Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in Virginia
Public Safety Telecommunicators in Virginia earn a median of $50,490 a year ($24.28 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,050 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $73,770 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $53,040. Virginia ranks 30th of 51 states for public safety telecommunicators pay. There are 0.74 public safety telecommunicators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $53,370, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public safety telecommunicators in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,840 | $18.19 |
| 25th percentile | $44,220 | $21.26 |
| Median | $50,490 | $24.28 |
| 75th percentile | $60,690 | $29.18 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $73,770 | $35.47 |
| Average (mean) | $53,370 | $25.66 |
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 | $4,207.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,103.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,941.92 |
| Weekly | $970.96 |
| Hourly | $24.28 |
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 Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $61,260 | 1,320 |
| Richmond, VA | $53,390 | 520 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $52,020 | 470 |
| Roanoke, VA | $48,470 | 150 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $47,140 | 90 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $46,380 | 80 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $45,670 | 50 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $45,490 | 40 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $45,320 | 50 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $44,630 | 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 |
Related jobs in Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $44,290 | $21.29 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $61,780 | $29.70 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $62,070 | $29.84 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $50,710 | $24.38 |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $58,300 | $28.03 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $37,820 | $18.18 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $62,610 | $30.10 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $45,360 | $21.81 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $49,680 | $23.89 |
| Meter Readers, Utilities | $44,020 | $21.16 |
| Office Clerks, General | $46,410 | $22.31 |
| Customer Service Representative | $42,730 | $20.54 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $67,170 | $32.29 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $51,620 | $24.82 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Virginia
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 Virginia?
The median salary for public safety telecommunicators in Virginia is $50,490 a year, or $24.28 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $73,770 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public safety telecommunicators make in Virginia?
The top 10% of public safety telecommunicators in Virginia earn at least $73,770 a year. The top 25% earn $60,690 or more.
What is the starting pay for public safety telecommunicators in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,840 a year, and a quarter of public safety telecommunicators earn $44,220 or less.
How many public safety telecommunicators work in Virginia?
About 3,050 public safety telecommunicators are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.