Public Safety Telecommunicator salary in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
Public Safety Telecommunicators in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area earn a median of $62,570 a year ($30.08 an hour), based on BLS data for 50 workers.
Pay ranges from $51,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $65,980 for the top 10%. That is 18% higher than the national median of $53,040. Pay here is 10% higher than the Iowa statewide median of $56,770. There are 0.63 public safety telecommunicators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $60,400, close to the median.
Pay range for public safety telecommunicators in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $51,750 | $24.88 |
| 25th percentile | $54,910 | $26.40 |
| Median | $62,570 | $30.08 |
| 75th percentile | $62,570 | $30.08 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $65,980 | $31.72 |
| Average (mean) | $60,400 | $29.04 |
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 | $5,214.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,607.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,406.54 |
| Weekly | $1,203.27 |
| Hourly | $30.08 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $62,570 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 |
| Ames, IA | $58,610 | 40 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $57,860 | 120 |
| Iowa City, IA | $57,310 | 40 |
| 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 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $46,950 | $22.57 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $59,880 | $28.79 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $57,430 | $27.61 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $45,810 | $22.02 |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $61,570 | $29.60 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $38,410 | $18.47 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $63,970 | $30.76 |
| Customer Service Representative | $39,530 | $19.01 |
| Office Clerks, General | $43,980 | $21.14 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $46,230 | $22.22 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $40,660 | $19.55 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $47,540 | $22.86 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $60,420 | $29.05 |
| Teller | $38,880 | $18.69 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, 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 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
The median salary for public safety telecommunicators in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area is $62,570 a year, or $30.08 an hour. Pay ranges from $51,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $65,980 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid public safety telecommunicators make in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
The top 10% of public safety telecommunicators in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area earn at least $65,980 a year. The top 25% earn $62,570 or more.
What is the starting pay for public safety telecommunicators in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $51,750 a year, and a quarter of public safety telecommunicators earn $54,910 or less.
How many public safety telecommunicators work in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
About 50 public safety telecommunicators are employed in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.