Public Service

Dispatcher Salary

Dispatchers coordinate emergency and non-emergency services, routing calls to appropriate responders and tracking response activities.

Median Salary
$46,780
Mean Salary
$49,200
Total Employed
112,500
Job Growth
+6%

Dispatcher Salary by Experience Level

Entry-level dispatchers earn around $33,000 per year, while mid-career professionals earn $48,000. Senior-level dispatchers can earn $66,000 or more.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$33,000
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$48,000
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$66,000

Salary Percentile Breakdown

The salary range for dispatchers varies significantly. The bottom 10% earn $31,000, while the top 10% earn $70,000.

Percentile Annual Salary
10th Percentile $31,000
25th Percentile $37,000
50th Percentile (Median) $46,780
75th Percentile $58,000
90th Percentile $70,000

Dispatcher Salary by State

Dispatcher salaries vary significantly by state due to cost of living, demand, and industry concentration. The highest paying state is Hawaii at $79,526, while Mississippi offers the lowest at $38,827.

State Median
#1 Hawaii $79,526 Details →
#2 California $64,556 Details →
#3 Massachusetts $63,153 Details →
#4 Alaska $58,007 Details →
#5 New York $57,072 Details →
#6 New Jersey $53,797 Details →
#7 Washington $53,797 Details →
#8 Connecticut $52,394 Details →
#9 Maryland $51,458 Details →
#10 Oregon $51,458 Details →
#11 Colorado $49,119 Details →
#12 New Hampshire $49,119 Details →
#13 Rhode Island $49,119 Details →
#14 Virginia $48,651 Details →
#15 Delaware $47,248 Details →
#16 Vermont $47,248 Details →
#17 Florida $45,844 Details →
#18 Maine $45,844 Details →
#19 Arizona $45,377 Details →
#20 Minnesota $45,377 Details →
#21 Nevada $45,377 Details →
#22 Utah $45,377 Details →
#23 Pennsylvania $44,909 Details →
#24 Illinois $44,441 Details →
#25 Montana $44,441 Details →
#26 Idaho $43,973 Details →
#27 Georgia $43,505 Details →
#28 New Mexico $43,505 Details →
#29 North Carolina $43,038 Details →
#30 Texas $43,038 Details →
#31 Wisconsin $43,038 Details →
#32 Wyoming $43,038 Details →
#33 Louisiana $42,570 Details →
#34 Indiana $42,102 Details →
#35 Michigan $42,102 Details →
#36 Nebraska $42,102 Details →
#37 North Dakota $42,102 Details →
#38 Ohio $42,102 Details →
#39 Iowa $41,634 Details →
#40 South Carolina $41,634 Details →
#41 Tennessee $41,634 Details →
#42 Missouri $41,166 Details →
#43 South Dakota $41,166 Details →
#44 Alabama $40,699 Details →
#45 Kansas $40,699 Details →
#46 Kentucky $40,699 Details →
#47 Oklahoma $40,231 Details →
#48 Arkansas $39,295 Details →
#49 West Virginia $39,295 Details →
#50 Mississippi $38,827 Details →

Key Responsibilities

  • Answer emergency and non-emergency calls
  • Dispatch police, fire, and EMS units
  • Monitor location and status of field units
  • Maintain communication logs
  • Prioritize calls based on urgency

Top Skills

Radio Communication CAD Systems Multi-tasking Stress Management Geography Typing

Education Required

High school diploma

Job Outlook

Faster than average — projected 6% growth over the next decade