Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in Kentucky
Public Safety Telecommunicators in Kentucky earn a median of $45,670 a year ($21.96 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,350 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,060 for the top 10%. That is 14% lower than the national median of $53,040. Kentucky ranks 42nd of 51 states for public safety telecommunicators pay. There are 0.67 public safety telecommunicators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $45,400, close to the median.
Pay range for public safety telecommunicators in Kentucky
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,770 | $14.31 |
| 25th percentile | $35,770 | $17.20 |
| Median | $45,670 | $21.96 |
| 75th percentile | $54,390 | $26.15 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,060 | $28.40 |
| Average (mean) | $45,400 | $21.83 |
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 | $3,805.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,902.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,756.54 |
| Weekly | $878.27 |
| Hourly | $21.96 |
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 Kentucky
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $62,260 | 650 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $51,670 | 130 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $50,860 | 280 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $46,930 | 90 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $45,570 | 50 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $42,880 | 170 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $40,840 | 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 Kentucky
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $42,830 | $20.59 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $55,690 | $26.78 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $58,910 | $28.32 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $46,230 | $22.23 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $49,990 | $24.03 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $49,140 | $23.62 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $62,610 | $30.10 |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $57,430 | $27.61 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $35,880 | $17.25 |
| Meter Readers, Utilities | $44,450 | $21.37 |
| Customer Service Representative | $38,700 | $18.61 |
| Office Clerks, General | $37,870 | $18.21 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $38,750 | $18.63 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $46,550 | $22.38 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Kentucky
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 Kentucky?
The median salary for public safety telecommunicators in Kentucky is $45,670 a year, or $21.96 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,060 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public safety telecommunicators make in Kentucky?
The top 10% of public safety telecommunicators in Kentucky earn at least $59,060 a year. The top 25% earn $54,390 or more.
What is the starting pay for public safety telecommunicators in Kentucky?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,770 a year, and a quarter of public safety telecommunicators earn $35,770 or less.
How many public safety telecommunicators work in Kentucky?
About 1,350 public safety telecommunicators are employed in Kentucky, not counting the self-employed.