Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in South Dakota
Public Safety Telecommunicators in South Dakota earn a median of $47,900 a year ($23.03 an hour), based on BLS data for 420 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,310 for the top 10%. That is 10% lower than the national median of $53,040. South Dakota ranks 37th of 51 states for public safety telecommunicators pay. There are 0.92 public safety telecommunicators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $48,560, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public safety telecommunicators in South Dakota
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,960 | $17.77 |
| 25th percentile | $41,570 | $19.99 |
| Median | $47,900 | $23.03 |
| 75th percentile | $54,290 | $26.10 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,310 | $29.00 |
| Average (mean) | $48,560 | $23.35 |
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 | $3,991.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,995.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,842.31 |
| Weekly | $921.15 |
| Hourly | $23.03 |
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 South Dakota
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $60,310 | 60 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $51,860 | 60 |
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 Dakota
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $43,680 | $21.00 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $43,920 | $21.12 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $60,760 | $29.21 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $50,530 | $24.29 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $58,470 | $28.11 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $44,430 | $21.36 |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $61,570 | $29.60 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $64,340 | $30.94 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $31,650 | $15.22 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $46,340 | $22.28 |
| Customer Service Representative | $40,650 | $19.54 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $41,700 | $20.05 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $38,280 | $18.40 |
| Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks | $30,550 | $14.69 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in South Dakota
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 Dakota?
The median salary for public safety telecommunicators in South Dakota is $47,900 a year, or $23.03 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,310 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public safety telecommunicators make in South Dakota?
The top 10% of public safety telecommunicators in South Dakota earn at least $60,310 a year. The top 25% earn $54,290 or more.
What is the starting pay for public safety telecommunicators in South Dakota?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,960 a year, and a quarter of public safety telecommunicators earn $41,570 or less.
How many public safety telecommunicators work in South Dakota?
About 420 public safety telecommunicators are employed in South Dakota, not counting the self-employed.