Public Safety Telecommunicators pay range in Charleston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,250 a year or less, while the top 10% make $61,850 or more. The middle half of public safety telecommunicators in Charleston earn between $46,810 and $57,960.
- $40K10th
- $47K25th
- $49KMedian
- $58K75th
- $62K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $50,530 | $4,211 | $24.29 |
| Median | $49,240 | $4,103 | $23.67 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $46,810 | $3,901 | $22.50 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $57,960 | $4,830 | $27.87 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Public Safety Telecommunicators pay in Charleston vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Public safety telecommunicators in Charleston earn 15% more than the South Carolina average ($44,010) and 11% less than the U.S. average ($56,740). At the median the gap is -7% against the U.S. median of $53,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $50,530 | $49,240 | $40,250 | $61,850 | 240 |
| South Carolina | $44,010 | $43,540 | $34,520 | $56,930 | 1,490 |
| 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 Charleston
On the average salary of $50,530, a single filer in Charleston takes home about $41,746 a year, or $3,479 a month and $1,606 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 Charleston a good place for public safety telecommunicators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charleston area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.0), so the average $50,530 buys what about $50,049 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Charleston ($49,150). A typical home costs $435,877, or 8.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Public Safety Telecommunicators salary in other South Carolina cities
Charleston ranks 3rd of 7 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Myrtle Beach pays the most ($51,310).
- Myrtle Beach$51,310
- Hilton Head Island$51,010
- Charleston$50,530
- Greenville$45,590
- Spartanburg$41,760
- Columbia$41,480
- Florence$38,640
All Public Safety Telecommunicators salaries in South 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 Charleston: questions
How much do public safety telecommunicators make an hour in Charleston?
$24.29 an hour on average, and $23.67 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level public safety telecommunicators salary in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,250 a year and the 25th percentile is $46,810, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the public safety telecommunicators take-home pay in Charleston?
About $41,746 a year ($3,479 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $50,530.
Do public safety telecommunicators earn more in Charleston than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% 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 Charleston-North Charleston, SC (16700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.9%.
- 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 0.93, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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