Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
Public Safety Telecommunicators in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area earn a median of $44,630 a year ($21.46 an hour), based on BLS data for 80 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,790 for the top 10%. That is 16% lower than the national median of $53,040. Pay here is 4% lower than the Tennessee statewide median of $46,390. There are 0.63 public safety telecommunicators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $44,440, close to the median.
Pay range for public safety telecommunicators in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,460 | $17.53 |
| 25th percentile | $38,130 | $18.33 |
| Median | $44,630 | $21.46 |
| 75th percentile | $45,970 | $22.10 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,790 | $27.78 |
| Average (mean) | $44,440 | $21.37 |
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 | $3,719.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,859.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,716.54 |
| Weekly | $858.27 |
| Hourly | $21.46 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $44,630 salary, see how much house you can afford in Tennessee 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 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $53,820 | 410 |
| Richmond, VA | $53,390 | 520 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $52,020 | 470 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $48,920 | 500 |
| Roanoke, VA | $48,470 | 150 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $47,140 | 90 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $46,930 | 90 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $46,380 | 80 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $45,670 | 50 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $45,490 | 40 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $45,320 | 50 |
| Knoxville, TN | $44,700 | 190 |
| Jackson, TN | $44,450 | 110 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $43,220 | 120 |
| Johnson City, TN | $41,570 | 60 |
| Morristown, TN | $40,050 | 30 |
| Cleveland, TN | $40,040 | 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 Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $39,890 | $19.18 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $48,360 | $23.25 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $59,010 | $28.37 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $35,490 | $17.06 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $46,280 | $22.25 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $61,050 | $29.35 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $46,020 | $22.13 |
| Meter Readers, Utilities | $40,780 | $19.60 |
| Customer Service Representative | $36,130 | $17.37 |
| Office Clerks, General | $38,030 | $18.29 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $36,800 | $17.69 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $60,690 | $29.18 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $39,850 | $19.16 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $45,670 | $21.96 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
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 Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
The median salary for public safety telecommunicators in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area is $44,630 a year, or $21.46 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,790 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public safety telecommunicators make in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
The top 10% of public safety telecommunicators in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area earn at least $57,790 a year. The top 25% earn $45,970 or more.
What is the starting pay for public safety telecommunicators in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,460 a year, and a quarter of public safety telecommunicators earn $38,130 or less.
How many public safety telecommunicators work in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
About 80 public safety telecommunicators are employed in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area, not counting the self-employed.