Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
Public Safety Telecommunicators in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area earn a median of $43,870 a year ($21.09 an hour), based on BLS data for 180 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,170 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,140 for the top 10%. That is 17% lower than the national median of $53,040. Pay here is 6% lower than the North Carolina statewide median of $46,550. There are 1.2 public safety telecommunicators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $44,130, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public safety telecommunicators in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,170 | $18.35 |
| 25th percentile | $38,200 | $18.37 |
| Median | $43,870 | $21.09 |
| 75th percentile | $47,880 | $23.02 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,140 | $23.62 |
| Average (mean) | $44,130 | $21.22 |
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 | $3,655.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,827.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,687.31 |
| Weekly | $843.65 |
| Hourly | $21.09 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $43,870 salary, see how much house you can afford in North Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $52,020 | 470 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $50,630 | 40 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $49,900 | 360 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $48,530 | 60 |
| Burlington, NC | $48,160 | 70 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $48,080 | 830 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $47,880 | 230 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $47,110 | 40 |
| Asheville, NC | $46,550 | 110 |
| Greenville, NC | $46,490 | 90 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $46,090 | 210 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $45,670 | 120 |
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 North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $42,520 | $20.44 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $51,860 | $24.93 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $58,960 | $28.35 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $46,890 | $22.54 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $34,390 | $16.53 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $68,540 | $32.95 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $36,330 | $17.47 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $41,290 | $19.85 |
| Customer Service Representative | $37,790 | $18.17 |
| Office Clerks, General | $40,340 | $19.39 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $38,380 | $18.45 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $45,130 | $21.70 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $41,710 | $20.06 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $60,320 | $29.00 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
The median salary for public safety telecommunicators in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area is $43,870 a year, or $21.09 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,170 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,140 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public safety telecommunicators make in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
The top 10% of public safety telecommunicators in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area earn at least $49,140 a year. The top 25% earn $47,880 or more.
What is the starting pay for public safety telecommunicators in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,170 a year, and a quarter of public safety telecommunicators earn $38,200 or less.
How many public safety telecommunicators work in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
About 180 public safety telecommunicators are employed in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.