Public Safety Telecommunicator Salary in Chicago, IL
Public Safety Telecommunicators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $66,980 a year — 26% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $52,780 take-home, or $4,398 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median public safety telecommunicator salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,906
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,153
- Medicare (1.45%)$971
- Illinois income tax$3,171
- Take-home pay$52,780
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Public Safety Telecommunicator pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,170 | $18.83 | $31,859 | $2,655 |
| 25th percentile | $52,800 | $25.38 | $42,136 | $3,511 |
| Median (50th) | $66,980 | $32.20 | $52,780 | $4,398 |
| 75th percentile | $83,000 | $39.90 | $63,257 | $5,271 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $98,710 | $47.46 | $73,531 | $6,128 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $66,980 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median public safety telecommunicator's $52,780 take-home pay has the buying power of $50,948 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Public Safety Telecommunicator jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.92).
Best-paying cities for public safety telecommunicators, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #16 of 44 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $104,910 | $75,743 | $65,515 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $80,180 | $65,237 | $58,701 |
| 3 | Sacramento, CA | $79,610 | $60,627 | $56,836 |
| 4 | Portland, OR | $81,160 | $59,654 | $56,587 |
| 5 | Riverside, CA | $77,260 | $59,209 | $55,626 |
| 6 | Columbus, OH | $62,490 | $51,455 | $53,897 |
| 7 | San Diego, CA | $78,950 | $60,232 | $53,833 |
| 8 | Los Angeles, CA | $80,370 | $61,081 | $53,784 |
| 16 | Chicago, IL | $66,980 | $52,780 | $50,948 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 44 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a public safety telecommunicator make in Chicago, IL?
The median public safety telecommunicator salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $66,980 a year, or about $32.20 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $52,800 and $83,000.
What is a public safety telecommunicator’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $66,980 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $52,780 a year ($4,398 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,171 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a public safety telecommunicator?
Pay here is 26% above the national median of $53,040. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $50,948 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #16 of 44 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a public safety telecommunicator afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 35% of a median public safety telecommunicator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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