Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in El Centro, CA
Public Safety Telecommunicators in the El Centro, CA metro area earn a median of $58,560 a year ($28.16 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $48,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $90,920 for the top 10%. That is 10% higher than the national median of $53,040. Pay here is 27% lower than the California statewide median of $80,120. There are 0.60 public safety telecommunicators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $62,500, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public safety telecommunicators in El Centro, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,790 | $23.46 |
| 25th percentile | $49,130 | $23.62 |
| Median | $58,560 | $28.16 |
| 75th percentile | $78,210 | $37.60 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $90,920 | $43.71 |
| Average (mean) | $62,500 | $30.05 |
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 | $4,880 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,440 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,252.31 |
| Weekly | $1,126.15 |
| Hourly | $28.16 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $113,800 | 400 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $104,910 | 1,110 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $90,930 | 80 |
| Vallejo, CA | $87,250 | 200 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $85,950 | 90 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $84,410 | 90 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $83,840 | 150 |
| Napa, CA | $82,830 | 80 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $81,990 | 100 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $80,690 | 170 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $80,370 | 2,140 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $79,610 | 680 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $78,950 | 710 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $77,260 | 920 |
| Redding, CA | $74,570 | 70 |
| Yuba City, CA | $66,420 | 40 |
| Merced, CA | $64,570 | 120 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $64,550 | 40 |
| Chico, CA | $63,440 | 80 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $63,240 | 220 |
| Modesto, CA | $62,460 | 90 |
| Fresno, CA | $60,870 | 270 |
| Visalia, CA | $49,240 | 140 |
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 California statewide figures.
Related jobs in El Centro, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $44,560 | $21.42 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $53,990 | $25.96 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $67,000 | $32.21 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $55,930 | $26.89 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $44,920 | $21.59 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $63,970 | $30.76 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $39,030 | $18.77 |
| Office Clerks, General | $44,500 | $21.40 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $49,150 | $23.63 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $47,960 | $23.06 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $66,410 | $31.93 |
| Customer Service Representative | $46,240 | $22.23 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $45,820 | $22.03 |
| Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs | $57,110 | $27.46 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in El Centro, CA
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 El Centro, CA?
The median salary for public safety telecommunicators in the El Centro, CA metro area is $58,560 a year, or $28.16 an hour. Pay ranges from $48,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $90,920 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public safety telecommunicators make in El Centro, CA?
The top 10% of public safety telecommunicators in the El Centro, CA metro area earn at least $90,920 a year. The top 25% earn $78,210 or more.
What is the starting pay for public safety telecommunicators in El Centro, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,790 a year, and a quarter of public safety telecommunicators earn $49,130 or less.
How many public safety telecommunicators work in El Centro, CA?
About 40 public safety telecommunicators are employed in the El Centro, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.