Public Safety Telecommunicators Salary
The median pay for a public safety telecommunicators in North Dakota is $59,940/year ($28.82/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $63K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.89), which stretches that salary to about $67,432 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,034/month, or 25.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $60K get you in North Dakota?
About public safety telecommunicators
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What this looks like in North Dakota
North Dakota sits well above the national pay line for public safety telecommunicators, local pay runs about 13% higher than the U.S. median of $53K. Rent runs $1,034/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.89 (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, North Dakota
Entry-level public safety telecommunicators (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $63K or more, a $15K spread from bottom to top.
Public Safety Telecommunicators salary by metro in North Dakota
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Forks | $60K | +1% | 30 |
| Bismarck | $54K | -9% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track public safety telecommunicators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Dakota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a public safety telecommunicator afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $60K, rent takes 25.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,034/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for public safety telecommunicators in North Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new public safety telecommunicators typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,867/month. At HUD’s $1,034/month FMR, rent would take 36% 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 North Dakota?
Local pay is 13% above the national median — $60K here vs. $53K nationally.
How does North Dakota compare to the national average for public safety telecommunicators?
North Dakota pays $60K median vs. the U.S. average of $53K — that’s +13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $67K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do public safety telecommunicators make in North Dakota?
The median is $59,940 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,790, and experienced public safety telecommunicators can clear $63,180. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in North Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,086/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,034/month, which eats 25.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a public safety telecommunicators salary go in North Dakota?
North Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 88.89 (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 $67,432 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.