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Public Safety Telecommunicators in Illinois

Considering working as a Public Safety Telecommunicators in Illinois? Below are the key facts. 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.

What do Public Safety Telecommunicators Make in Illinois?

For public safety telecommunicators working in Illinois, the typical annual salary is $59,860 per year (or about $28.78/hour).Annual wages span from $37,990 at the 10th percentile to $93,320 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$37,990	$18.26
25th percentile	$46,750	$22.48
Median (50th)	$59,860	$28.78
75th percentile	$78,840	$37.90
90th percentile	$93,320	$44.87

The job concentration index in Illinois relative to the national average — is 0.94.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, public safety telecommunicators earn a median of $58,404 per year ($28.08/hour), exceeding the Illinois median.

Employment Outlook

There are roughly 1,648,888 public safety telecommunicators across the United States. In Illinois alone, about 3,730 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 1,460 public safety telecommunicators.

Top Illinois Metros for Public Safety Telecommunicators

The largest metro-area employers of public safety telecommunicators in Illinois.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	2,130	$65,030
Springfield, IL	130	$64,790
Peoria, IL	110	$51,100
Rockford, IL	100	$57,960
Champaign-Urbana, IL	90	$58,470
Bloomington, IL	60	$54,900
Kankakee, IL	40	$68,370

Top States for Public Safety Telecommunicators Employment

The table below shows the states where the most public safety telecommunicators work.

State	Number Employed
California	8,510
Texas	7,660
Florida	6,290
New York	5,620
Ohio	4,490
New Jersey	3,940
Illinois	3,730
North Carolina	3,640
Pennsylvania	3,490
Georgia	3,370
Virginia	2,930
Massachusetts	2,920
Washington	2,580
Missouri	2,440
Michigan	2,350
Alabama	2,330
Oklahoma	1,990
Indiana	1,940
Tennessee	1,780
Louisiana	1,730

Highest-Paying States for Public Safety Telecommunicators

These states pay the most for public safety telecommunicators.

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

Skills

Key public safety telecommunicators skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

Key abilities for public safety telecommunicators, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Common tasks include:

• 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.
• Maintain access to, and security of, highly sensitive materials.
• Enter, update, and retrieve information from teletype networks and computerized data systems regarding such things as wanted persons, stolen property, vehicle registration, and stolen vehicles.
• Scan status charts and computer screens, and contact emergency response field units to determine emergency units available for dispatch.
• Answer routine inquiries, and refer calls not requiring dispatches to appropriate departments and agencies.

Work Activities

• Working with Computers
• Communicating with People Outside the Organization
• Documenting/Recording Information
• Getting Information
• Processing Information
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
• Assisting and Caring for Others
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events

Tools & Technology

Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Microsoft Access In-demand technologies: Microsoft Office software

Related Careers

Other careers like public safety telecommunicators include:

• Security Managers
• Emergency Management Directors
• Security Management Specialists
• Emergency Medical Technicians
• Paramedics
• First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives

Also Known As

911 Dispatcher, 911 Emergency Dispatcher, 911 Emergency Services Dispatcher, 911 Operator, 911 Telecommunicator, Alarm Operator, Ambulance Dispatcher, Call Person, Call Taker, Communications Dispatcher, Communications Officer, Communications Operator, Communications Specialist, Dispatch Officer, Dispatch Operator.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 43-5031.00