Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in Arkansas
Public Safety Telecommunicators in Arkansas earn a median of $38,240 a year ($18.39 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,460 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,010 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,860 for the top 10%. That is 28% lower than the national median of $53,040. Arkansas ranks 50th of 51 states for public safety telecommunicators pay. There are 1.1 public safety telecommunicators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $39,270, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public safety telecommunicators in Arkansas
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,010 | $14.91 |
| 25th percentile | $34,580 | $16.62 |
| Median | $38,240 | $18.39 |
| 75th percentile | $42,970 | $20.66 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,860 | $23.01 |
| Average (mean) | $39,270 | $18.88 |
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 | $3,186.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,593.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,470.77 |
| Weekly | $735.38 |
| Hourly | $18.39 |
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 Arkansas
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $53,820 | 410 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $45,260 | 180 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $42,140 | 350 |
| Jonesboro, AR | $40,930 | 50 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $40,220 | 50 |
| Hot Springs, AR | $40,200 | 50 |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | $37,290 | 90 |
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 Arkansas
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $40,500 | $19.47 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $59,700 | $28.70 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $50,350 | $24.21 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $47,130 | $22.66 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $45,490 | $21.87 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $59,490 | $28.60 |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $58,470 | $28.11 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $37,070 | $17.82 |
| Meter Readers, Utilities | $37,340 | $17.95 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $50,500 | $24.28 |
| Office Clerks, General | $37,050 | $17.81 |
| Customer Service Representative | $37,840 | $18.19 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $58,100 | $27.93 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $42,840 | $20.60 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Arkansas
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 Arkansas?
The median salary for public safety telecommunicators in Arkansas is $38,240 a year, or $18.39 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,010 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,860 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public safety telecommunicators make in Arkansas?
The top 10% of public safety telecommunicators in Arkansas earn at least $47,860 a year. The top 25% earn $42,970 or more.
What is the starting pay for public safety telecommunicators in Arkansas?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,010 a year, and a quarter of public safety telecommunicators earn $34,580 or less.
How many public safety telecommunicators work in Arkansas?
About 1,460 public safety telecommunicators are employed in Arkansas, not counting the self-employed.