Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in South Carolina
Public Safety Telecommunicators in South Carolina earn a median of $43,540 a year ($20.94 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,490 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $56,930 for the top 10%. That is 18% lower than the national median of $53,040. South Carolina ranks 44th of 51 states for public safety telecommunicators pay. There are 0.65 public safety telecommunicators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $44,010, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public safety telecommunicators in South Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,520 | $16.60 |
| 25th percentile | $37,590 | $18.07 |
| Median | $43,540 | $20.94 |
| 75th percentile | $48,780 | $23.45 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $56,930 | $27.37 |
| Average (mean) | $44,010 | $21.16 |
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 | $3,628.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,814.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,674.62 |
| Weekly | $837.31 |
| Hourly | $20.94 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $43,540 salary, see how much house you can afford in South Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in cities in South Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $53,390 | 90 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $49,240 | 240 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $48,080 | 830 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $47,570 | 50 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $45,650 | 150 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $43,970 | 240 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $41,340 | 60 |
| Florence, SC | $41,040 | 90 |
| Columbia, SC | $40,930 | 220 |
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 South Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $43,430 | $20.88 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $57,640 | $27.71 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $57,700 | $27.74 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $47,550 | $22.86 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $57,000 | $27.41 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $36,710 | $17.65 |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $58,390 | $28.07 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $62,610 | $30.10 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $45,760 | $22.00 |
| Meter Readers, Utilities | $47,850 | $23.01 |
| Customer Service Representative | $38,860 | $18.69 |
| Office Clerks, General | $36,840 | $17.71 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $44,880 | $21.58 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $62,920 | $30.25 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in South Carolina
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 South Carolina?
The median salary for public safety telecommunicators in South Carolina is $43,540 a year, or $20.94 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $56,930 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public safety telecommunicators make in South Carolina?
The top 10% of public safety telecommunicators in South Carolina earn at least $56,930 a year. The top 25% earn $48,780 or more.
What is the starting pay for public safety telecommunicators in South Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,520 a year, and a quarter of public safety telecommunicators earn $37,590 or less.
How many public safety telecommunicators work in South Carolina?
About 1,490 public safety telecommunicators are employed in South Carolina, not counting the self-employed.