Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in Roanoke, VA
Public Safety Telecommunicators in the Roanoke, VA metro area earn a median of $48,470 a year ($23.30 an hour), based on BLS data for 150 workers.
Pay ranges from $41,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,420 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $53,040. Pay here is 4% lower than the Virginia statewide median of $50,490. There are 0.98 public safety telecommunicators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $50,040, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public safety telecommunicators in Roanoke, VA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,940 | $20.16 |
| 25th percentile | $45,750 | $21.99 |
| Median | $48,470 | $23.30 |
| 75th percentile | $50,950 | $24.50 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,420 | $30.01 |
| Average (mean) | $50,040 | $24.06 |
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 | $4,039.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,019.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,864.23 |
| Weekly | $932.12 |
| Hourly | $23.30 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $61,260 | 1,320 |
| Richmond, VA | $53,390 | 520 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $52,020 | 470 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $47,140 | 90 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $46,380 | 80 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $45,670 | 50 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $45,490 | 40 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $45,320 | 50 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $44,630 | 80 |
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 Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Roanoke, VA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $45,020 | $21.65 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $51,080 | $24.56 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $61,240 | $29.44 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $47,070 | $22.63 |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $59,490 | $28.60 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $35,890 | $17.25 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $64,290 | $30.91 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $47,880 | $23.02 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $36,720 | $17.66 |
| Customer Service Representative | $45,500 | $21.88 |
| Office Clerks, General | $43,350 | $20.84 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $37,270 | $17.92 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $61,800 | $29.71 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $46,420 | $22.32 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Roanoke, VA
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 Roanoke, VA?
The median salary for public safety telecommunicators in the Roanoke, VA metro area is $48,470 a year, or $23.30 an hour. Pay ranges from $41,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,420 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public safety telecommunicators make in Roanoke, VA?
The top 10% of public safety telecommunicators in the Roanoke, VA metro area earn at least $62,420 a year. The top 25% earn $50,950 or more.
What is the starting pay for public safety telecommunicators in Roanoke, VA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $41,940 a year, and a quarter of public safety telecommunicators earn $45,750 or less.
How many public safety telecommunicators work in Roanoke, VA?
About 150 public safety telecommunicators are employed in the Roanoke, VA metro area, not counting the self-employed.