SOC 43-5031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Public Safety Telecommunicators — Cape Girardeau
Cape Girardeau, MO-IL · 7 metro areas compared
The median wage for Public Safety Telecommunicators in Cape Girardeau, MO is $39,730 per year, substantially below the national median of $53,040 — a gap of 25.1%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Public Safety Telecommunicators in Cape Girardeau, MO is $39,730 per year, substantially below the national median of $53,040 — a gap of 25.1%. Pay ranges from under $33,300 at the tenth percentile to more than $61,710 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $37,520 to $47,160.
Employment stands at 50, or 1.2 jobs per thousand held locally. St. Louis leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $56,250. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 133rd of 204 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $33,300 | −37.2% |
| 25th | $37,520 | −29.3% |
| Median (50th) | $39,730 | −25.1% |
| 75th | $47,160 | −11.1% |
| 90th | $61,710 | +16.3% |
| Mean | $43,570 | −17.9% |
Other metro areas in Missouri
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Louis | $56,250 | 1,110 | |
| 2 | Kansas City | $51,940 | 770 | |
| 3 | Columbia | $48,680 | 100 | |
| 4 | St. Joseph | $46,750 | 70 | |
| 5 | Springfield | $46,600 | 230 | |
| 6 | Jefferson City | $46,430 | 90 | |
| 7 | Joplin | $45,110 | 100 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Cape Girardeau run 9.2% below the national average, so the median of $39,730 goes as far as $43,756 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 17.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$39,730as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$43,756US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $39,730 a year, 25.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $33,300 to $61,710 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 50 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is St. Louis, at $56,250.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Public Safety Telecommunicators in Cape Girardeau, MO?
The median annual wage is $39,730, or $19.10 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $53,040, so pay in Cape Girardeau, MO is 25.1% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Cape Girardeau, MO earns more than $61,710 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $33,300 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in St. Louis, at $56,250 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 50 jobs in this occupation in Cape Girardeau, MO. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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