Public Safety Telecommunicators Salary in Des Moines, IA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA

Median annual salary $55,990 +10.4% vs national
Median hourly $26.92
10th percentile $32,640
90th percentile $76,400
Employed locally 250
National median $50,730

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Public Safety Telecommunicators
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Des Moines, IA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $32,640
    25th
    $32,640
    50th (median)
    $55,990
    75th
    $66,350
    90th
    $76,400

    Des Moines economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $84,209 2023 • Census ACS
    Public Safety Telecommunicators salary vs area income 66% Median Public Safety Telecommunicators salary is 34% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Public Safety Telecommunicators

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $125,310
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $103,110
    San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $87,870
    Vallejo, CA $87,220
    Napa, CA $84,260
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $83,110

    Nearby metros — Public Safety Telecommunicators salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $80,930
    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $80,810
    California $78,210
    Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $66,990
    Omaha, NE-IA $62,820
    Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area $62,390

    Related occupations in Des Moines, IA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Customer Service Representatives $48,240
    Office Clerks, General $44,350
    Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks $49,500
    First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers $67,540
    Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive $46,440
    Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants $40,450

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Public Safety Telecommunicators make per hour in Des Moines?

    The median hourly wage for Public Safety Telecommunicators in Des Moines, IA is $26.92, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $37.80 or more per hour.

    Is Des Moines above or below average for Public Safety Telecommunicators salaries?

    The median Public Safety Telecommunicators salary in Des Moines, IA is 10.4% above the national median of $50,730. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Public Safety Telecommunicators in Des Moines?

    Entry-level Public Safety Telecommunicators (10th percentile) earn around $32,640 per year in Des Moines, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $32,640.