Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Public Safety Telecommunicators in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn a median of $64,380 a year ($30.95 an hour), based on BLS data for 170 workers.
Pay ranges from $50,070 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,630 for the top 10%. That is 21% higher than the national median of $53,040. Pay here is 13% higher than the Iowa statewide median of $56,770. There are 0.42 public safety telecommunicators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.64). The average (mean) salary is $66,670, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public safety telecommunicators in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,070 | $24.07 |
| 25th percentile | $59,480 | $28.60 |
| Median | $64,380 | $30.95 |
| 75th percentile | $78,630 | $37.80 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,630 | $37.80 |
| Average (mean) | $66,670 | $32.05 |
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 | $5,365 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,682.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,476.15 |
| Weekly | $1,238.08 |
| Hourly | $30.95 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $64,380 salary, see how much house you can afford in Iowa 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE-IA | $64,940 | 220 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $62,570 | 50 |
| Ames, IA | $58,610 | 40 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $57,860 | 120 |
| Iowa City, IA | $57,310 | 40 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $51,860 | 60 |
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 Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $47,300 | $22.74 |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $60,530 | $29.10 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $60,320 | $29.00 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $64,250 | $30.89 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $44,730 | $21.50 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $44,240 | $21.27 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $39,270 | $18.88 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $61,710 | $29.67 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $50,490 | $24.27 |
| Customer Service Representative | $48,880 | $23.50 |
| Office Clerks, General | $46,540 | $22.38 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $50,610 | $24.33 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $47,500 | $22.84 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $71,690 | $34.47 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
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 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median salary for public safety telecommunicators in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $64,380 a year, or $30.95 an hour. Pay ranges from $50,070 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,630 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public safety telecommunicators make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The top 10% of public safety telecommunicators in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn at least $78,630 a year. The top 25% earn $78,630 or more.
What is the starting pay for public safety telecommunicators in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $50,070 a year, and a quarter of public safety telecommunicators earn $59,480 or less.
How many public safety telecommunicators work in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
About 170 public safety telecommunicators are employed in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.