Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in Illinois
Public Safety Telecommunicators in Illinois earn a median of $61,260 a year ($29.45 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,350 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,920 for the lowest-paid 10% to $94,970 for the top 10%. That is 15% higher than the national median of $53,040. Illinois ranks 10th of 51 states for public safety telecommunicators pay. There are 0.71 public safety telecommunicators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $63,570, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public safety telecommunicators in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,920 | $18.71 |
| 25th percentile | $48,620 | $23.38 |
| Median | $61,260 | $29.45 |
| 75th percentile | $80,470 | $38.69 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $94,970 | $45.66 |
| Average (mean) | $63,570 | $30.56 |
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 | $5,105 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,552.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,356.15 |
| Weekly | $1,178.08 |
| Hourly | $29.45 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $66,980 | 2,730 |
| Kankakee, IL | $61,010 | 50 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $57,860 | 120 |
| Springfield, IL | $57,390 | 130 |
| Bloomington, IL | $56,540 | 60 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $56,250 | 1,110 |
| Rockford, IL | $54,130 | 100 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $53,590 | 90 |
| Peoria, IL | $50,090 | 120 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $46,760 | $22.48 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $62,070 | $29.84 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $57,880 | $27.83 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $59,750 | $28.72 |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $58,300 | $28.03 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $61,710 | $29.67 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $48,680 | $23.40 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $39,100 | $18.80 |
| Meter Readers, Utilities | $60,690 | $29.18 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $57,240 | $27.52 |
| Customer Service Representative | $46,130 | $22.18 |
| Office Clerks, General | $45,730 | $21.99 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $48,310 | $23.23 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $49,560 | $23.83 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
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 Illinois?
The median salary for public safety telecommunicators in Illinois is $61,260 a year, or $29.45 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,920 for the lowest-paid 10% to $94,970 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public safety telecommunicators make in Illinois?
The top 10% of public safety telecommunicators in Illinois earn at least $94,970 a year. The top 25% earn $80,470 or more.
What is the starting pay for public safety telecommunicators in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,920 a year, and a quarter of public safety telecommunicators earn $48,620 or less.
How many public safety telecommunicators work in Illinois?
About 4,350 public safety telecommunicators are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.