Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in West Virginia
Public Safety Telecommunicators in West Virginia earn a median of $40,490 a year ($19.46 an hour), based on BLS data for 880 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,060 for the lowest-paid 10% to $52,940 for the top 10%. That is 24% lower than the national median of $53,040. West Virginia ranks 46th of 51 states for public safety telecommunicators pay. There are 1.3 public safety telecommunicators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $41,650, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public safety telecommunicators in West Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,060 | $14.45 |
| 25th percentile | $36,790 | $17.69 |
| Median | $40,490 | $19.46 |
| 75th percentile | $47,650 | $22.91 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $52,940 | $25.45 |
| Average (mean) | $41,650 | $20.02 |
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 | $3,374.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,687.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,557.31 |
| Weekly | $778.65 |
| Hourly | $19.46 |
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 West Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $61,260 | 1,320 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $53,360 | 120 |
| Beckley, WV | $48,320 | 50 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $45,670 | 50 |
| Morgantown, WV | $43,010 | 60 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $42,880 | 170 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $41,370 | 80 |
| Charleston, WV | $39,460 | 110 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $29,910 | 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 West Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $39,940 | $19.20 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $57,700 | $27.74 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $61,050 | $29.35 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $46,620 | $22.41 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $56,290 | $27.06 |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $58,470 | $28.11 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $31,210 | $15.01 |
| Meter Readers, Utilities | $59,430 | $28.57 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $34,890 | $16.77 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $49,100 | $23.60 |
| Customer Service Representative | $38,430 | $18.48 |
| Office Clerks, General | $35,020 | $16.84 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $40,370 | $19.41 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $42,890 | $20.62 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in West 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 West Virginia?
The median salary for public safety telecommunicators in West Virginia is $40,490 a year, or $19.46 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,060 for the lowest-paid 10% to $52,940 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public safety telecommunicators make in West Virginia?
The top 10% of public safety telecommunicators in West Virginia earn at least $52,940 a year. The top 25% earn $47,650 or more.
What is the starting pay for public safety telecommunicators in West Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,060 a year, and a quarter of public safety telecommunicators earn $36,790 or less.
How many public safety telecommunicators work in West Virginia?
About 880 public safety telecommunicators are employed in West Virginia, not counting the self-employed.