Public Safety Telecommunicators Salary in Paducah, KY-IL
The median pay for a public safety telecommunicators in Paducah, KY-IL is $42,220/year ($20.3/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $34K at the entry level to $54K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 86.08), which stretches that salary to about $49,047 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,058/month — about 36.7% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $42K get you in Paducah?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Paducah’s Regional Price Parity (86.08). 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, Paducah, KY-IL
Entry-level public safety telecommunicators (10th percentile) start around $34K. Mid-career wages sit at $42K. Top earners bring in $54K 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 Paducah numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do public safety telecommunicators make in Paducah, KY-IL?
The median is $42,220 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,340, and experienced public safety telecommunicators can clear $53,750. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $42K enough to live in Paducah?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,856/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,058/month, which eats 37% 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 Paducah?
Paducah has a Regional Price Parity of 86.08 (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 $49,047 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.