Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in Knoxville, TN
Public Safety Telecommunicators in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn a median of $44,700 a year ($21.49 an hour), based on BLS data for 190 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,730 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,760 for the top 10%. That is 16% lower than the national median of $53,040. Pay here is 4% lower than the Tennessee statewide median of $46,390. There are 0.44 public safety telecommunicators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.67). The average (mean) salary is $43,980, close to the median.
Pay range for public safety telecommunicators in Knoxville, TN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,730 | $14.78 |
| 25th percentile | $35,750 | $17.19 |
| Median | $44,700 | $21.49 |
| 75th percentile | $47,320 | $22.75 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,760 | $28.25 |
| Average (mean) | $43,980 | $21.14 |
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 | $3,725 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,862.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,719.23 |
| Weekly | $859.62 |
| Hourly | $21.49 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $44,700 salary, see how much house you can afford in Tennessee 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $53,820 | 410 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $48,920 | 500 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $46,930 | 90 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $44,630 | 80 |
| Jackson, TN | $44,450 | 110 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $43,220 | 120 |
| Johnson City, TN | $41,570 | 60 |
| Morristown, TN | $40,050 | 30 |
| Cleveland, TN | $40,040 | 40 |
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 Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Knoxville, TN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $45,320 | $21.79 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $50,870 | $24.46 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $58,910 | $28.32 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $42,610 | $20.49 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $49,290 | $23.70 |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $58,470 | $28.11 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $42,160 | $20.27 |
| Meter Readers, Utilities | $44,700 | $21.49 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $63,650 | $30.60 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $47,530 | $22.85 |
| Customer Service Representative | $38,840 | $18.67 |
| Office Clerks, General | $37,920 | $18.23 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $38,420 | $18.47 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $63,580 | $30.57 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Knoxville, TN
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 Knoxville, TN?
The median salary for public safety telecommunicators in the Knoxville, TN metro area is $44,700 a year, or $21.49 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,730 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,760 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public safety telecommunicators make in Knoxville, TN?
The top 10% of public safety telecommunicators in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn at least $58,760 a year. The top 25% earn $47,320 or more.
What is the starting pay for public safety telecommunicators in Knoxville, TN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,730 a year, and a quarter of public safety telecommunicators earn $35,750 or less.
How many public safety telecommunicators work in Knoxville, TN?
About 190 public safety telecommunicators are employed in the Knoxville, TN metro area, not counting the self-employed.