Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in Columbia, MO
Public Safety Telecommunicators in the Columbia, MO metro area earn a median of $48,680 a year ($23.40 an hour), based on BLS data for 100 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,250 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $53,040. Pay here is 4% higher than the Missouri statewide median of $46,990. There are 0.96 public safety telecommunicators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $47,540, close to the median.
Pay range for public safety telecommunicators in Columbia, MO
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,160 | $18.35 |
| 25th percentile | $40,030 | $19.25 |
| Median | $48,680 | $23.40 |
| 75th percentile | $48,680 | $23.40 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,250 | $28.96 |
| Average (mean) | $47,540 | $22.86 |
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 | $4,056.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,028.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,872.31 |
| Weekly | $936.15 |
| Hourly | $23.40 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $56,250 | 1,110 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $51,940 | 770 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $46,750 | 70 |
| Springfield, MO | $46,600 | 230 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $46,430 | 90 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | $45,110 | 100 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $39,730 | 50 |
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 Missouri statewide figures.
Related jobs in Columbia, MO
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $37,860 | $18.20 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $62,070 | $29.84 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $59,460 | $28.59 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $45,440 | $21.85 |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $58,780 | $28.26 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $59,490 | $28.60 |
| Meter Readers, Utilities | $49,020 | $23.57 |
| Office Clerks, General | $44,730 | $21.50 |
| Customer Service Representative | $41,210 | $19.81 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $39,680 | $19.08 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $61,670 | $29.65 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $48,920 | $23.52 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $34,020 | $16.36 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $41,890 | $20.14 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Columbia, MO
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 Columbia, MO?
The median salary for public safety telecommunicators in the Columbia, MO metro area is $48,680 a year, or $23.40 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,250 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public safety telecommunicators make in Columbia, MO?
The top 10% of public safety telecommunicators in the Columbia, MO metro area earn at least $60,250 a year. The top 25% earn $48,680 or more.
What is the starting pay for public safety telecommunicators in Columbia, MO?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,160 a year, and a quarter of public safety telecommunicators earn $40,030 or less.
How many public safety telecommunicators work in Columbia, MO?
About 100 public safety telecommunicators are employed in the Columbia, MO metro area, not counting the self-employed.