911 Dispatcher
Salary, job outlook, education and requirements
Operate telephone, radio, or other communication systems to receive and communicate requests for emergency assistance at 9-1-1 public safety answering points and emergency operations centers. Take information from the public and other sources regarding crimes, threats, disturbances, acts of terrorism, fires, medical emergencies, and other public safety matters. May coordinate and provide information to law enforcement and emergency response personnel. May access sensitive databases and other information sources as needed. May provide additional instructions to callers based on knowledge of and certification in law enforcement, fire, or emergency medical procedures.
Also called: 911 Dispatcher · Communications Officer · Communications Operator · Communications Specialist · Emergency Communications Dispatcher · Emergency Communications Operator (ECO) · Police Dispatcher · Public Safety Dispatcher
O*NET-SOC 43-5031.00 (Public Safety Telecommunicators)
911 Dispatcher salary
Wages for public safety telecommunicators across all employers, 2025 data. The 10th percentile is typical entry-level pay; the 90th percentile reflects the most experienced and highest-paid workers.
National median hourly wage: $25.50.
911 Dispatcher pay by state
Ten largest states by population, annual wages.
| State | 10th percentile | Median | 90th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $49,350 | $80,120 | $108,650 |
| Texas | $37,950 | $50,040 | $64,190 |
| Florida | $37,060 | $50,170 | $77,820 |
| New York | $45,950 | $61,450 | $79,630 |
| Pennsylvania | $39,350 | $49,890 | $64,370 |
| Illinois | $38,920 | $61,260 | $94,970 |
| Ohio | $38,490 | $58,100 | $69,980 |
| Georgia | $31,820 | $42,790 | $59,760 |
| North Carolina | $38,080 | $46,550 | $59,770 |
| Michigan | $40,970 | $53,310 | $67,440 |
911 Dispatcher job outlook
- Employment is projected to go from 105,600 jobs in 2025 to 109,500 in 2035 (4% change).
- About 9,000 openings are projected each year, including jobs that open up as workers retire or change occupations.
- CareerOneStop outlook rating: Average.
How to become a 911 dispatcher
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- No work experience
- On-the-job training
- 1 to 12 months on-the-job training
Education level of current workers
- Less than high school diploma.7%
- High school diploma or equivalent24.1%
- Some college, no degree34.8%
- Associate's degree16.7%
- Bachelor's degree20.6%
- Master's degree2.7%
- Doctoral or professional degree.3%
What does a 911 dispatcher do?
Common tasks
- Provide emergency medical instructions to callers.
- Question callers to determine their locations and the nature of their problems to determine type of response needed.
- Determine response requirements and relative priorities of situations, and dispatch units in accordance with established procedures.
- Receive incoming telephone or alarm system calls regarding emergency and non-emergency police and fire service, emergency ambulance service, information, and after-hours calls for departments within a city.
- Relay information and messages to and from emergency sites, to law enforcement agencies, and to all other individuals or groups requiring notification.
- Record details of calls, dispatches, and messages.
- Monitor various radio frequencies, such as those used by public works departments, school security, and civil defense, to stay apprised of developing situations.
- Read and effectively interpret small-scale maps and information from a computer screen to determine locations and provide directions.
- Operate and maintain mobile dispatch vehicles and equipment.
- Maintain access to, and security of, highly sensitive materials.
Most important skills
- Active Listening
- Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
- Speaking
- Talking to others.
- Social Perceptiveness
- Understanding people's reactions.
- Coordination
- Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
- Critical Thinking
- Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
- Service Orientation
- Looking for ways to help people.
- Reading Comprehension
- Reading work-related information.
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
911 Dispatcher certifications
8 of 16 certifications CareerOneStop maps to this occupation. Requirements vary by employer and state.
- International Academies of Emergency Dispatch · Advanced
- International Academies of Emergency Dispatch · Advanced
- International Academies of Emergency Dispatch · Core
- International Academies of Emergency Dispatch · Advanced
- International Academies of Emergency Dispatch · Advanced
- International Academies of Emergency Dispatch · Advanced
- Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials · Core
- National Emergency Number Association · Core
See all 16certifications in CareerOneStop's Certification Finder
911 Dispatcher jobs
Current federal openings from USAJOBS. For more emergency management & safety jobs, including private-sector listings, see the Emergency Management & Safety jobs hub.
Job data from USAJOBS.gov. Careers.org is not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM.
Related careers
- Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance
- Emergency Medical Technicians
- Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service
- Paramedic
- First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers
- Police Officer
- Transit and Railroad Police
- Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians
- Airfield Operations Specialists
- Telephone Operators
More emergency management & safety careers
This page includes information from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA), and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).
Source: CareerOneStop occupation profile for Public Safety Telecommunicators. Wages are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program; projections are national long-term projections.