Public safety telecommunicators
Operate telephone, radio, or other communication systems to receive and communicate requests for emergency assistance at 9-1-1 public safety answering points and emergency operations centers. Take information from the public and other sources regarding crimes, threats, disturbances, acts of terrorism, fires, medical emergencies, and other public safety matters. May coordinate and provide information to law enforcement and emergency response personnel. May access sensitive databases and other information sources as needed. May provide additional instructions to callers based on knowledge of and certification in law enforcement, fire, or emergency medical procedures.
Public safety telecommunicators operate telephone, radio, or other communication systems to receive and communicate requests for emergency assistance at 9-1-1 public safety answering points and emergency operations centers. The role reports a median annual salary of $50,730 in the US and is projected to grow 4% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Entry typically requires a High school diploma or equivalent, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.54 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include Active Listening, Speaking, Social Perceptiveness, Critical Thinking, Coordination.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £44,007 a year for Protective service associate professionals n.e.c. (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £35,435 to £54,944 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 3319). ONS rates this estimate reasonably precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Service and sales workers” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Public safety telecommunicators, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 5. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Public Safety and Security
- Law and Government
- English Language
- Telecommunications
- Customer and Personal Service
- Geography
- Communications and Media
- Computers and Electronics
What you'd actually do
- Provide emergency medical instructions to callers.
- Question callers to determine their locations and the nature of their problems to determine type of response needed.
- Determine response requirements and relative priorities of situations, and dispatch units in accordance with established procedures.
- Receive incoming telephone or alarm system calls regarding emergency and non-emergency police and fire service, emergency ambulance service, information, and after-hours calls for departments within a city.
- Relay information and messages to and from emergency sites, to law enforcement agencies, and to all other individuals or groups requiring notification.
- Record details of calls, dispatches, and messages.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Public safety telecommunicators do?
Operate telephone, radio, or other communication systems to receive and communicate requests for emergency assistance at 9-1-1 public safety answering points and emergency operations centers. Take information from the public and other sources regarding crimes, threats, disturbances, acts of terrorism, fires, medical emergencies, and other public safety matters. May coordinate and provide information to law enforcement and emergency response personnel.
How much does Public safety telecommunicators earn?
The median annual salary for Public safety telecommunicators in the US is $50,730.
What is the job outlook for Public safety telecommunicators?
The role is projected to grow 4% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Current US employment is approximately 105,200 workers.
How do I become public safety telecommunicators?
The typical entry education is a High school diploma or equivalent. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Public safety telecommunicators need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Active Listening, Speaking, Social Perceptiveness, Critical Thinking, Coordination, Service Orientation. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Public safety telecommunicators?
Our AI-durability model gives Public safety telecommunicators a score of 0.54 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Public safety telecommunicators has low barrier to entry — generally accessible — you can enter with basic credentials and on-the-job learning.