Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in Madison, WI
Public Safety Telecommunicators in the Madison, WI metro area earn a median of $59,400 a year ($28.56 an hour), based on BLS data for 260 workers.
Pay ranges from $45,050 for the lowest-paid 10% to $75,790 for the top 10%. That is 12% higher than the national median of $53,040. Pay here is 1% lower than the Wisconsin statewide median of $60,000. There are 0.63 public safety telecommunicators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $60,430, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public safety telecommunicators in Madison, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,050 | $21.66 |
| 25th percentile | $49,250 | $23.68 |
| Median | $59,400 | $28.56 |
| 75th percentile | $72,550 | $34.88 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $75,790 | $36.44 |
| Average (mean) | $60,430 | $29.05 |
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 | $4,950 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,475 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,284.62 |
| Weekly | $1,142.31 |
| Hourly | $28.56 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $78,050 | 40 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $69,220 | 900 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $64,010 | 100 |
| Appleton, WI | $62,240 | 70 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $62,130 | 490 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $62,030 | 60 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $60,450 | 60 |
| Kenosha, WI | $51,180 | 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 Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in Madison, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $47,200 | $22.69 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $60,020 | $28.86 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $60,760 | $29.21 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $41,080 | $19.75 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $50,020 | $24.05 |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $60,530 | $29.10 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $59,490 | $28.60 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $59,460 | $28.59 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $49,690 | $23.89 |
| Customer Service Representative | $47,500 | $22.84 |
| Office Clerks, General | $46,590 | $22.40 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $51,410 | $24.72 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $53,240 | $25.60 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $75,290 | $36.20 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Madison, WI
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 Madison, WI?
The median salary for public safety telecommunicators in the Madison, WI metro area is $59,400 a year, or $28.56 an hour. Pay ranges from $45,050 for the lowest-paid 10% to $75,790 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public safety telecommunicators make in Madison, WI?
The top 10% of public safety telecommunicators in the Madison, WI metro area earn at least $75,790 a year. The top 25% earn $72,550 or more.
What is the starting pay for public safety telecommunicators in Madison, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $45,050 a year, and a quarter of public safety telecommunicators earn $49,250 or less.
How many public safety telecommunicators work in Madison, WI?
About 260 public safety telecommunicators are employed in the Madison, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.