Public Safety Telecommunicator Salary in Milwaukee, WI
Public Safety Telecommunicators in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area earn a median $62,130 a year — 17% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $50,149 take-home, or $4,179 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median public safety telecommunicator salary in Milwaukee, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,276
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,852
- Medicare (1.45%)$901
- Wisconsin income tax$1,953
- Take-home pay$50,149
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Public Safety Telecommunicator pay by experience in Milwaukee, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $55,170 | $26.52 | $44,863 | $3,739 |
| 25th percentile | $61,560 | $29.60 | $49,716 | $4,143 |
| Median (50th) | $62,130 | $29.87 | $50,149 | $4,179 |
| 75th percentile | $70,770 | $34.02 | $56,246 | $4,687 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $74,970 | $36.04 | $58,979 | $4,915 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $62,130 buys in Milwaukee, WI
Prices in Milwaukee, WI are 3.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 3% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median public safety telecommunicator's $50,149 take-home pay has the buying power of $51,733 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 Milwaukee, WI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.91).
Best-paying cities for public safety telecommunicators, adjusted for cost of living
Milwaukee, WI ranks #14 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 |
| 14 | Milwaukee, WI | $62,130 | $50,149 | $51,733 |
*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 Milwaukee, WI?
The median public safety telecommunicator salary in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area is $62,130 a year, or about $29.87 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $61,560 and $70,770.
What is a public safety telecommunicator’s take-home pay in Milwaukee, WI?
On the median $62,130 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $50,149 a year ($4,179 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,953 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Milwaukee, WI a good place to work as a public safety telecommunicator?
Pay here is 17% above the national median of $53,040. Local prices are 3.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $51,733 would in a typical U.S. city. Milwaukee, WI ranks #14 of 44 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a public safety telecommunicator afford rent in Milwaukee, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Milwaukee, WI is $1,119 a month ($1,338 for two bedrooms) — 27% of a median public safety telecommunicator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Milwaukee, WI
- Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant — $74,240
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $73,970
- Postal Service Mail Carrier — $61,130
- Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk — $60,510
- Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $59,830
- Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks — $59,190
- Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators — $58,300
- Insurance Claim and Policy Processing Clerk — $53,980
- Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance — $51,860
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $50,920
- Bill and Account Collector — $50,360
- Loan Interviewer and Clerk — $49,060