Public Safety Telecommunicators pay range in Lake Charles
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,550 a year or less, while the top 10% make $60,940 or more. The middle half of public safety telecommunicators in Lake Charles earn between $31,710 and $48,010.
- $29K10th
- $32K25th
- $47KMedian
- $48K75th
- $61K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $43,020 | $3,585 | $20.68 |
| Median | $47,280 | $3,940 | $22.73 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $31,710 | $2,642 | $15.25 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $48,010 | $4,001 | $23.08 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Public Safety Telecommunicators pay in Lake Charles vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Public safety telecommunicators in Lake Charles earn about the same as the Louisiana average ($42,070) and 24% less than the U.S. average ($56,740). At the median the gap is -11% against the U.S. median of $53,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Charles | $43,020 | $47,280 | $28,550 | $60,940 | 50 |
| Louisiana | $42,070 | $38,550 | $29,150 | $59,730 | 1,470 |
| 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 Lake Charles
On the average salary of $43,020, a single filer in Lake Charles takes home about $35,842 a year, or $2,987 a month and $1,379 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Lake Charles a good place for public safety telecommunicators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lake Charles area are 14% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 85.9), so the average $43,020 buys what about $50,109 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Lake Charles ($45,700). A typical home costs $202,237, or 4.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Public Safety Telecommunicators salary in other Louisiana cities
Lake Charles ranks 5th of 10 Louisiana metro areas for this job; Shreveport pays the most ($54,380).
- Shreveport$54,380
- Baton Rouge$49,070
- New Orleans$47,170
- Alexandria$43,640
- Lake Charles$43,020
- Slidell$42,630
- Houma$39,180
- Monroe$38,610
- Lafayette$38,380
- Hammond$36,450
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 Lake Charles: questions
How much do public safety telecommunicators make an hour in Lake Charles?
$20.68 an hour on average, and $22.73 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level public safety telecommunicators salary in Lake Charles?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,550 a year and the 25th percentile is $31,710, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the public safety telecommunicators take-home pay in Lake Charles?
About $35,842 a year ($2,987 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $43,020.
Do public safety telecommunicators earn more in Lake Charles than elsewhere?
The average here is 24% 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 Lake Charles, LA (29340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.5%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.81, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.