Emergency Services Dispatchers
Overview
Introduction
Emergency services dispatchers answer 911 telephone and alarm system calls and, if necessary, coordinate the dispatch of emergency responders. They also provide basic medical instructions to callers until first responders (emergency medical technicians, firefighters, police officers) can arrive. Approximately 102,700 emergency services dispatchers are employed in the United States. They are also known as 911 communications operators, 911 emergency operators, and public safety communicators.
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
Emergency services dispatchers earned median annual salaries of $48,990 in May 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Ten percent of dispatchers earned less than $33,490, and the top 10 percent earned $75,910 or more. The DOL reports that emergency services dispatchers who worked for local government agencies earned mean annual salaries of $52,740, while those who worked for sta...
Work Environment
This career can be stressful and emotionally taxing. Many dispatchers work eight- or 10-hour shifts; others work even longer shifts, and overtime is common. Since emergency services are needed 24/7, dispatchers must occasionally work at night, on weekends, and on holidays. Dispatchers frequently talk with people who are angry, scared, confused, or hard to understand, and the sheer number of the...
Outlook
Employment for emergency services dispatchers is expected to increase by 4 percent from 2023 through 2033, according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook. "Population growth and the commensurate increase in 9-1-1 call volume is expected to create demand for these workers," it explains. "However, state and local government budget constraints may limit the number of public safety telecom...