Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Public Safety Telecommunicators in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median of $80,180 a year ($38.55 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,040 workers.
Pay ranges from $68,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $97,130 for the top 10%. That is 51% higher than the national median of $53,040. Pay here is 2% higher than the Washington statewide median of $78,850. There are 0.50 public safety telecommunicators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.76). The average (mean) salary is $81,970, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for public safety telecommunicators in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $68,030 | $32.71 |
| 25th percentile | $76,630 | $36.84 |
| Median | $80,180 | $38.55 |
| 75th percentile | $94,200 | $45.29 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $97,130 | $46.70 |
| Average (mean) | $81,970 | $39.41 |
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 | $6,681.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,340.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,083.85 |
| Weekly | $1,541.92 |
| Hourly | $38.55 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $80,180 salary, see how much house you can afford in Washington 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $89,090 | 90 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $81,160 | 470 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $78,030 | 50 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $76,640 | 290 |
| Bellingham, WA | $76,340 | 50 |
| Yakima, WA | $63,240 | 80 |
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 Washington statewide figures.
Related jobs in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $81,850 | $39.35 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $56,370 | $27.10 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $62,960 | $30.27 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $59,340 | $28.53 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $61,860 | $29.74 |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $59,740 | $28.72 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $48,510 | $23.32 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $63,210 | $30.39 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $51,940 | $24.97 |
| Meter Readers, Utilities | $74,030 | $35.59 |
| Office Clerks, General | $53,290 | $25.62 |
| Customer Service Representative | $53,550 | $25.75 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $81,640 | $39.25 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $60,460 | $29.07 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The median salary for public safety telecommunicators in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $80,180 a year, or $38.55 an hour. Pay ranges from $68,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $97,130 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public safety telecommunicators make in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The top 10% of public safety telecommunicators in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn at least $97,130 a year. The top 25% earn $94,200 or more.
What is the starting pay for public safety telecommunicators in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $68,030 a year, and a quarter of public safety telecommunicators earn $76,630 or less.
How many public safety telecommunicators work in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
About 1,040 public safety telecommunicators are employed in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area, not counting the self-employed.