Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in Iowa City, IA
Public Safety Telecommunicators in the Iowa City, IA metro area earn a median of $57,310 a year ($27.56 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $50,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $66,010 for the top 10%. That is 8% higher than the national median of $53,040. Pay here is 1% higher than the Iowa statewide median of $56,770. There are 0.45 public safety telecommunicators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.68). The average (mean) salary is $56,900, close to the median.
Pay range for public safety telecommunicators in Iowa City, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,620 | $24.34 |
| 25th percentile | $51,670 | $24.84 |
| Median | $57,310 | $27.56 |
| 75th percentile | $66,010 | $31.74 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $66,010 | $31.74 |
| Average (mean) | $56,900 | $27.36 |
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 | $4,775.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,387.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,204.23 |
| Weekly | $1,102.12 |
| Hourly | $27.56 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $57,310 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 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $64,380 | 170 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $62,570 | 50 |
| Ames, IA | $58,610 | 40 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $57,860 | 120 |
| 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 Iowa City, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $46,990 | $22.59 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $64,890 | $31.20 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $54,140 | $26.03 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $51,880 | $24.94 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $50,130 | $24.10 |
| Office Clerks, General | $46,480 | $22.35 |
| Customer Service Representative | $42,340 | $20.35 |
| Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other | $47,600 | $22.89 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $49,220 | $23.66 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $45,390 | $21.82 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $66,430 | $31.94 |
| Billing and Posting Clerks | $50,050 | $24.06 |
| Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | $62,740 | $30.16 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $38,740 | $18.63 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Iowa City, 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 Iowa City, IA?
The median salary for public safety telecommunicators in the Iowa City, IA metro area is $57,310 a year, or $27.56 an hour. Pay ranges from $50,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $66,010 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public safety telecommunicators make in Iowa City, IA?
The top 10% of public safety telecommunicators in the Iowa City, IA metro area earn at least $66,010 a year. The top 25% earn $66,010 or more.
What is the starting pay for public safety telecommunicators in Iowa City, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $50,620 a year, and a quarter of public safety telecommunicators earn $51,670 or less.
How many public safety telecommunicators work in Iowa City, IA?
About 40 public safety telecommunicators are employed in the Iowa City, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.