Public Safety Telecommunicators pay range in Portland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,140 a year or less, while the top 10% make $99,490 or more. The middle half of public safety telecommunicators in Portland earn between $66,040 and $89,710.
- $61K10th
- $66K25th
- $81KMedian
- $90K75th
- $99K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $79,280 | $6,607 | $38.12 |
| Median | $81,160 | $6,763 | $39.02 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $66,040 | $5,503 | $31.75 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $89,710 | $7,476 | $43.13 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Public Safety Telecommunicators pay in Portland vs. Oregon and the U.S.
Public safety telecommunicators in Portland earn 9% more than the Oregon average ($72,880) and 40% more than the U.S. average ($56,740). At the median the gap is +53% against the U.S. median of $53,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $79,280 | $81,160 | $61,140 | $99,490 | 470 |
| Oregon | $72,880 | $71,980 | $53,750 | $96,530 | 1,110 |
| 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 Portland
On the average salary of $79,280, a single filer in Portland takes home about $58,968 a year, or $4,914 a month and $2,268 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WA | $64,603 | $5,384 |
| Working in OR | $58,968 | $4,914 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Is Portland a good place for public safety telecommunicators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Portland area are 5% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 105.4), so the average $79,280 buys what about $75,203 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Portland ($60,690). A typical home costs $552,022, or 7.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Public Safety Telecommunicators salary in other Oregon cities
Portland ranks 1st of 6 Oregon metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
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 Portland: questions
How much do public safety telecommunicators make an hour in Portland?
$38.11 an hour on average, and $39.02 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level public safety telecommunicators salary in Portland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,140 a year and the 25th percentile is $66,040, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the public safety telecommunicators take-home pay in Portland?
About $58,968 a year ($4,914 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $79,280. Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Do public safety telecommunicators earn more in Portland than elsewhere?
The average here is 40% 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 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA (38900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.5%.
- 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 (2025 rules). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.60, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.60).
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