Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in Chattanooga, TN-GA
Public Safety Telecommunicators in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area earn a median of $43,220 a year ($20.78 an hour), based on BLS data for 120 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $51,080 for the top 10%. That is 19% lower than the national median of $53,040. Pay here is 7% lower than the Tennessee statewide median of $46,390. There are 0.44 public safety telecommunicators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.66). The average (mean) salary is $43,440, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public safety telecommunicators in Chattanooga, TN-GA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,360 | $17.96 |
| 25th percentile | $37,490 | $18.03 |
| Median | $43,220 | $20.78 |
| 75th percentile | $47,130 | $22.66 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $51,080 | $24.56 |
| Average (mean) | $43,440 | $20.88 |
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 | $3,601.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,800.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,662.31 |
| Weekly | $831.15 |
| Hourly | $20.78 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $53,820 | 410 |
| Dalton, GA | $49,720 | 60 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $49,170 | 1,670 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $48,920 | 500 |
| Warner Robins, GA | $48,600 | 100 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $46,930 | 90 |
| Savannah, GA | $46,420 | 110 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $45,650 | 150 |
| Knoxville, TN | $44,700 | 190 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $44,630 | 80 |
| Jackson, TN | $44,450 | 110 |
| Gainesville, GA | $43,070 | 50 |
| Johnson City, TN | $41,570 | 60 |
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $40,560 | 30 |
| Morristown, TN | $40,050 | 30 |
| Cleveland, TN | $40,040 | 40 |
| Valdosta, GA | $39,400 | 50 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | $37,910 | 120 |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | $37,290 | 90 |
| Albany, GA | $33,470 | 70 |
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 Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chattanooga, TN-GA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $41,330 | $19.87 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $52,740 | $25.36 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $55,930 | $26.89 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $46,620 | $22.41 |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $58,390 | $28.07 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $36,310 | $17.46 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $49,460 | $23.78 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $63,650 | $30.60 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $39,630 | $19.05 |
| Meter Readers, Utilities | $43,740 | $21.03 |
| Customer Service Representative | $45,030 | $21.65 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $64,150 | $30.84 |
| Office Clerks, General | $37,860 | $18.20 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $38,640 | $18.58 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Chattanooga, TN-GA
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 Chattanooga, TN-GA?
The median salary for public safety telecommunicators in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area is $43,220 a year, or $20.78 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $51,080 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public safety telecommunicators make in Chattanooga, TN-GA?
The top 10% of public safety telecommunicators in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area earn at least $51,080 a year. The top 25% earn $47,130 or more.
What is the starting pay for public safety telecommunicators in Chattanooga, TN-GA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,360 a year, and a quarter of public safety telecommunicators earn $37,490 or less.
How many public safety telecommunicators work in Chattanooga, TN-GA?
About 120 public safety telecommunicators are employed in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area, not counting the self-employed.