Public Safety Telecommunicators pay range in Chattanooga
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,360 a year or less, while the top 10% make $51,080 or more. The middle half of public safety telecommunicators in Chattanooga earn between $37,490 and $47,130.
- $37K10th
- $37K25th
- $43KMedian
- $47K75th
- $51K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $43,440 | $3,620 | $20.88 |
| Median | $43,220 | $3,602 | $20.78 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $37,490 | $3,124 | $18.02 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $47,130 | $3,928 | $22.66 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Public Safety Telecommunicators pay in Chattanooga vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Public safety telecommunicators in Chattanooga earn 10% less than the Tennessee average ($48,500) and 23% less than the U.S. average ($56,740). At the median the gap is -19% against the U.S. median of $53,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $43,440 | $43,220 | $37,360 | $51,080 | 120 |
| Tennessee | $48,500 | $46,390 | $33,840 | $66,180 | 1,840 |
| 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 Chattanooga
On the average salary of $43,440, a single filer in Chattanooga takes home about $37,084 a year, or $3,090 a month and $1,426 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
The Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $37,084 | $3,090 |
| Working in GA | $35,665 | $2,972 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Chattanooga a good place for public safety telecommunicators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chattanooga area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.5), so the average $43,440 buys what about $47,494 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Chattanooga ($46,700). A typical home costs $326,370, or 7.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Public Safety Telecommunicators salary in other Tennessee cities
Chattanooga ranks 8th of 10 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Memphis pays the most ($55,030).
- Memphis$55,030
- Nashville$54,140
- Jackson$47,340
- Clarksville$46,610
- Kingsport$44,440
- Morristown$44,090
- Knoxville$43,980
- Chattanooga$43,440
- Cleveland$41,750
- Johnson City$40,750
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 Chattanooga: questions
How much do public safety telecommunicators make an hour in Chattanooga?
$20.88 an hour on average, and $20.78 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level public safety telecommunicators salary in Chattanooga?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,360 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,490, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the public safety telecommunicators take-home pay in Chattanooga?
About $37,084 a year ($3,090 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $43,440. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do public safety telecommunicators earn more in Chattanooga than elsewhere?
The average here is 23% 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 Chattanooga, TN-GA (16860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.1%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.66, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.66).
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