Public Safety Telecommunicators pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,070 a year or less, while the top 10% make $136,860 or more. The middle half of public safety telecommunicators in San Francisco earn between $82,210 and $120,710.
- $60K10th
- $82K25th
- $105KMedian
- $121K75th
- $137K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $102,130 | $8,511 | $49.10 |
| Median | $104,910 | $8,742 | $50.44 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $82,210 | $6,851 | $39.52 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $120,710 | $10,059 | $58.03 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Public Safety Telecommunicators pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Public safety telecommunicators in San Francisco earn 25% more than the California average ($81,520) and 80% more than the U.S. average ($56,740). At the median the gap is +98% against the U.S. median of $53,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $102,130 | $104,910 | $60,070 | $136,860 | 1,110 |
| 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 Francisco
On the average salary of $102,130, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $75,272 a year, or $6,273 a month and $2,895 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% 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 Francisco a good place for public safety telecommunicators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $102,130 buys what about $88,338 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 11.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Public Safety Telecommunicators salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 2nd 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
- Los Angeles$80,250
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 Francisco: questions
How much do public safety telecommunicators make an hour in San Francisco?
$49.10 an hour on average, and $50.44 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level public safety telecommunicators salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,070 a year and the 25th percentile is $82,210, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the public safety telecommunicators take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $75,272 a year ($6,273 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $102,130. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do public safety telecommunicators earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 80% 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 Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.8%.
- 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 0.71, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.71).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.