Public Safety Telecommunicators Salary
The median pay for a public safety telecommunicators in Missouri is $46,990/year ($22.59/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $62K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.97), which stretches that salary to about $52,816 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,097/month, about 34.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Missouri. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $47K get you in Missouri?
About public safety telecommunicators
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What this looks like in Missouri
Pay for public safety telecommunicators in Missouri runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $53K. Rent runs $1,097/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Missouri
Entry-level public safety telecommunicators (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $62K or more, a $26K spread from bottom to top.
Public Safety Telecommunicators salary by metro in Missouri
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | $56K | +20% | 1,110 |
| Kansas City | $52K | +11% | 770 |
| Columbia | $49K | +4% | 100 |
| St. Joseph | $47K | -1% | 70 |
| Springfield | $47K | -1% | 230 |
| Jefferson City | $46K | -1% | 90 |
| Joplin | $45K | -4% | 100 |
| Cape Girardeau | $40K | -15% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track public safety telecommunicators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Missouri numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a public safety telecommunicator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Missouri?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $47K, rent takes 34.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,097/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for public safety telecommunicators in Missouri?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new public safety telecommunicators typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,149/month. At HUD’s $1,097/month FMR, rent would take 51% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is public safety telecommunicator a high-paying job in Missouri?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $47K here vs. $53K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Missouri compare to the national average for public safety telecommunicators?
Missouri pays $47K median vs. the U.S. average of $53K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $53K — below the national median.
How much do public safety telecommunicators make in Missouri?
The median is $46,990 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,810, and experienced public safety telecommunicators can clear $62,100. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in Missouri?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,196/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,097/month, which eats 34.3% 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 Missouri?
Missouri has a Regional Price Parity of 88.97 (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 $52,816 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.