Public Safety Telecommunicators pay range in Chico
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,350 a year or less, while the top 10% make $87,260 or more. The middle half of public safety telecommunicators in Chico earn between $60,820 and $67,660.
- $49K10th
- $61K25th
- $63KMedian
- $68K75th
- $87K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $65,190 | $5,432 | $31.34 |
| Median | $63,440 | $5,287 | $30.50 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $60,820 | $5,068 | $29.24 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $67,660 | $5,638 | $32.53 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Public Safety Telecommunicators pay in Chico vs. California and the U.S.
Public safety telecommunicators in Chico earn 20% less than the California average ($81,520) and 15% more than the U.S. average ($56,740). At the median the gap is +20% against the U.S. median of $53,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chico | $65,190 | $63,440 | $49,350 | $87,260 | 80 |
| California | $81,520 | $80,120 | $49,350 | $108,650 | 8,520 |
| 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 Chico
On the average salary of $65,190, a single filer in Chico takes home about $52,417 a year, or $4,368 a month and $2,016 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Chico a good place for public safety telecommunicators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chico area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.2), so the average $65,190 buys what about $64,419 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Chico ($48,050). A typical home costs $401,581, or 6.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Public Safety Telecommunicators salary in other California cities
Chico ranks 19th of 24 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($116,260).
- San Jose$116,260
- San Francisco$102,130
- Santa Cruz$88,570
- San Luis Obispo$88,310
- Napa$86,540
- Vallejo$85,200
- Oxnard$84,120
- Santa Maria$81,780
- Santa Rosa$81,100
- Chico$65,190
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 Chico: questions
How much do public safety telecommunicators make an hour in Chico?
$31.34 an hour on average, and $30.50 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level public safety telecommunicators salary in Chico?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,350 a year and the 25th percentile is $60,820, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the public safety telecommunicators take-home pay in Chico?
About $52,417 a year ($4,368 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $65,190. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do public safety telecommunicators earn more in Chico than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% more 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 Chico, CA (17020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.0%.
- 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 (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.55, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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