Public Safety Telecommunicators pay range in Decatur
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,850 a year or less, while the top 10% make $64,070 or more. The middle half of public safety telecommunicators in Decatur earn between $31,850 and $55,360.
- $32K10th
- $32K25th
- $36KMedian
- $55K75th
- $64K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $43,430 | $3,619 | $20.88 |
| Median | $36,200 | $3,017 | $17.40 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $31,850 | $2,654 | $15.31 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $55,360 | $4,613 | $26.62 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Public Safety Telecommunicators pay in Decatur vs. Alabama and the U.S.
Public safety telecommunicators in Decatur earn 5% more than the Alabama average ($41,260) and 23% less than the U.S. average ($56,740). At the median the gap is -32% against the U.S. median of $53,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur | $43,430 | $36,200 | $31,850 | $64,070 | 40 |
| Alabama | $41,260 | $38,960 | $29,850 | $56,420 | 2,230 |
| United States | $56,740 | $53,040 | $37,320 | $79,830 | 102,500 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Public Safety Telecommunicators salary after taxes in Decatur
On the average salary of $43,430, a single filer in Decatur takes home about $35,296 a year, or $2,941 a month and $1,358 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Is Decatur a good place for public safety telecommunicators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Decatur area are 13% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.2), so the average $43,430 buys what about $49,798 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Decatur ($46,280). A typical home costs $232,614, or 5.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Public Safety Telecommunicators salary in other Alabama cities
Decatur ranks 5th of 12 Alabama metro areas for this job; Birmingham pays the most ($45,760).
- Birmingham$45,760
- Tuscaloosa$45,120
- Auburn$45,060
- Huntsville$44,660
- Decatur$43,430
- Daphne$42,900
- Anniston$42,210
- Mobile$41,960
- Florence$41,060
- Dothan$40,930
Highest-paying cities for public safety telecommunicators
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($116,260).
- San Jose, CA$116,260
- San Francisco, CA$102,130
- Santa Cruz, CA$88,570
- San Luis Obispo, CA$88,310
- Napa, CA$86,540
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Public Safety Telecommunicators salary in Decatur: questions
How much do public safety telecommunicators make an hour in Decatur?
$20.88 an hour on average, and $17.41 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level public safety telecommunicators salary in Decatur?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,850 a year and the 25th percentile is $31,850, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the public safety telecommunicators take-home pay in Decatur?
About $35,296 a year ($2,941 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $43,430. City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Do public safety telecommunicators earn more in Decatur than elsewhere?
The average here is 23% less than the U.S. average for this job ($56,740).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 43-5031; area Decatur, AL (19460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.97, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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