Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in Tennessee
Public Safety Telecommunicators in Tennessee earn a median of $46,390 a year ($22.30 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,840 workers.
Pay ranges from $33,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $66,180 for the top 10%. That is 13% lower than the national median of $53,040. Tennessee ranks 41st of 51 states for public safety telecommunicators pay. There are 0.56 public safety telecommunicators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $48,500, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public safety telecommunicators in Tennessee
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,840 | $16.27 |
| 25th percentile | $39,480 | $18.98 |
| Median | $46,390 | $22.30 |
| 75th percentile | $57,920 | $27.85 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $66,180 | $31.82 |
| Average (mean) | $48,500 | $23.32 |
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 | $3,865.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,932.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,784.23 |
| Weekly | $892.12 |
| Hourly | $22.30 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in cities in Tennessee
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $53,820 | 410 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $48,920 | 500 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $46,930 | 90 |
| Knoxville, TN | $44,700 | 190 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $44,630 | 80 |
| Jackson, TN | $44,450 | 110 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $43,220 | 120 |
| Johnson City, TN | $41,570 | 60 |
| Morristown, TN | $40,050 | 30 |
| Cleveland, TN | $40,040 | 40 |
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 Tennessee
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $44,920 | $21.60 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $53,020 | $25.49 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $58,570 | $28.16 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $49,660 | $23.87 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $51,800 | $24.91 |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $56,390 | $27.11 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $63,210 | $30.39 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $47,330 | $22.76 |
| Meter Readers, Utilities | $45,210 | $21.74 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $40,270 | $19.36 |
| Customer Service Representative | $42,830 | $20.59 |
| Office Clerks, General | $38,860 | $18.68 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $66,390 | $31.92 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $39,940 | $19.20 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Tennessee
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 Tennessee?
The median salary for public safety telecommunicators in Tennessee is $46,390 a year, or $22.30 an hour. Pay ranges from $33,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $66,180 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public safety telecommunicators make in Tennessee?
The top 10% of public safety telecommunicators in Tennessee earn at least $66,180 a year. The top 25% earn $57,920 or more.
What is the starting pay for public safety telecommunicators in Tennessee?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $33,840 a year, and a quarter of public safety telecommunicators earn $39,480 or less.
How many public safety telecommunicators work in Tennessee?
About 1,840 public safety telecommunicators are employed in Tennessee, not counting the self-employed.