Public Safety Telecommunicators
What Public Safety Telecommunicators Do
Operate telephone, radio, or other communication systems to receive and communicate requests for emergency assistance at 9-1-1 public safety answering points and emergency operations centers. Take information from the public and other sources regarding crimes, threats, disturbances, acts of terrorism, fires, medical emergencies, and other public safety matters. May coordinate and provide information to law enforcement and emergency response personnel. May access sensitive databases and other information sources as needed. May provide additional instructions to callers based on knowledge of and certification in law enforcement, fire, or emergency medical procedures.
See full salary breakdown & percentiles →
Career Outlook
National employment outlook, 2024–2034.
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Self-employed
- Not available
Source: BLS Employment Projections — 2024-2034.
How Much Preparation Does This Take?
Job Zone 2 of 5Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience.
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Job training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Source: O*NET Job Zones.
Key Knowledge Areas
Subject-matter areas this occupation draws on most, per O*NET.
- Public Safety and Securityimportance 4.9/5
- Law and Governmentimportance 4.5/5
- English Languageimportance 4.5/5
- Telecommunicationsimportance 4.5/5
- Customer and Personal Serviceimportance 4.4/5
- Geographyimportance 4.3/5
- Communications and Mediaimportance 4.2/5
- Computers and Electronicsimportance 4.0/5
Work Environment
What the day-to-day work setting is like, per O*NET.
- Telephone Conversations5.0/5
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled5.0/5
- Contact With Others5.0/5
- Deal With External Customers or the Public in General5.0/5
- Spend Time Sitting5.0/5
- Importance of Repeating Same Tasks4.9/5
Careers With Similar Skills
Occupations whose Transferable Skills profile most closely matches this one — a mathematical comparison, not observed data about people actually moving between these careers.
- Psychiatric Technicians97% skill match
- Medical Assistants97% skill match
- Cargo and Freight Agents96% skill match
- Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service96% skill match
- Occupational Therapy Aides96% skill match
- Psychiatric Aides96% skill match
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education96% skill match
- Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists96% skill match
Transferable Skills
Cross-functional skills this occupation draws on most, per O*NET — the kind that carry over to other careers.
- Social Perceptivenessimportance 3.9/5
- Coordinationimportance 3.8/5
- Service Orientationimportance 3.8/5
- Judgment and Decision Makingimportance 3.4/5
- Complex Problem Solvingimportance 3.3/5
- Persuasionimportance 3.1/5
- Instructingimportance 3.0/5
- Negotiationimportance 2.9/5
Software & Technologies
Tools and software used in this occupation, per O*NET.
Hot Technologies
Other Software Used
- 911 system information databases
- Computer aided dispatch software
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
- Geographic information system GIS systems
- Intrado SchoolMessenger
- Law enforcement information databases
- National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database
- National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System NLETS
Work Style
Personal work characteristics that matter most for this occupation, per O*NET.
- Stress Tolerance
- Self-Control
- Dependability
- Integrity
- Attention to Detail
- Cautiousness
- Cooperation
Career Interests
This occupation’s RIASEC interest profile, per O*NET — how strongly it fits each of the six Holland interest types.
- ConventionalHigh
- RealisticMedium
- SocialMedium
- InvestigativeLow
- EnterprisingLow
- ArtisticLow
Specific Interests
A more detailed breakdown of this occupation’s interest profile, per O*NET.
Military Backgrounds That Lead Here
Military occupations commonly matched to this career, per the DMDC Military Crosswalk.
- Response-Ashore (OAR10)Coast Guard
- Search and Rescue Coordination (OAR11)Coast Guard
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Where This Career Is Most Concentrated
Metro areas where public safety telecommunicators make up the largest share of local employment, relative to the national average (BLS location quotient).
- 1Kingston, NY2.57× national avg
- 2Anniston-Oxford, AL2.51× national avg
- 3Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ2.40× national avg
- 4Tuscaloosa, AL2.34× national avg
- 5Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ2.27× national avg
Possible Career Moves
A computed starting point, not observed job-change data — see the full list for why each one might fit.
- Switchboard Operators, Including Answering ServiceLateral Move
- Flight AttendantsCareer Change
- Cargo and Freight AgentsLateral Move
- Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel ClerksLateral Move
See the full career path from Public Safety Telecommunicators →