Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in Rhode Island
Public Safety Telecommunicators in Rhode Island earn a median of $58,310 a year ($28.03 an hour), based on BLS data for 370 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $68,730 for the top 10%. That is 10% higher than the national median of $53,040. Rhode Island ranks 18th of 51 states for public safety telecommunicators pay. There are 0.74 public safety telecommunicators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $58,840, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public safety telecommunicators in Rhode Island
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,880 | $23.02 |
| 25th percentile | $52,520 | $25.25 |
| Median | $58,310 | $28.03 |
| 75th percentile | $63,160 | $30.37 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $68,730 | $33.04 |
| Average (mean) | $58,840 | $28.29 |
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 | $4,859.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,429.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,242.69 |
| Weekly | $1,121.35 |
| Hourly | $28.03 |
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 Rhode Island
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $57,400 | 590 |
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 Rhode Island
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $45,520 | $21.89 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $63,610 | $30.58 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $65,310 | $31.40 |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $59,490 | $28.60 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $49,320 | $23.71 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $61,570 | $29.60 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $36,810 | $17.70 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $60,310 | $29.00 |
| Meter Readers, Utilities | $56,830 | $27.32 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $40,300 | $19.37 |
| Customer Service Representative | $47,550 | $22.86 |
| Office Clerks, General | $47,830 | $23.00 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $52,140 | $25.07 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $76,030 | $36.55 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Rhode Island
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 Rhode Island?
The median salary for public safety telecommunicators in Rhode Island is $58,310 a year, or $28.03 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $68,730 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public safety telecommunicators make in Rhode Island?
The top 10% of public safety telecommunicators in Rhode Island earn at least $68,730 a year. The top 25% earn $63,160 or more.
What is the starting pay for public safety telecommunicators in Rhode Island?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,880 a year, and a quarter of public safety telecommunicators earn $52,520 or less.
How many public safety telecommunicators work in Rhode Island?
About 370 public safety telecommunicators are employed in Rhode Island, not counting the self-employed.