Public Safety Telecommunicators pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $63,650 a year or less, while the top 10% make $97,700 or more. The middle half of public safety telecommunicators in San Diego earn between $68,200 and $88,100.
- $64K10th
- $68K25th
- $79KMedian
- $88K75th
- $98K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $78,410 | $6,534 | $37.70 |
| Median | $78,950 | $6,579 | $37.96 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $68,200 | $5,683 | $32.79 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $88,100 | $7,342 | $42.36 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Public Safety Telecommunicators pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Public safety telecommunicators in San Diego earn 4% less than the California average ($81,520) and 38% more than the U.S. average ($56,740). At the median the gap is +49% against the U.S. median of $53,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $78,410 | $78,950 | $63,650 | $97,700 | 710 |
| 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 San Diego
On the average salary of $78,410, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $60,791 a year, or $5,066 a month and $2,338 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% 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 San Diego a good place for public safety telecommunicators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $78,410 buys what about $70,080 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 12.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Public Safety Telecommunicators salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 12th 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
- San Diego$78,410
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Public Safety Telecommunicators salary in San Diego: questions
How much do public safety telecommunicators make an hour in San Diego?
$37.70 an hour on average, and $37.96 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level public safety telecommunicators salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $63,650 a year and the 25th percentile is $68,200, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the public safety telecommunicators take-home pay in San Diego?
About $60,791 a year ($5,066 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $78,410. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do public safety telecommunicators earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 38% 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.7%.
- 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 0.70, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.70).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.