Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in Tuscaloosa, AL
Public Safety Telecommunicators in the Tuscaloosa, AL metro area earn a median of $44,070 a year ($21.19 an hour), based on BLS data for 170 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,850 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,900 for the top 10%. That is 17% lower than the national median of $53,040. Pay here is 13% higher than the Alabama statewide median of $38,960. There are 1.5 public safety telecommunicators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $45,120, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public safety telecommunicators in Tuscaloosa, AL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,850 | $14.35 |
| 25th percentile | $34,980 | $16.82 |
| Median | $44,070 | $21.19 |
| 75th percentile | $52,530 | $25.26 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,900 | $30.24 |
| Average (mean) | $45,120 | $21.69 |
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 | $3,672.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,836.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,695 |
| Weekly | $847.50 |
| Hourly | $21.19 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $44,070 salary, see how much house you can afford in Alabama at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | $47,390 | 470 |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | $47,120 | 70 |
| Huntsville, AL | $43,680 | 160 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $43,140 | 100 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $42,210 | 80 |
| Dothan, AL | $40,450 | 70 |
| Mobile, AL | $40,220 | 230 |
| Montgomery, AL | $38,560 | 200 |
| Anniston-Oxford, AL | $38,420 | 70 |
| Gadsden, AL | $38,050 | 40 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | $37,910 | 120 |
| Decatur, AL | $36,200 | 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 |
See Public Safety Telecommunicator pay in every state or the Alabama statewide figures.
Related jobs in Tuscaloosa, AL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $40,360 | $19.41 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $58,690 | $28.22 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $70,610 | $33.95 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $44,740 | $21.51 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $61,050 | $29.35 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $29,280 | $14.08 |
| Meter Readers, Utilities | $40,500 | $19.47 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $39,710 | $19.09 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $41,550 | $19.98 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $59,880 | $28.79 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $43,400 | $20.87 |
| Customer Service Representative | $37,990 | $18.27 |
| Office Clerks, General | $30,690 | $14.75 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $36,220 | $17.41 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Tuscaloosa, AL
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 Tuscaloosa, AL?
The median salary for public safety telecommunicators in the Tuscaloosa, AL metro area is $44,070 a year, or $21.19 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,850 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,900 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public safety telecommunicators make in Tuscaloosa, AL?
The top 10% of public safety telecommunicators in the Tuscaloosa, AL metro area earn at least $62,900 a year. The top 25% earn $52,530 or more.
What is the starting pay for public safety telecommunicators in Tuscaloosa, AL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,850 a year, and a quarter of public safety telecommunicators earn $34,980 or less.
How many public safety telecommunicators work in Tuscaloosa, AL?
About 170 public safety telecommunicators are employed in the Tuscaloosa, AL metro area, not counting the self-employed.