SOC 43-5031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Public Safety Telecommunicators — Charleston
Charleston, WV · 5 metro areas compared
At $39,460, this is one of the lower medians recorded for Public Safety Telecommunicators, 25.6% beneath the national figure of $53,040.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $39,460, this is one of the lower medians recorded for Public Safety Telecommunicators, 25.6% beneath the national figure of $53,040. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $36,820 and $44,240. The lowest tenth earn under $36,210, while the highest tenth earn more than $50,680.
Employment stands at 110, or 1.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Beckley leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $48,320. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 247th of 341 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,210 | −31.7% |
| 25th | $36,820 | −30.6% |
| Median (50th) | $39,460 | −25.6% |
| 75th | $44,240 | −16.6% |
| 90th | $50,680 | −4.4% |
| Mean | $41,600 | −21.6% |
Other metro areas in West Virginia
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beckley | $48,320 | 50 | |
| 2 | Morgantown | $43,010 | 60 | |
| 3 | Huntington | $42,880 | 170 | |
| 4 | Wheeling | $41,370 | 80 | |
| 5 | Parkersburg | $29,910 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Charleston run 10.5% below the national average, so the median of $39,460 goes as far as $44,089 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 16.9% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$39,460as reported by BLSLocal price level
89.5US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$44,089US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $39,460 a year, 25.6% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $36,210 to $50,680 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 110 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Beckley, at $48,320.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Public Safety Telecommunicators in Charleston, WV?
The median annual wage is $39,460, or $18.97 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 Charleston, WV is 25.6% 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 Charleston, WV earns more than $50,680 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $36,210 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 Beckley, at $48,320 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 110 jobs in this occupation in Charleston, WV. 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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