Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Public Safety Telecommunicators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $66,980 a year ($32.20 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,730 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,170 for the lowest-paid 10% to $98,710 for the top 10%. That is 26% higher than the national median of $53,040. Pay here is 9% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $61,260. There are 0.60 public safety telecommunicators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $69,800, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public safety telecommunicators in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,170 | $18.83 |
| 25th percentile | $52,800 | $25.38 |
| Median | $66,980 | $32.20 |
| 75th percentile | $83,000 | $39.90 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $98,710 | $47.46 |
| Average (mean) | $69,800 | $33.56 |
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 | $5,581.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,790.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,576.15 |
| Weekly | $1,288.08 |
| Hourly | $32.20 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $66,980 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $62,260 | 650 |
| Kankakee, IL | $61,010 | 50 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $59,460 | 170 |
| 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 |
| Evansville, IN | $54,040 | 50 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $53,590 | 90 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $51,980 | 70 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $50,860 | 280 |
| Peoria, IL | $50,090 | 120 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $49,610 | 40 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $48,890 | 370 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $47,170 | 120 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $45,450 | 70 |
| Bloomington, IN | $40,800 | 60 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $39,730 | 50 |
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 Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $47,740 | $22.95 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $63,750 | $30.65 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $59,900 | $28.80 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $59,850 | $28.77 |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $58,300 | $28.03 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $63,670 | $30.61 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $52,480 | $25.23 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $41,130 | $19.77 |
| Meter Readers, Utilities | $80,180 | $38.55 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $58,900 | $28.32 |
| Customer Service Representative | $47,100 | $22.65 |
| Office Clerks, General | $46,330 | $22.28 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $50,440 | $24.25 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $51,440 | $24.73 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for public safety telecommunicators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $66,980 a year, or $32.20 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,170 for the lowest-paid 10% to $98,710 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public safety telecommunicators make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of public safety telecommunicators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $98,710 a year. The top 25% earn $83,000 or more.
What is the starting pay for public safety telecommunicators in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,170 a year, and a quarter of public safety telecommunicators earn $52,800 or less.
How many public safety telecommunicators work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 2,730 public safety telecommunicators are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.