Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in Montana
Public Safety Telecommunicators in Montana earn a median of $47,640 a year ($22.91 an hour), based on BLS data for 560 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,310 for the lowest-paid 10% to $61,270 for the top 10%. That is 10% lower than the national median of $53,040. Montana ranks 38th of 51 states for public safety telecommunicators pay. There are 1.1 public safety telecommunicators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $49,700, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public safety telecommunicators in Montana
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,310 | $18.90 |
| 25th percentile | $43,860 | $21.09 |
| Median | $47,640 | $22.91 |
| 75th percentile | $56,870 | $27.34 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,270 | $29.46 |
| Average (mean) | $49,700 | $23.90 |
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 | $3,970 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,985 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,832.31 |
| Weekly | $916.15 |
| Hourly | $22.91 |
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 Montana
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Billings, MT | $56,130 | 50 |
| Helena, MT | $53,540 | 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 Montana
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $43,590 | $20.96 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $59,010 | $28.37 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $50,800 | $24.42 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $47,140 | $22.66 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $58,470 | $28.11 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $59,240 | $28.48 |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $57,430 | $27.61 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $40,460 | $19.45 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $40,080 | $19.27 |
| Office Clerks, General | $46,480 | $22.35 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $47,270 | $22.73 |
| Customer Service Representative | $45,290 | $21.77 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $43,940 | $21.13 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $43,740 | $21.03 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Montana
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 Montana?
The median salary for public safety telecommunicators in Montana is $47,640 a year, or $22.91 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,310 for the lowest-paid 10% to $61,270 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public safety telecommunicators make in Montana?
The top 10% of public safety telecommunicators in Montana earn at least $61,270 a year. The top 25% earn $56,870 or more.
What is the starting pay for public safety telecommunicators in Montana?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,310 a year, and a quarter of public safety telecommunicators earn $43,860 or less.
How many public safety telecommunicators work in Montana?
About 560 public safety telecommunicators are employed in Montana, not counting the self-employed.