Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in North Carolina
Public Safety Telecommunicators in North Carolina earn a median of $46,550 a year ($22.38 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,730 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,770 for the top 10%. That is 12% lower than the national median of $53,040. North Carolina ranks 40th of 51 states for public safety telecommunicators pay. There are 0.76 public safety telecommunicators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $47,180, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public safety telecommunicators in North Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,080 | $18.31 |
| 25th percentile | $40,540 | $19.49 |
| Median | $46,550 | $22.38 |
| 75th percentile | $49,930 | $24.00 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,770 | $28.74 |
| Average (mean) | $47,180 | $22.68 |
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 | $3,879.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,939.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,790.38 |
| Weekly | $895.19 |
| Hourly | $22.38 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $46,550 salary, see how much house you can afford in North Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in cities in North Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $52,020 | 470 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $50,630 | 40 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $49,900 | 360 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $48,530 | 60 |
| Burlington, NC | $48,160 | 70 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $48,080 | 830 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $47,880 | 230 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $47,110 | 40 |
| Asheville, NC | $46,550 | 110 |
| Greenville, NC | $46,490 | 90 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $46,090 | 210 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $45,670 | 120 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $43,870 | 180 |
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 |
Related jobs in North Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $43,040 | $20.69 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $52,640 | $25.31 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $59,990 | $28.84 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $48,230 | $23.19 |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $55,350 | $26.61 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $39,100 | $18.80 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $48,000 | $23.08 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $64,290 | $30.91 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $43,680 | $21.00 |
| Meter Readers, Utilities | $41,830 | $20.11 |
| Customer Service Representative | $40,240 | $19.35 |
| Office Clerks, General | $41,770 | $20.08 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $44,190 | $21.24 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $47,930 | $23.04 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in North Carolina
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 North Carolina?
The median salary for public safety telecommunicators in North Carolina is $46,550 a year, or $22.38 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,770 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public safety telecommunicators make in North Carolina?
The top 10% of public safety telecommunicators in North Carolina earn at least $59,770 a year. The top 25% earn $49,930 or more.
What is the starting pay for public safety telecommunicators in North Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,080 a year, and a quarter of public safety telecommunicators earn $40,540 or less.
How many public safety telecommunicators work in North Carolina?
About 3,730 public safety telecommunicators are employed in North Carolina, not counting the self-employed.