Airplane Dispatchers
Overview
Introduction
Airplane dispatchers plan and direct commercial air flights according to government and airline company regulations. They read radio reports from airplane pilots during flights and study weather reports to determine any necessary change in flight direction or altitude. They send instructions by radio to the pilots in the case of heavy storms, fog, mechanical difficulties, or other emergencies. Airline dispatchers are sometimes called flight superintendents. According to an Airline Dispatchers Federation survey, as of Januar...
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
According to PayScale.com, in June 2024 flight dispatchers earned a median annual salary of $61,000. The lowest 10 percent made less than $38,000 annually, while the top 10 percent earned more than $131,000 per year. Dispatcher salaries vary significantly among airlines.
According to PayScale.com, based on 11 salaries, an entry-level flight dispatcher with less than one year of experienc...
Work Environment
Airplane dispatchers are usually stationed at airports near a terminal or hangar but in facilities away from the public. Some airlines use several dispatch installations, while others use a single office. Because dispatchers make decisions involving not only thousands of people but also a great deal of money, their offices are often located close to those of management so that they can remain i...
Outlook
The majority of airplane dispatchers work for large airlines. Although some private firms and smaller airlines also hire airplane dispatchers, the number of jobs available for them could be a lot higher. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, airplane dispatchers have little to no expected job growth. However, the Department notes that an improving economy and population growth could lead t...