Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in Tucson, AZ
Public Safety Telecommunicators in the Tucson, AZ metro area earn a median of $49,200 a year ($23.66 an hour), based on BLS data for 260 workers.
Pay ranges from $41,340 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,440 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $53,040. Pay here is 13% lower than the Arizona statewide median of $56,600. There are 0.66 public safety telecommunicators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $52,010, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public safety telecommunicators in Tucson, AZ
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,340 | $19.88 |
| 25th percentile | $48,190 | $23.17 |
| Median | $49,200 | $23.66 |
| 75th percentile | $58,310 | $28.03 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,440 | $29.06 |
| Average (mean) | $52,010 | $25.01 |
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 | $4,100 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,050 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,892.31 |
| Weekly | $946.15 |
| Hourly | $23.66 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $59,710 | 1,000 |
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $52,840 | 80 |
| Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $52,810 | 110 |
| Yuma, AZ | $50,680 | 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 Arizona statewide figures.
Related jobs in Tucson, AZ
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $43,840 | $21.08 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $58,580 | $28.16 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $64,250 | $30.89 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $46,000 | $22.12 |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $57,870 | $27.82 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $63,650 | $30.60 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $46,340 | $22.28 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $37,070 | $17.82 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $45,120 | $21.69 |
| Office Clerks, General | $43,920 | $21.12 |
| Customer Service Representative | $40,090 | $19.28 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $45,030 | $21.65 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $59,440 | $28.58 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $37,040 | $17.81 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Tucson, AZ
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 Tucson, AZ?
The median salary for public safety telecommunicators in the Tucson, AZ metro area is $49,200 a year, or $23.66 an hour. Pay ranges from $41,340 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,440 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public safety telecommunicators make in Tucson, AZ?
The top 10% of public safety telecommunicators in the Tucson, AZ metro area earn at least $60,440 a year. The top 25% earn $58,310 or more.
What is the starting pay for public safety telecommunicators in Tucson, AZ?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $41,340 a year, and a quarter of public safety telecommunicators earn $48,190 or less.
How many public safety telecommunicators work in Tucson, AZ?
About 260 public safety telecommunicators are employed in the Tucson, AZ metro area, not counting the self-employed.