Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in Iowa
Public Safety Telecommunicators in Iowa earn a median of $56,770 a year ($27.30 an hour), based on BLS data for 980 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,340 for the lowest-paid 10% to $72,000 for the top 10%. That is 7% higher than the national median of $53,040. Iowa ranks 23rd of 51 states for public safety telecommunicators pay. There are 0.63 public safety telecommunicators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $57,290, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public safety telecommunicators in Iowa
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,340 | $22.76 |
| 25th percentile | $50,620 | $24.34 |
| Median | $56,770 | $27.30 |
| 75th percentile | $63,260 | $30.42 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $72,000 | $34.62 |
| Average (mean) | $57,290 | $27.54 |
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 | $4,730.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,365.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,183.46 |
| Weekly | $1,091.73 |
| Hourly | $27.30 |
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 Iowa
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE-IA | $64,940 | 220 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $64,380 | 170 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $62,570 | 50 |
| Ames, IA | $58,610 | 40 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $57,860 | 120 |
| Iowa City, IA | $57,310 | 40 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $51,860 | 60 |
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 Iowa
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $47,590 | $22.88 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $59,880 | $28.79 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $60,320 | $29.00 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $47,000 | $22.60 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $59,970 | $28.83 |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $60,530 | $29.10 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $48,370 | $23.25 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $38,460 | $18.49 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $47,180 | $22.68 |
| Meter Readers, Utilities | $60,940 | $29.30 |
| Customer Service Representative | $46,090 | $22.16 |
| Office Clerks, General | $44,310 | $21.30 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $48,180 | $23.17 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $45,150 | $21.71 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Iowa
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 Iowa?
The median salary for public safety telecommunicators in Iowa is $56,770 a year, or $27.30 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,340 for the lowest-paid 10% to $72,000 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public safety telecommunicators make in Iowa?
The top 10% of public safety telecommunicators in Iowa earn at least $72,000 a year. The top 25% earn $63,260 or more.
What is the starting pay for public safety telecommunicators in Iowa?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,340 a year, and a quarter of public safety telecommunicators earn $50,620 or less.
How many public safety telecommunicators work in Iowa?
About 980 public safety telecommunicators are employed in Iowa, not counting the self-employed.