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Public Safety Telecommunicators: Career Profile
Operate telephone, radio, or other communication systems to receive and communicate requests for emergency assistance at 9-1-1 public safety answering points and emergency operations centers. Take information from the public and other sources regarding crimes, threats, disturbances, acts of terrorism, fires, medical emergencies, and other public safety matters. May coordinate and provide information to law enforcement and emergency response personnel. May access sensitive databases and other information sources as needed. May provide additional instructions to callers based on knowledge of and certification in law enforcement, fire, or emergency medical procedures.
The Daily Work of Public Safety Telecommunicators Do?
The core tasks performed by public safety telecommunicators span:
- Provide emergency medical instructions to callers.
- Question callers to determine their locations and the nature of their problems to determine type of response needed.
- Determine response requirements and relative priorities of situations, and dispatch units in accordance with established procedures.
- Receive incoming telephone or alarm system calls regarding emergency and non-emergency police and fire service, emergency ambulance service, information, and after-hours calls for departments within a city.
- Relay information and messages to and from emergency sites, to law enforcement agencies, and to all other individuals or groups requiring notification.
- Record details of calls, dispatches, and messages.
- Monitor various radio frequencies, such as those used by public works departments, school security, and civil defense, to stay apprised of developing situations.
- Read and effectively interpret small-scale maps and information from a computer screen to determine locations and provide directions.
Skills and Knowledge
Top public safety telecommunicators rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
These are the skills most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- 911 Dispatcher
- 911 Emergency Dispatcher
- 911 Emergency Services Dispatcher
- 911 Operator
- 911 Telecommunicator
- Alarm Operator
- Ambulance Dispatcher
- Call Person
Job Outlook
There are roughly 1,648,888 public safety telecommunicators working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +1.2% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Public Safety Telecommunicators Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $58,404 |
| Hourly median | $28.08 |
| 10th percentile | $38,768 |
| 25th percentile | $48,586 |
| 75th percentile | $68,222 |
| 90th percentile | $78,040 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $78,210 |
| Washington | $77,310 |
| Oregon | $70,690 |
| Minnesota | $64,920 |
| Alaska | $63,390 |
| Connecticut | $63,210 |
| Colorado | $62,460 |
| Illinois | $59,860 |
| New York | $59,440 |
| Massachusetts | $59,310 |
| New Jersey | $58,760 |
| Ohio | $56,770 |
| Maryland | $56,760 |
| District of Columbia | $56,710 |
| Vermont | $55,330 |
| Hawaii | $54,790 |
| Rhode Island | $54,540 |
| Wisconsin | $54,340 |
| Arizona | $54,270 |
| New Hampshire | $53,850 |
| North Dakota | $52,770 |
| Maine | $52,620 |
| Delaware | $52,450 |
| Iowa | $52,380 |
| Nevada | $51,760 |
| Utah | $51,760 |
| Idaho | $51,090 |
| Pennsylvania | $49,330 |
| Michigan | $49,320 |
| Florida | $48,860 |
| Nebraska | $48,660 |
| New Mexico | $48,560 |
| Virginia | $48,450 |
| Montana | $48,440 |
| Texas | $48,410 |
| Indiana | $48,200 |
| Wyoming | $47,150 |
| Tennessee | $45,730 |
| South Dakota | $45,180 |
| North Carolina | $44,370 |
| Missouri | $43,840 |
| Kansas | $40,680 |
| Georgia | $40,500 |
| South Carolina | $40,140 |
| Kentucky | $40,000 |
| Louisiana | $38,830 |
| West Virginia | $38,650 |
| Alabama | $38,540 |
| Arkansas | $37,140 |
| Oklahoma | $37,000 |
| Mississippi | $33,280 |
| Puerto Rico | $26,460 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Compensation for public safety telecommunicators shift depending on where you work. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $74,476 | 13.7% | 0.87 |
| New England | $58,722 | 6.4% | 1.35 |
| Middle Atlantic | $56,484 | 14.7% | 1.02 |
| Great Lakes | $54,889 | 14.0% | 1.01 |
| Rocky Mountains | $54,850 | 3.8% | 1.05 |
| Plains States | $48,689 | 7.3% | 1.14 |
| Southwest | $47,319 | 11.8% | 1.01 |
| Southeast | $43,113 | 28.1% | 1.20 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $125,310 | 420 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $103,110 | 1,130 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | CA | $87,870 | 70 |
| Vallejo, CA | CA | $87,220 | 170 |
| Napa, CA | CA | $84,260 | 60 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | CA | $83,110 | 160 |
| Anchorage, AK | AK | $81,440 | 130 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | CA | $81,420 | 160 |
Top Industries Employing Public Safety Telecommunicators
The largest employers of public safety telecommunicators are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 8,360 | $45,370 |
| Educational Services | 3,240 | $46,620 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 110 | $51,300 |
Below are examples of industries where public safety telecommunicators work:
Tools and Technology
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Document management software: Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The work environment for public safety telecommunicators is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Telephone Conversations
- Contact With Others
- Spend Time Sitting
- Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
Education and Training
Entry-level public safety telecommunicators positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Security Managers (Supplemental)
- Emergency Management Directors (Supplemental)
- Security Management Specialists (Supplemental)
- Emergency Medical Technicians (Primary-Short)
- Paramedics (Primary-Short)
- First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives (Supplemental)
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers (Supplemental)
- First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers (Primary-Short)
Sources
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 43-5031.00 (Public Safety Telecommunicators).
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