SOC 43-5031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Public Safety Telecommunicators — Southwest Iowa
Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area · 6 metro areas compared
The median wage for Public Safety Telecommunicators in Southwest Iowa, IA is $50,590 per year, close to the national median of $53,040 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Public Safety Telecommunicators in Southwest Iowa, IA is $50,590 per year, close to the national median of $53,040 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $30,240 at the tenth percentile to more than $57,950 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $48,110 to $55,790.
Employment stands at 110, or 1.4 jobs per thousand held locally. Des Moines leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $64,380. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 129th of 276 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $30,240 | −43.0% |
| 25th | $48,110 | −9.3% |
| Median (50th) | $50,590 | −4.6% |
| 75th | $55,790 | +5.2% |
| 90th | $57,950 | +9.3% |
| Mean | $48,890 | −7.8% |
Other metro areas in Iowa
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Des Moines | $64,380 | 170 | |
| 2 | Waterloo | $62,570 | 50 | |
| 3 | Ames | $58,610 | 40 | |
| 4 | Davenport | $57,860 | 120 | |
| 5 | Iowa City | $57,310 | 40 | |
| 6 | Sioux City | $51,860 | 60 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Southwest Iowa run 12.2% below the national average, so the median of $50,590 goes as far as $57,620 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 8.6% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$50,590as reported by BLSLocal price level
87.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$57,620US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $50,590 a year, 4.6% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $30,240 to $57,950 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 110 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Des Moines, at $64,380.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Public Safety Telecommunicators in Southwest Iowa, IA?
The median annual wage is $50,590, or $24.32 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 Southwest Iowa, IA is 4.6% 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 Southwest Iowa, IA earns more than $57,950 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $30,240 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 Des Moines, at $64,380 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 110 jobs in this occupation in Southwest Iowa, IA. 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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