Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in Washington
Public Safety Telecommunicators in Washington earn a median of $78,850 a year ($37.91 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,980 workers.
Pay ranges from $56,920 for the lowest-paid 10% to $96,130 for the top 10%. That is 49% higher than the national median of $53,040. Washington ranks 2nd of 51 states for public safety telecommunicators pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.56 public safety telecommunicators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $76,460, close to the median.
Pay range for public safety telecommunicators in Washington
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $56,920 | $27.37 |
| 25th percentile | $66,500 | $31.97 |
| Median | $78,850 | $37.91 |
| 75th percentile | $84,640 | $40.69 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $96,130 | $46.22 |
| Average (mean) | $76,460 | $36.76 |
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 | $6,570.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,285.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,032.69 |
| Weekly | $1,516.35 |
| Hourly | $37.91 |
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 Washington
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $89,090 | 90 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $81,160 | 470 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $80,180 | 1,040 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $78,030 | 50 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $76,640 | 290 |
| Bellingham, WA | $76,340 | 50 |
| Yakima, WA | $63,240 | 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 Washington
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $51,590 | $24.80 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $59,990 | $28.84 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $59,330 | $28.53 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $60,760 | $29.21 |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $59,490 | $28.60 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $61,570 | $29.60 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $46,500 | $22.36 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $48,920 | $23.52 |
| Meter Readers, Utilities | $65,900 | $31.68 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $77,190 | $37.11 |
| Office Clerks, General | $50,500 | $24.28 |
| Customer Service Representative | $50,330 | $24.20 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $58,620 | $28.18 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $79,480 | $38.21 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Washington
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 Washington?
The median salary for public safety telecommunicators in Washington is $78,850 a year, or $37.91 an hour. Pay ranges from $56,920 for the lowest-paid 10% to $96,130 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public safety telecommunicators make in Washington?
The top 10% of public safety telecommunicators in Washington earn at least $96,130 a year. The top 25% earn $84,640 or more.
What is the starting pay for public safety telecommunicators in Washington?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $56,920 a year, and a quarter of public safety telecommunicators earn $66,500 or less.
How many public safety telecommunicators work in Washington?
About 1,980 public safety telecommunicators are employed in Washington, not counting the self-employed.