Public Safety Telecommunicators Salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
The median pay for a public safety telecommunicators in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC is $46,710/year ($22.46/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $59K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.57), that's roughly $47,873 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,711/month — about 52.7% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $47K get you in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Durham-Chapel Hill’s Regional Price Parity (97.57). 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, Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Entry-level public safety telecommunicators (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $59K or more, a $19K 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 Durham-Chapel Hill numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do public safety telecommunicators make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median is $46,710 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,100, and experienced public safety telecommunicators can clear $58,740. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in Durham-Chapel Hill?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,122/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,711/month, which eats 54.8% 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 Durham-Chapel Hill?
Durham-Chapel Hill has a Regional Price Parity of 97.57 (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 $47,873 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.