How much does a Field Radio Operator make in the United States?
As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Field Radio Operator in the United States is $39,096 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $19.
However, a Field Radio Operator's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $52,268
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $35,319 to $45,991
Key Factors That Influence Field Radio Operator Salaries
A Field Radio Operator's salary isn't a fixed number.
It's shaped by several important factors.
Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
How Experience Level Affects Field Radio Operator Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Field Radio Operator's salary.
As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases.
Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $38,729
Early Career (1-2 years): $39,587
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $42,789
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $43,132
Expert (over 8 years): $43,360
Levels
Salary
Entry Level Field Radio Operator
$38,729
Intermediate Level Field Radio Operator
$39,587
Senior Level Field Radio Operator
$42,789
Specialist Level Field Radio Operator
$43,132
Expert Level Field Radio Operator
$43,360
$38,7290 yr
$39,587< 2 yrs
$42,7892-4 yrs
$43,1325-8 yrs
$43,360> 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do Field Radio Operator Salaries Vary from State to State?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work.
States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors
often pay more to attract Field Radio Operators.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $43,287.
California: $43,123.
Massachusetts: $42,548.
District of Columbia$43,287
California$43,123
Massachusetts$42,548
Washington$42,392
New Jersey$42,376
Alaska$42,321
Connecticut$41,782
New York$41,563
Hawaii$40,863
Rhode Island$40,535
Maryland$40,312
Minnesota$40,007
Colorado$39,890
Illinois$39,851
Oregon$39,702
Delaware$39,593
New Hampshire$39,524
Virginia$39,370
Pennsylvania$38,920
Nevada$38,693
North Dakota$38,619
Michigan$38,502
Wisconsin$38,459
Vermont$38,373
Texas$38,134
Maine$38,119
Arizona$38,095
Ohio$38,068
Georgia$37,708
Indiana$37,528
Wyoming$37,493
Utah$37,438
Iowa$37,415
Kansas$37,227
Louisiana$37,172
North Carolina$37,153
Missouri$37,145
Florida$36,993
Montana$36,911
Nebraska$36,832
Kentucky$36,789
South Carolina$36,633
Tennessee$36,535
Idaho$36,496
New Mexico$36,211
Oklahoma$36,148
Alabama$35,917
South Dakota$35,530
Arkansas$35,319
West Virginia$35,206
Mississippi$34,866
Top Paying Cities for Field Radio Operators
Salaries can also vary between different cities.
Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay.
Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
San Jose: $49,312
San Francisco: $48,772
Oakland: $47,744
San Jose, CA$49,312
San Francisco, CA$48,772
Oakland, CA$47,744
New York, NY$45,015
Paramus, NJ$44,467
Queens Village, NY$44,465
Passaic, NJ$44,428
Bergenfield, NJ$44,425
Stamford, CT$44,339
Huntington, NY$44,323
Newark, NJ$44,034
Bridgeport, CT$43,951
Vallejo, CA$43,874
New Brunswick, NJ$43,858
Petaluma, CA$43,834
Middlesex, NJ$43,760
Somerset, NJ$43,733
Santa Cruz, CA$43,682
Boston, MA$43,443
Monterey, CA$43,306
Seattle, WA$43,217
Santa Rosa, CA$43,209
Los Angeles, CA$43,197
Juneau, AK$43,096
Washington, DC$43,053
Orange, CA$42,913
Santa Ana, CA$42,810
Long Beach, CA$42,771
Anaheim, CA$42,763
Anchorage, AK$42,744
Santa Maria, CA$42,626
Everett, WA$42,619
Danbury, CT$42,481
Bremerton, WA$42,427
Tacoma, WA$42,286
New Suffolk, NY$42,285
Sacramento, CA$42,275
Santa Barbara, CA$42,231
Trenton, NJ$42,188
San Diego, CA$42,188
Brockton, MA$42,145
Fairbanks, AK$42,050
Lompoc, CA$41,950
Lowell, MA$41,918
Ventura, CA$41,911
Nashua, NH$41,903
Stockton, CA$41,899
Modesto, CA$41,614
Poughkeepsie, NY$41,528
Olympia, WA$41,453
Kennewick, WA$41,453
New Haven, CT$41,438
Lawrence, MA$41,297
Hartford, CT$41,258
Riverside, CA$41,250
New Bedford, MA$41,211
Richland, WA$41,211
Bakersfield, CA$41,156
San Bernardino, CA$41,141
New Britain, CT$41,137
Atlantic City, NJ$41,137
New London, CT$41,121
Norwich, CT$41,109
Portsmouth, NH$41,102
Boulder, CO$41,019
Portland, OR$40,965
Worcester, MA$40,961
Minneapolis, MN$40,840
Philadelphia, PA$40,785
Honolulu, HI$40,656
Saint Paul, MN$40,637
Vineland, NJ$40,629
Providence, RI$40,515
Chicago, IL$40,402
Bellingham, WA$40,355
Springfield, MA$40,324
Baltimore, MD$40,312
Chico, CA$40,214
Pittsfield, MA$40,109
Manchester, NH$40,034
Spokane, WA$39,862
Denver, CO$39,858
Albany, NY$39,675
Troy, NY$39,659
Nassau, NY$39,617
Schenectady, NY$39,577
Wilmington, DE$39,546
Burlington, VT$39,491
Salem, OR$39,475
Portland, ME$39,354
Yakima, WA$39,315
Rochester, MN$39,194
Reno, NV$39,174
Fresno, CA$39,174
Milwaukee, WI$39,139
Detroit, MI$39,100
Ann Arbor, MI$39,093
Allentown, PA$39,088
Colorado Springs, CO$39,022
Syracuse, NY$39,002
Carson City, NV$39,002
Houston, TX$38,947
Eugene, OR$38,928
Gary, IN$38,881
Springfield, OR$38,850
Bismarck, ND$38,842
Galveston, TX$38,815
Medford, OR$38,756
Fort Collins, CO$38,740
Concord, NH$38,721
Austin, TX$38,709
Mesa, AZ$38,627
Reading, PA$38,623
Phoenix, AZ$38,619
Dallas, TX$38,607
Saint Cloud, MN$38,570
Madison, WI$38,517
Utica, NY$38,412
Rochester, NY$38,349
Des Moines, IA$38,345
Raleigh, NC$38,341
Atlanta, GA$38,283
Battle Creek, MI$38,271
Salt Lake City, UT$38,259
Lancaster, PA$38,201
Harrisburg, PA$38,146
Kansas City, MO$38,107
Champaign, IL$38,099
Kansas City, KS$38,099
Fort Worth, TX$38,095
Columbus, OH$38,088
Boca Raton, FL$38,080
Pittsburgh, PA$38,064
Richmond, VA$38,048
Indianapolis, IN$38,040
Cleveland, OH$38,036
Las Vegas, NV$37,990
Cincinnati, OH$37,990
Petersburg, VA$37,931
Huntsville, AL$37,872
Lansing, MI$37,846
Lebanon, PA$37,841
Pueblo, CO$37,837
Appleton, WI$37,825
Buffalo, NY$37,810
Dayton, OH$37,798
Racine, WI$37,790
Charlotte, NC$37,786
Saint Louis, MO$37,775
York, PA$37,751
Elkhart, IN$37,751
Gastonia, NC$37,744
Billings, MT$37,734
Beaumont, TX$37,724
Lorain, OH$37,716
Benton Harbor, MI$37,708
Toledo, OH$37,700
Binghamton, NY$37,681
Rock Hill, SC$37,677
Rockford, IL$37,657
Springfield, IL$37,642
Elyria, OH$37,638
Fargo, ND$37,638
Flagstaff, AZ$37,610
Fort Lauderdale, FL$37,587
Duluth, MN$37,563
Miami, FL$37,563
Cheyenne, WY$37,536
Grand Forks, ND$37,536
Bangor, ME$37,450
Cedar Rapids, IA$37,407
Durham, NC$37,391
Louisville, KY$37,388
Grand Rapids, MI$37,380
Hialeah, FL$37,376
Casper, WY$37,321
Scranton, PA$37,274
New Orleans, LA$37,262
Virginia Beach, VA$37,258
Akron, OH$37,239
Peoria, IL$37,188
Sarasota, FL$37,180
Nashville, TN$37,153
Omaha, NE$37,153
Green Bay, WI$37,153
Baton Rouge, LA$37,133
Charleston, SC$37,126
Jamestown, NY$37,106
Davenport, IA$37,106
Tucson, AZ$37,086
Saint Petersburg, FL$37,063
Tampa, FL$37,055
Evansville, IN$37,032
Port Arthur, TX$37,032
Bradenton, FL$37,016
Santa Fe, NM$36,946
Orlando, FL$36,875
Clearwater, FL$36,864
Canton, OH$36,782
La Crosse, WI$36,782
Albuquerque, NM$36,758
Newport News, VA$36,754
High Point, NC$36,742
Ogden, UT$36,727
Corpus Christi, TX$36,696
Norfolk, VA$36,672
Laramie, WY$36,672
Rock Island, IL$36,649
Saginaw, MI$36,641
Jacksonville, FL$36,637
Salisbury, NC$36,629
Boise, ID$36,621
Moline, IL$36,602
Fort Myers, FL$36,590
Memphis, TN$36,582
Tulsa, OK$36,563
Waterloo, IA$36,539
Spartanburg, SC$36,500
Lincoln, NE$36,480
Fort Wayne, IN$36,473
Provo, UT$36,469
Cedar Falls, IA$36,422
San Antonio, TX$36,406
Greensboro, NC$36,391
South Bend, IN$36,387
Savannah, GA$36,344
Muskegon, MI$36,328
Birmingham, AL$36,324
Winston Salem, NC$36,305
Lake Charles, LA$36,211
Anderson, IN$36,203
Lexington, KY$36,191
Augusta, GA$36,179
Greenville, SC$36,179
Lima, OH$36,148
Wichita, KS$36,144
Tuscaloosa, AL$36,144
Columbia, SC$36,109
Springfield, OH$36,101
Asheville, NC$36,039
Bloomington, IN$36,011
Knoxville, TN$35,871
Shreveport, LA$35,867
Wilmington, NC$35,816
Roanoke, VA$35,816
Topeka, KS$35,745
Frankfort, KY$35,741
Oklahoma City, OK$35,714
Chillicothe, OH$35,699
Longview, TX$35,695
Melbourne, FL$35,691
Sioux Falls, SD$35,628
Mobile, AL$35,624
Terre Haute, IN$35,609
Altoona, PA$35,585
Amarillo, TX$35,558
Killeen, TX$35,546
Fayetteville, AR$35,515
Chattanooga, TN$35,503
Sioux City, IA$35,468
Idaho Falls, ID$35,460
Lynchburg, VA$35,429
Gainesville, FL$35,378
Portsmouth, OH$35,358
Little Rock, AR$35,351
Lafayette, LA$35,335
Youngstown, OH$35,335
Daytona Beach, FL$35,312
Clarksville, TN$35,308
Pensacola, FL$35,304
Temple, TX$35,301
Hopkinsville, KY$35,186
Erie, PA$35,179
Florence, SC$35,163
Charleston, WV$35,100
Great Falls, MT$35,081
Macon, GA$35,026
Tallahassee, FL$35,022
Fayetteville, NC$35,014
Waco, TX$35,007
Helena, MT$34,979
Pine Bluff, AR$34,964
Vincennes, IN$34,917
Lubbock, TX$34,901
Alamogordo, NM$34,878
Twin Falls, ID$34,842
Rapid City, SD$34,831
Jackson, MS$34,760
Huntington, WV$34,758
Greenville, MS$34,756
Parkersburg, WV$34,716
Montgomery, AL$34,709
Wichita Falls, TX$34,670
Springfield, MO$34,670
Biloxi, MS$34,651
Monroe, LA$34,612
Johnstown, PA$34,584
Sumter, SC$34,569
Columbus, GA$34,565
Pascagoula, MS$34,490
Abilene, TX$34,490
Kingsport, TN$34,389
Albany, GA$34,389
Gulfport, MS$34,377
Alexandria, LA$34,248
Fort Smith, AR$34,150
El Paso, TX$34,045
Las Cruces, NM$33,869
Harlingen, TX$33,770
Pocatello, ID$33,763
Florence, AL$33,712
Brownsville, TX$33,705
Mcallen, TX$33,623
Dothan, AL$33,568
Columbus, MS$33,336
Altus, OK$33,153
Lawton, OK$33,079
Pierre, SD$32,938
What Skills Can Increase a Field Radio Operator's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Customer Service (Mentioned in 2.45% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
CPR (Mentioned in 2.63% Job Postings): Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) combines rescue breathing (mouth-to-mouth) and chest compressions to temporarily pump enough blood to the brain until specialized treatment is available.
Pediatric (Mentioned in 1.19% Job Postings): Pediatrics is the branch of medicine that involves the medical care of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Customer Service
2.45%
CPR
2.63%
Pediatric
1.19%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay.
Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Field Radio Operator's salary.
Flexibility: Can increase your salary by up to 17%.
Dedication: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
Acute Care: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
Flexibility
$45,742
17%
Dedication
$44,569
14%
Acute Care
$42,224
8%
Commitment
$41,833
7%
Leadership
$40,269
3%
Cardiology
$39,878
2%
Get Latest Data
Field Radio Operator Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Field Radio Operator roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential
by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare,
offers compensation 50% above the average. Conversely,
Field Radio Operator positions in Edu., Gov't & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay,
as this sector often view Field Radio Operator as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industry for a Field Radio Operator
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare
$58,644
$28.0
50%
How Education impacts a Field Radio Operator's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Field Radio Operators enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree,
higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.
According to our 100% employer-reported salary data,
the median salary for a Field Radio Operator with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between
$38,691
and $40,882).
Field Radio Operator Salaries by Degree Level
Typical Education for Field Radio Operator
No Diploma1.1%
High School64.0%
Associates13.5%
Bachelors15.7%
Masters4.5%
Doctorate1.1%
view as table
Degree Level
% of user with this level of education
No Diploma
1.1%
High School
64.0%
Associates
13.5%
Bachelors
15.7%
Masters
4.5%
Doctorate
1.1%
view as graph
Field Radio Operator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Field Radio Operator's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting.
Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role.
Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
Salaries for a Field Radio Operator can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $55,074 in 2023
to around $53,013 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Field Radio Operator salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Field Radio Operator Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$55,074
2024
$53,945
2025
$53,013
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$55,074
2024
$53,945
2025
$53,013
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Field Radio Operator
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers
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Compensation Planning
Common company salaries for Field Radio Operator
Here are companies hiring for Field Radio Operator and their salaries, click below for more details.
N
$97,099/per year
New York Police Department
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$95,962/per year
State of New York - Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$94,615/per year
US Department of Transportation
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$93,141/per year
US General Services Administration
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
L
$92,342/per year
Los Angeles County
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
D
$92,011/per year
Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$91,967/per year
US Department of Commerce
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$91,755/per year
US Department of Energy
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
F
$91,673/per year
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$90,276/per year
Naval Sea Systems Command
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
T
$88,975/per year
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$88,721/per year
San Diego County
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
T
$88,664/per year
The TTB
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
L
$87,569/per year
Lutheran Services
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
M
$85,066/per year
Maryland Inc
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$83,780/per year
State University of New York
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$82,969/per year
New York State
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
P
$82,703/per year
Puerto Rico Department of Education
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$80,526/per year
US Central Command
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
H
$80,286/per year
Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
A
$79,270/per year
Air Force Reserve
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
A
$78,505/per year
American Automobile Association (AAA)
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$76,678/per year
State of Florida - Department of Health
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$75,183/per year
New York State Department
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$75,106/per year
State University System of Florida
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
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