You might have heard a quick news announcement that the average salary for 911 dispatchers is in the $33,000 – $53,000 range, but did you know there is a lot more to that story? Let’s find out if it’s possible to increase your income.
The average salary for a 911 dispatcher is $33,950 per year. This figure is based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment Statistics for 2016.
The median salary for 911 dispatchers was $32,050 per year, with a low of $26,480 per year and a high of $38,780 per year.
Average salary for 911 dispatcher
Being a 911 dispatcher is a stressful and rewarding job. You are often the first point of contact for people in need. As long as you are prepared, though, it can be an exciting and rewarding career.
What is a 911 dispatcher?
What is a 911 dispatcher?
A 911 dispatcher is the first point of contact for people in need. A dispatcher will receive calls from the public, dispatch police, fire, and medical personnel to the scene, and keep callers updated on their situation. As such, the role of a 911 dispatcher is critical to keeping everyone safe.
For starters: what exactly does it mean to be a 911 operator? In short, your job will be to receive emergency calls from people who are reporting an emergency—either directly or via an automated system—and then dispatch help as quickly as possible. This means you’ll have to have excellent customer service skills; you’ll also need to know how to operate computer technology (like dispatching systems) so that you can send out necessary information when needed (such as maps).
A 911 dispatcher is often the first point of contact for people in need.
A 911 dispatcher is responsible for taking calls from people in danger, sending help to those people, and keeping them on the line until help arrives. They also give instructions on how to help yourself while waiting for emergency services.
Like any job, a 911 dispatcher’s salary depends on what state and city they work in, as well as their experience.
Like any job, a 911 dispatcher’s salary depends on what state and city they work in, as well as their experience. The average salary for 911 dispatchers range from $25,000 to $45,000 per year.
You can make more money working as a 911 dispatcher in some states and cities than others, but no matter where you work the bottom line is that it pays well enough to support yourself financially. If you’re interested in becoming an Emergency Dispatcher I recommend checking out this article on How To Become A 911 Dispatcher.
The average hourly pay for a 911 dispatcher is $15.93 – about $33,000 per year.
The average salary for a 911 dispatcher is $15.93 per hour and $33,000 per year. The average hourly pay for 911 dispatchers varies depending on your location, with those in New York earning the most ($17.79 per hour) and Florida having the lowest average wage ($13.67). The median annual wage for a 911 dispatcher is $33,110 (meaning half earn more than this amount and half earn less).
The following are national averages across all states:
- Average annual income: $33,110
- Average hourly wage: $15/hr
How does a 911 dispatcher make that much?
The average salary for a 911 dispatcher is $33,000 per year, but this can vary greatly depending on location and experience. In some areas, such as large cities with high crime rates and a high volume of emergency calls, dispatchers may earn as much as $50,000 or more each year.
The amount of money you make will also depend on how many hours you work each week. If you’re able to get full-time employment at your local 911 center and take on additional shifts when needed (such as during holidays), your pay will increase accordingly.
What does the job of a 911 dispatcher involve?
As a 911 dispatcher, you will be involved in one of the most important jobs in modern life. Your job is to respond to emergency calls and coordinate with emergency responders. You will also manage the call queue, ensuring that no caller on hold gets disconnected or left waiting too long. Other responsibilities include ensuring the safety of emergency responders and keeping callers informed.
It’s important for 911 dispatchers to report their activities and progress regularly so that supervisors can ensure that they are performing at an acceptable level, both during daily operations and after major incidents such as hurricanes or earthquakes. These reports also help inform public officials about how well the system functioned during emergencies so that it can be improved if necessary.
What are the benefits of being a 911 dispatcher?
As a 911 dispatcher, you’ll have the opportunity to advance your career and earn more money.
While there are many benefits to becoming a 911 dispatcher, the most important is that you will be able to make sure that people in need of emergency assistance get help quickly.
This job can also provide good benefits such as health insurance and paid time off (PTO). You may also have opportunities for advancement if you’re willing or able to move up within the organization.
What are the most stressful parts of being a 911 dispatcher?
You’re the first point of contact for people in need. You’ll receive calls from people who are in situations that feel utterly hopeless—they’ll often be in a state of panic and despair, but you need to calm them down so that you can help them. Your decisions can have a huge impact on the outcome of a situation. For example, if someone has an allergic reaction and is having difficulty breathing, deciding when it’s safe for them to drive themselves home may save their life. If there’s been an accident with multiple victims, deciding who needs immediate medical attention could mean the difference between life or death for each person involved.
You may be the only person who can help someone during times of crisis—and sometimes there isn’t anyone else who can do what needs to be done at that moment (e.g., police officers aren’t always available).
How do I become a 911 dispatcher?
A 911 dispatcher is a public safety professional who answers emergency calls and gathers information from callers so that the appropriate response may be sent.
To become a 911 dispatcher, you must first complete the following courses:
- A class on the 911 system
- A class in public safety
- An introduction to communications
- An introduction to emergency management
- A course in criminal justice\psychology\sociology\political science
What can I do to be more prepared to become a 911 dispatcher?
To be a 911 dispatcher, you’ll need to be well-prepared in several areas:
- Emergency medical services: This will give you an understanding of what kind of emergencies callers might experience, as well as how to help them when they do.
- Communications: Understanding how to respond in an emergency situation and coordinating other personnel is crucial for a dispatcher’s job.
- Computers: Learning how the equipment works is important so that you can assist the caller and dispatch officers better than if you hadn’t taken this class. If it’s not clear from the context, computers are often used on a call center’s phone system or computer software.
- Customer service: Dispatchers must have excellent customer service skills because many people calling 911 will be upset, scared or frustrated with their situation and may not treat dispatchers with respect even though they’re trying their best! The key here is being able to remain calm under pressure while still interacting positively with callers who aren’t always friendly themselves.”
As long as you are prepared, it can be an exciting and rewarding career
If you’re going to become a 911 dispatcher, you have to be prepared for the unexpected. You will be handling every type of call imaginable, from car crashes and house fires to heart attacks and shootings. But it’s not all doom and gloom! For every serious situation there are plenty of people who need help with minor injuries or lost pets. You can count on having some laughs along with your tears in this job—and if you have a compassionate nature, it’ll make all the difference in how rewarding your work experience truly is.
Conclusion
When you’re a 911 dispatcher, your job is to assist people in need, and that can be very rewarding. You may even save lives, which is a great feeling! But it’s also important to realize that this job isn’t for everyone. If you don’t like working under pressure or dealing with difficult situations on an almost constant basis, then maybe consider something else. However, if those things don’t scare you off too much? Then try it out! Being a dispatcher is an incredibly rewarding career path and we hope this blog post has helped answer any questions that might have been lingering in your mind about this profession.
