Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL
Public Safety Telecommunicators in the Cape Girardeau, MO-IL metro area earn a median of $39,730 a year ($19.10 an hour), based on BLS data for 50 workers.
Pay ranges from $33,300 for the lowest-paid 10% to $61,710 for the top 10%. That is 25% lower than the national median of $53,040. Pay here is 15% lower than the Missouri statewide median of $46,990. There are 1.2 public safety telecommunicators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $43,570, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public safety telecommunicators in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,300 | $16.01 |
| 25th percentile | $37,520 | $18.04 |
| Median | $39,730 | $19.10 |
| 75th percentile | $47,160 | $22.68 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,710 | $29.67 |
| Average (mean) | $43,570 | $20.95 |
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 | $3,310.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,655.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,528.08 |
| Weekly | $764.04 |
| Hourly | $19.10 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $39,730 salary, see how much house you can afford in Missouri at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $66,980 | 2,730 |
| Kankakee, IL | $61,010 | 50 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $57,860 | 120 |
| Springfield, IL | $57,390 | 130 |
| Bloomington, IL | $56,540 | 60 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $56,250 | 1,110 |
| Rockford, IL | $54,130 | 100 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $53,590 | 90 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $51,940 | 770 |
| Peoria, IL | $50,090 | 120 |
| Columbia, MO | $48,680 | 100 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $46,750 | 70 |
| Springfield, MO | $46,600 | 230 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $46,430 | 90 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | $45,110 | 100 |
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 |
See Public Safety Telecommunicator pay in every state or the Missouri statewide figures.
Related jobs in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $42,000 | $20.19 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $62,330 | $29.97 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $47,720 | $22.94 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $49,790 | $23.94 |
| Office Clerks, General | $38,830 | $18.67 |
| Customer Service Representative | $38,190 | $18.36 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $37,480 | $18.02 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $34,750 | $16.71 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $58,680 | $28.21 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $45,810 | $22.02 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $37,360 | $17.96 |
| Teller | $36,490 | $17.54 |
| Billing and Posting Clerks | $43,350 | $20.84 |
| Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | $53,420 | $25.68 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL
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 Cape Girardeau, MO-IL?
The median salary for public safety telecommunicators in the Cape Girardeau, MO-IL metro area is $39,730 a year, or $19.10 an hour. Pay ranges from $33,300 for the lowest-paid 10% to $61,710 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public safety telecommunicators make in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL?
The top 10% of public safety telecommunicators in the Cape Girardeau, MO-IL metro area earn at least $61,710 a year. The top 25% earn $47,160 or more.
What is the starting pay for public safety telecommunicators in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $33,300 a year, and a quarter of public safety telecommunicators earn $37,520 or less.
How many public safety telecommunicators work in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL?
About 50 public safety telecommunicators are employed in the Cape Girardeau, MO-IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.