Public Safety Telecommunicators Salary in Charleston, WV
The median pay for a public safety telecommunicators in Charleston, WV is $44,780/year ($21.53/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $34K at the entry level to $59K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.72), which stretches that salary to about $50,473 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,036/month — about 33.9% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $45K get you in Charleston?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Charleston’s Regional Price Parity (88.72). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About public safety telecommunicators
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Charleston, WV
Entry-level public safety telecommunicators (10th percentile) start around $34K. Mid-career wages sit at $45K. Top earners bring in $59K or more, a $26K spread from bottom to top.
Public Safety Telecommunicators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $78K | +54% | 8,510 |
| Washington | $77K | +52% | 2,580 |
| Oregon | $71K | +39% | 980 |
| Minnesota | $65K | +28% | 1,180 |
| Alaska | $63K | +25% | 420 |
| Connecticut | $63K | +25% | 1,700 |
| Illinois | $60K | +18% | 3,730 |
| New York | $59K | +17% | 5,620 |
| Massachusetts | $59K | +17% | 2,920 |
| New Jersey | $59K | +16% | 3,940 |
| Ohio | $57K | +12% | 4,490 |
| Maryland | $57K | +12% | 1,540 |
| District of Columbia | $57K | +12% | 60 |
| Vermont | $55K | +9% | 270 |
| Hawaii | $55K | +8% | 210 |
| Rhode Island | $55K | +8% | 400 |
| Wisconsin | $54K | +7% | 1,680 |
| Arizona | $54K | +7% | 1,630 |
| New Hampshire | $54K | +6% | 610 |
| North Dakota | $53K | +4% | 290 |
| Maine | $53K | +4% | 620 |
| Delaware | $52K | +3% | 260 |
| Iowa | $52K | +3% | 940 |
| Nevada | $52K | +2% | 1,170 |
| Utah | $52K | +2% | 840 |
| Idaho | $51K | +1% | 610 |
| Pennsylvania | $49K | -3% | 3,490 |
| Michigan | $49K | -3% | 2,350 |
| Florida | $49K | -4% | 6,290 |
| Nebraska | $49K | -4% | 770 |
| New Mexico | $49K | -4% | 690 |
| Virginia | $48K | -4% | 2,930 |
| Montana | $48K | -5% | 550 |
| Texas | $48K | -5% | 7,660 |
| Indiana | $48K | -5% | 1,940 |
| Wyoming | $47K | -7% | 350 |
| Tennessee | $46K | -10% | 1,780 |
| South Dakota | $45K | -11% | 460 |
| North Carolina | $44K | -13% | 3,640 |
| Missouri | $44K | -14% | 2,440 |
| Kansas | $41K | -20% | 1,290 |
| Georgia | $41K | -20% | 3,370 |
| South Carolina | $40K | -21% | 1,370 |
| Kentucky | $40K | -21% | 1,490 |
| Louisiana | $39K | -23% | 1,730 |
| West Virginia | $39K | -24% | 860 |
| Alabama | $39K | -24% | 2,330 |
| Arkansas | $37K | -27% | 1,340 |
| Oklahoma | $37K | -27% | 1,990 |
| Mississippi | $33K | -34% | 1,380 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track public safety telecommunicators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Charleston numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do public safety telecommunicators make in Charleston, WV?
The median is $44,780 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $33,850, and experienced public safety telecommunicators can clear $59,420. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $45K enough to live in Charleston?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,046/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,036/month, which eats 34% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a public safety telecommunicators salary go in Charleston?
Charleston has a Regional Price Parity of 88.72 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median public safety telecommunicators salary is worth about $50,473 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do public safety telecommunicators get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.