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Job title · Washington

911 Dispatcher / Public Safety Telecommunicator in Washington

Washington Office of Financial Management (OFM), State Human Resources lists 5 job classes for this work in the Washington state pay plan: Communications Officer 1–4.

$53,796 – $117,948
state pay plan range, a year
5
classes in the state plan
$78,850
median pay in WA, all employers
1,980
workers in WA (SOC 43-5031)

Sources: Washington Office of Financial Management (OFM), State Human Resources, Washington Classified Job Listing and OFM Salary Schedules (effective July 1, 2026); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Washington state pay plan Sourced

Published rates for each class, lowest first, effective July 1, 2026. These are the ranges Washington sets for its own state employees; cities, counties and school districts have their own pay plans.

Class and gradePublished rate
Communications Officer
Class 451E · class description
Grade 43SP
$53,796 – $71,988 a year
13 steps
  • Step A: $53,796 a year
  • Step B: $55,056 a year
  • Step C: $56,424 a year
  • Step D: $57,756 a year
  • Step E: $59,160 a year
  • Step F: $60,588 a year
  • Step G: $62,100 a year
  • Step H: $63,672 a year
  • Step I: $65,220 a year
  • Step J: $66,900 a year
  • Step K: $68,520 a year
  • Step L: $70,272 a year
  • Step M: $71,988 a year
Communications Officer 1
Class 451F · class description
Grade 51SP
$65,220 – $87,756 a year
13 steps
  • Step A: $65,220 a year
  • Step B: $66,900 a year
  • Step C: $68,520 a year
  • Step D: $70,272 a year
  • Step E: $71,988 a year
  • Step F: $73,848 a year
  • Step G: $75,672 a year
  • Step H: $77,544 a year
  • Step I: $79,440 a year
  • Step J: $81,480 a year
  • Step K: $83,496 a year
  • Step L: $85,656 a year
  • Step M: $87,756 a year
Communications Officer 2
Class 451G · class description
Grade 55SP
$71,988 – $96,804 a year
13 steps
  • Step A: $71,988 a year
  • Step B: $73,848 a year
  • Step C: $75,672 a year
  • Step D: $77,544 a year
  • Step E: $79,440 a year
  • Step F: $81,480 a year
  • Step G: $83,496 a year
  • Step H: $85,656 a year
  • Step I: $87,756 a year
  • Step J: $89,940 a year
  • Step K: $92,148 a year
  • Step L: $94,464 a year
  • Step M: $96,804 a year
Communications Officer 3
Class 451H · class description
Grade 59SP
$79,440 – $106,884 a year
13 steps
  • Step A: $79,440 a year
  • Step B: $81,480 a year
  • Step C: $83,496 a year
  • Step D: $85,656 a year
  • Step E: $87,756 a year
  • Step F: $89,940 a year
  • Step G: $92,148 a year
  • Step H: $94,464 a year
  • Step I: $96,804 a year
  • Step J: $99,228 a year
  • Step K: $101,712 a year
  • Step L: $104,268 a year
  • Step M: $106,884 a year
Communications Officer 4
Class 451I · class description
Grade 63SP
$87,756 – $117,948 a year
13 steps
  • Step A: $87,756 a year
  • Step B: $89,940 a year
  • Step C: $92,148 a year
  • Step D: $94,464 a year
  • Step E: $96,804 a year
  • Step F: $99,228 a year
  • Step G: $101,712 a year
  • Step H: $104,268 a year
  • Step I: $106,884 a year
  • Step J: $109,536 a year
  • Step K: $112,308 a year
  • Step L: $115,092 a year
  • Step M: $117,948 a year

Schedule: SP Range Salary Schedule. Rates are as the plan publishes them; "a year" figures are conversions. Classes are matched to this job by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).

Source: Washington Office of Financial Management (OFM), State Human Resources, Washington Classified Job Listing and OFM Salary Schedules (effective July 1, 2026). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Pay in Washington, all employers Sourced

Public Safety Telecommunicators (SOC 43-5031) in Washington, all employers combined: BLS state estimates do not separate government from private.

MeasureWA
Workers1,980
10th percentile$56,920
Median$78,850
90th percentile$96,130
National median, government employers$54,440

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Free practice tests for Washington

Source: Open Exam Prep, Open Exam Prep free practice tests. Data captured October 1, 2026. Each link was opened and its exam title checked on the date shown.

More about this job

Requirements, hiring process, training, schedule and day-to-day work are on the national 911 Dispatcher / Public Safety Telecommunicator page.

911 Dispatcher / Public Safety Telecommunicator in other states

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