Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in Charleston, WV
Public Safety Telecommunicators in the Charleston, WV metro area earn a median of $39,460 a year ($18.97 an hour), based on BLS data for 110 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $50,680 for the top 10%. That is 26% lower than the national median of $53,040. Pay here is 3% lower than the West Virginia statewide median of $40,490. There are 1.1 public safety telecommunicators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $41,600, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public safety telecommunicators in Charleston, WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,210 | $17.41 |
| 25th percentile | $36,820 | $17.70 |
| Median | $39,460 | $18.97 |
| 75th percentile | $44,240 | $21.27 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $50,680 | $24.37 |
| Average (mean) | $41,600 | $20.00 |
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 | $3,288.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,644.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,517.69 |
| Weekly | $758.85 |
| Hourly | $18.97 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $39,460 salary, see how much house you can afford in West Virginia 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
See Public Safety Telecommunicator pay in every state or the West Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Charleston, WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $59,490 | $28.60 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $38,870 | $18.69 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $62,070 | $29.84 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $46,100 | $22.16 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $58,470 | $28.11 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $34,840 | $16.75 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $63,740 | $30.65 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $31,950 | $15.36 |
| Customer Service Representative | $37,480 | $18.02 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $43,550 | $20.94 |
| Office Clerks, General | $35,800 | $17.21 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $57,670 | $27.73 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $43,350 | $20.84 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $32,810 | $15.77 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Charleston, WV
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 Charleston, WV?
The median salary for public safety telecommunicators in the Charleston, WV metro area is $39,460 a year, or $18.97 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $50,680 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public safety telecommunicators make in Charleston, WV?
The top 10% of public safety telecommunicators in the Charleston, WV metro area earn at least $50,680 a year. The top 25% earn $44,240 or more.
What is the starting pay for public safety telecommunicators in Charleston, WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,210 a year, and a quarter of public safety telecommunicators earn $36,820 or less.
How many public safety telecommunicators work in Charleston, WV?
About 110 public safety telecommunicators are employed in the Charleston, WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.