Public Safety Telecommunicators Salary in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
The median pay for a public safety telecommunicators in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL is $50,160/year ($24.12/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $75K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.89), that's roughly $49,718 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,977/month — about 56.7% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $50K get you in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater’s Regional Price Parity (100.89). 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, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
Entry-level public safety telecommunicators (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $50K. Top earners bring in $75K or more, a $38K 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 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do public safety telecommunicators make in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL?
The median is $50,160 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,570, and experienced public safety telecommunicators can clear $74,530. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $50K enough to live in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,529/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,977/month, which eats 56% 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 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater?
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater has a Regional Price Parity of 100.89 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median public safety telecommunicators salary is worth about $49,718 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.