Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in Texas
Public Safety Telecommunicators in Texas earn a median of $50,040 a year ($24.06 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,730 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,950 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,190 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $53,040. Texas ranks 33rd of 51 states for public safety telecommunicators pay. There are 0.55 public safety telecommunicators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $51,580, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public safety telecommunicators in Texas
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,950 | $18.25 |
| 25th percentile | $44,640 | $21.46 |
| Median | $50,040 | $24.06 |
| 75th percentile | $60,200 | $28.94 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,190 | $30.86 |
| Average (mean) | $51,580 | $24.80 |
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 | $4,170 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,085 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,924.62 |
| Weekly | $962.31 |
| Hourly | $24.06 |
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 Texas
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $61,790 | 590 |
| Midland, TX | $61,250 | 30 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $58,280 | 1,870 |
| Amarillo, TX | $57,970 | 80 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | $53,790 | 40 |
| Abilene, TX | $51,480 | 50 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $50,200 | 1,510 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $50,040 | 600 |
| Lubbock, TX | $50,030 | 110 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $49,790 | 140 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $48,750 | 150 |
| Tyler, TX | $48,710 | 70 |
| Waco, TX | $47,170 | 90 |
| El Paso, TX | $46,860 | 210 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $46,580 | 60 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $46,260 | 160 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | $46,220 | 60 |
| San Angelo, TX | $45,360 | 40 |
| Longview, TX | $44,930 | 110 |
| Laredo, TX | $41,390 | 70 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $40,220 | 50 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $39,060 | 240 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $37,020 | 90 |
| Eagle Pass, TX | $34,140 | 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 Texas
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $42,190 | $20.29 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $55,850 | $26.85 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $60,550 | $29.11 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $47,320 | $22.75 |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $56,390 | $27.11 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $48,470 | $23.30 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $62,610 | $30.10 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $39,260 | $18.87 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $47,710 | $22.94 |
| Meter Readers, Utilities | $43,030 | $20.69 |
| Customer Service Representative | $40,420 | $19.44 |
| Office Clerks, General | $39,000 | $18.75 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $64,940 | $31.22 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $45,140 | $21.70 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Texas
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 Texas?
The median salary for public safety telecommunicators in Texas is $50,040 a year, or $24.06 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,950 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,190 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public safety telecommunicators make in Texas?
The top 10% of public safety telecommunicators in Texas earn at least $64,190 a year. The top 25% earn $60,200 or more.
What is the starting pay for public safety telecommunicators in Texas?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,950 a year, and a quarter of public safety telecommunicators earn $44,640 or less.
How many public safety telecommunicators work in Texas?
About 7,730 public safety telecommunicators are employed in Texas, not counting the self-employed.