Hiring Public Safety Telecommunicators
Employers across the 91 metro areas we have BLS OEWS wage data for pay public safety telecommunicators a median of $37,910 to $113,800 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A search through recruitlocalpros runs Tier I to Tier VI, $6,240 to $54,340, set by seniority, never by location or salary. Our vetted recruiting partner handles sourcing, screening and placement end to end.
What do public safety telecommunicators do?
- Provide emergency medical instructions to callers.
- Question callers to determine their locations and the nature of their problems to determine type of response needed.
- Determine response requirements and relative priorities of situations, and dispatch units in accordance with established procedures.
- Receive incoming telephone or alarm system calls regarding emergency and non-emergency police and fire service, emergency ambulance service, information, and after-hours calls for departments within a city.
- Relay information and messages to and from emergency sites, to law enforcement agencies, and to all other individuals or groups requiring notification.
- Record details of calls, dispatches, and messages.
Core tasks, O*NET OnLine, 43-5031.00.
What does it take to become one?
These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
O*NET Job Zone 2, SVP (4.0 to < 6.0). O*NET OnLine.
Employers commonly list experience with Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft SharePoint for this role.
What do public safety telecommunicators get paid?
BLS OEWS, May 2025 publishes a wage for public safety telecommunicators in 91 of the metro areas in this build. The median ranges from $37,910 to $113,800 a year depending on the metro, with a midpoint of $56,960. This is what employers pay, place of work, not a single national figure and not what any one person takes home.
BLS OEWS, BLS OEWS, May 2025, SOC 43-5031.
What does hiring one cost?
The same as any role: tier, not location or salary, sets the fee. Across all six tiers the published range is $6,240 to $54,340 per search. For scale, the highest published median for public safety telecommunicators in this build is $113,800. A contingency firm hiring at that level would bill roughly $22,760 to $34,140 on the first year salary alone, 20 to 30%.
Frequently asked
- How fast can a public safety telecommunicators search fill?
- 23 to 35 days, 2 to 3x faster than a typical contingency search, per the recruiting provider's published figures.
- What if the hire does not work out?
- A 45-day replacement guarantee, at 50% off a repeat search for the same role.
Price a public safety telecommunicators search
Eight questions about the role. Your tier range appears on screen, with the contingency comparison if you are paying one now.