Customer Service Representative | $45,690 | $21.97 |
| Office Clerks, General | $46,420 | $22.32 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $64,250 | $30.89 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $47,940 | $23.05 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Arizona
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 Arizona?
The median salary for public safety telecommunicators in Arizona is $56,600 a year, or $27.21 an hour. Pay ranges from $46,950 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,890 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public safety telecommunicators make in Arizona?
The top 10% of public safety telecommunicators in Arizona earn at least $77,890 a year. The top 25% earn $62,220 or more.
What is the starting pay for public safety telecommunicators in Arizona?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $46,950 a year, and a quarter of public safety telecommunicators earn $49,520 or less.
How many public safety telecommunicators work in Arizona?
About 1,790 public safety telecommunicators are employed in Arizona, not counting the self-employed.