Public Safety Telecommunicators pay range in Hickory
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,170 a year or less, while the top 10% make $49,140 or more. The middle half of public safety telecommunicators in Hickory earn between $38,200 and $47,880.
- $38K10th
- $38K25th
- $44KMedian
- $48K75th
- $49K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $44,130 | $3,678 | $21.22 |
| Median | $43,870 | $3,656 | $21.09 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,200 | $3,183 | $18.37 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $47,880 | $3,990 | $23.02 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Public Safety Telecommunicators pay in Hickory vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Public safety telecommunicators in Hickory earn 6% less than the North Carolina average ($47,180) and 22% less than the U.S. average ($56,740). At the median the gap is -17% against the U.S. median of $53,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | $44,130 | $43,870 | $38,170 | $49,140 | 180 |
| North Carolina | $47,180 | $46,550 | $38,080 | $59,770 | 3,730 |
| 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 Hickory
On the average salary of $44,130, a single filer in Hickory takes home about $36,386 a year, or $3,032 a month and $1,399 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Hickory a good place for public safety telecommunicators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Hickory area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.5), so the average $44,130 buys what about $49,872 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Hickory ($45,220). A typical home costs $271,739, or 6.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Public Safety Telecommunicators salary in other North Carolina cities
Hickory ranks 12th of 12 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Raleigh pays the most ($53,010).
- Raleigh$53,010
- Charlotte$50,360
- Greensboro$48,930
- Pinehurst$48,530
- Rocky Mount$47,380
- Burlington$47,300
- Greenville$47,180
- Asheville$46,640
- Winston-Salem$45,760
- Hickory$44,130
All Public Safety Telecommunicators salaries in North Carolina
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 Hickory: questions
How much do public safety telecommunicators make an hour in Hickory?
$21.22 an hour on average, and $21.09 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level public safety telecommunicators salary in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,170 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,200, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the public safety telecommunicators take-home pay in Hickory?
About $36,386 a year ($3,032 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $44,130.
Do public safety telecommunicators earn more in Hickory than elsewhere?
The average here is 22% 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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (25860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.2%.
- 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 1.77, this job is 1.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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