Pay vs cost of living
How far does a Public Safety Telecommunicator's pay go, state by state?
A Public Safety Telecommunicator's pay leaves the most room in Minnesota — about $4,208/mo take-home against $1,230/mo typical rent — and the least in Mississippi.
| State | Est. take-home | Typical rent | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $4,208/mo | $1,230/mo | 29% |
| Washington | $4,579/mo | $1,641/mo | 36% |
| California | $4,880/mo | $1,969/mo | 40% |
| Oregon | $4,205/mo | $1,431/mo | 34% |
| Alaska | $3,898/mo | $1,361/mo | 35% |
| Illinois | $3,773/mo | $1,246/mo | 33% |
| Connecticut | $4,000/mo | $1,483/mo | 37% |
| Ohio | $3,422/mo | $986/mo | 29% |
| Colorado | $4,036/mo | $1,659/mo | 41% |
| Wisconsin | $3,351/mo | $1,033/mo | 31% |
| New York | $3,911/mo | $1,621/mo | 41% |
| Iowa | $3,184/mo | $932/mo | 29% |
| Nevada | $3,631/mo | $1,478/mo | 41% |
| Maine | $3,246/mo | $1,104/mo | 34% |
| Vermont | $3,297/mo | $1,207/mo | 37% |
| North Dakota | $2,969/mo | $911/mo | 31% |
| Michigan | $3,121/mo | $1,072/mo | 34% |
| Pennsylvania | $3,214/mo | $1,176/mo | 37% |
| Nebraska | $2,997/mo | $1,017/mo | 34% |
| Arizona | $3,397/mo | $1,419/mo | 42% |
| Massachusetts | $3,689/mo | $1,716/mo | 47% |
| Rhode Island | $3,260/mo | $1,289/mo | 40% |
| Wyoming | $2,945/mo | $979/mo | 33% |
| South Dakota | $2,865/mo | $910/mo | 32% |
| Delaware | $3,245/mo | $1,321/mo | 41% |
| Indiana | $2,937/mo | $1,022/mo | 35% |
| Idaho | $3,076/mo | $1,163/mo | 38% |
| Montana | $2,925/mo | $1,031/mo | 35% |
| Missouri | $2,852/mo | $997/mo | 35% |
| New Hampshire | $3,253/mo | $1,424/mo | 44% |
| Utah | $3,222/mo | $1,396/mo | 43% |
| New Jersey | $3,472/mo | $1,656/mo | 48% |
| Maryland | $3,448/mo | $1,683/mo | 49% |
| Texas | $2,963/mo | $1,328/mo | 45% |
| New Mexico | $2,652/mo | $1,034/mo | 39% |
| Kentucky | $2,521/mo | $918/mo | 36% |
| Tennessee | $2,691/mo | $1,111/mo | 41% |
| District of Columbia | $3,461/mo | $1,900/mo | 55% |
| Florida | $3,101/mo | $1,542/mo | 50% |
| West Virginia | $2,391/mo | $848/mo | 35% |
| Hawaii | $3,436/mo | $1,927/mo | 56% |
| Kansas | $2,517/mo | $1,025/mo | 41% |
| North Carolina | $2,631/mo | $1,147/mo | 44% |
| Virginia | $2,978/mo | $1,547/mo | 52% |
| Arkansas | $2,328/mo | $903/mo | 39% |
| Alabama | $2,390/mo | $967/mo | 40% |
| South Carolina | $2,490/mo | $1,131/mo | 45% |
| Louisiana | $2,350/mo | $1,028/mo | 44% |
| Oklahoma | $2,278/mo | $970/mo | 43% |
| Georgia | $2,467/mo | $1,320/mo | 54% |
| Mississippi | $1,957/mo | $933/mo | 48% |
Take-home is that state's BLS OEWS 2023 median wage after a rough ~22% tax estimate — a ballpark, not a real paycheck. Rent is population-weighted Census gross rent (utilities included). Neither includes state taxes, insurance, or the cost of moving.