Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in Missouri
Public Safety Telecommunicators in Missouri earn a median of $46,990 a year ($22.59 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,750 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,100 for the top 10%. That is 11% lower than the national median of $53,040. Missouri ranks 39th of 51 states for public safety telecommunicators pay. There are 0.94 public safety telecommunicators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $48,310, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public safety telecommunicators in Missouri
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,810 | $17.21 |
| 25th percentile | $39,190 | $18.84 |
| Median | $46,990 | $22.59 |
| 75th percentile | $56,250 | $27.04 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,100 | $29.86 |
| Average (mean) | $48,310 | $23.23 |
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 | $3,915.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,957.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,807.31 |
| Weekly | $903.65 |
| Hourly | $22.59 |
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 Missouri
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $56,250 | 1,110 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $51,940 | 770 |
| Columbia, MO | $48,680 | 100 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $46,750 | 70 |
| Springfield, MO | $46,600 | 230 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $46,430 | 90 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | $45,110 | 100 |
| 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 Missouri
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $43,480 | $20.91 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $59,880 | $28.79 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $54,170 | $26.04 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $51,410 | $24.71 |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $57,430 | $27.61 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $59,970 | $28.83 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $50,840 | $24.44 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $41,410 | $19.91 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $46,220 | $22.22 |
| Meter Readers, Utilities | $49,150 | $23.63 |
| Office Clerks, General | $42,370 | $20.37 |
| Customer Service Representative | $44,190 | $21.24 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $43,540 | $20.93 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $63,050 | $30.31 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Missouri
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 Missouri?
The median salary for public safety telecommunicators in Missouri is $46,990 a year, or $22.59 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,100 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public safety telecommunicators make in Missouri?
The top 10% of public safety telecommunicators in Missouri earn at least $62,100 a year. The top 25% earn $56,250 or more.
What is the starting pay for public safety telecommunicators in Missouri?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,810 a year, and a quarter of public safety telecommunicators earn $39,190 or less.
How many public safety telecommunicators work in Missouri?
About 2,750 public safety telecommunicators are employed in Missouri, not counting the self-employed.