Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in Fort Smith, AR-OK
Public Safety Telecommunicators in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area earn a median of $37,290 a year ($17.93 an hour), based on BLS data for 90 workers.
Pay ranges from $33,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,030 for the top 10%. That is 30% lower than the national median of $53,040. Pay here is 2% lower than the Arkansas statewide median of $38,240. There are 0.91 public safety telecommunicators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $37,470, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public safety telecommunicators in Fort Smith, AR-OK
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,220 | $15.97 |
| 25th percentile | $36,570 | $17.58 |
| Median | $37,290 | $17.93 |
| 75th percentile | $38,870 | $18.69 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,030 | $20.21 |
| Average (mean) | $37,470 | $18.01 |
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 | $3,107.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,553.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,434.23 |
| Weekly | $717.12 |
| Hourly | $17.93 |
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 |
| Lawton, OK | $51,270 | 60 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $48,380 | 460 |
| Tulsa, OK | $45,340 | 420 |
| 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 |
| Enid, OK | $39,240 | 30 |
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 Arkansas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Fort Smith, AR-OK
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $39,160 | $18.83 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $63,380 | $30.47 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $48,560 | $23.35 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $46,470 | $22.34 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $39,880 | $19.18 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $38,580 | $18.55 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $59,490 | $28.60 |
| Office Clerks, General | $37,100 | $17.84 |
| Customer Service Representative | $37,500 | $18.03 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $45,010 | $21.64 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $57,130 | $27.46 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $37,640 | $18.10 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $34,000 | $16.35 |
| Billing and Posting Clerks | $41,080 | $19.75 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Fort Smith, AR-OK
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 Fort Smith, AR-OK?
The median salary for public safety telecommunicators in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area is $37,290 a year, or $17.93 an hour. Pay ranges from $33,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,030 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public safety telecommunicators make in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
The top 10% of public safety telecommunicators in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area earn at least $42,030 a year. The top 25% earn $38,870 or more.
What is the starting pay for public safety telecommunicators in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $33,220 a year, and a quarter of public safety telecommunicators earn $36,570 or less.
How many public safety telecommunicators work in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
About 90 public safety telecommunicators are employed in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area, not counting the self-employed.