Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in Pennsylvania
Public Safety Telecommunicators in Pennsylvania earn a median of $49,890 a year ($23.98 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,620 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,370 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $53,040. Pennsylvania ranks 34th of 51 states for public safety telecommunicators pay. There are 0.60 public safety telecommunicators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $52,070, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public safety telecommunicators in Pennsylvania
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,350 | $18.92 |
| 25th percentile | $45,090 | $21.68 |
| Median | $49,890 | $23.98 |
| 75th percentile | $60,320 | $29.00 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,370 | $30.95 |
| Average (mean) | $52,070 | $25.03 |
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 | $4,157.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,078.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,918.85 |
| Weekly | $959.42 |
| Hourly | $23.98 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $49,890 salary, see how much house you can afford in Pennsylvania at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in cities in Pennsylvania
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Reading, PA | $59,070 | 90 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $57,880 | 780 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $56,960 | 1,750 |
| Lebanon, PA | $53,350 | 30 |
| Erie, PA | $52,620 | 110 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $50,770 | 90 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $49,080 | 160 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $48,820 | 240 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $48,550 | 40 |
| Lancaster, PA | $46,970 | 90 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $46,870 | 160 |
| Johnstown, PA | $45,100 | 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 |
Related jobs in Pennsylvania
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $45,780 | $22.01 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $59,880 | $28.79 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $59,240 | $28.48 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $49,960 | $24.02 |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $57,430 | $27.61 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $61,050 | $29.35 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $39,700 | $19.09 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $49,590 | $23.84 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $49,480 | $23.79 |
| Meter Readers, Utilities | $78,450 | $37.72 |
| Office Clerks, General | $44,950 | $21.61 |
| Customer Service Representative | $44,630 | $21.46 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $46,270 | $22.25 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $65,270 | $31.38 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania?
The median salary for public safety telecommunicators in Pennsylvania is $49,890 a year, or $23.98 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,370 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public safety telecommunicators make in Pennsylvania?
The top 10% of public safety telecommunicators in Pennsylvania earn at least $64,370 a year. The top 25% earn $60,320 or more.
What is the starting pay for public safety telecommunicators in Pennsylvania?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,350 a year, and a quarter of public safety telecommunicators earn $45,090 or less.
How many public safety telecommunicators work in Pennsylvania?
About 3,620 public safety telecommunicators are employed in Pennsylvania, not counting the self-employed.