If you are considering becoming a 911 dispatcher, and wonder what you can expect to make in the field, then you’ve come to the right place. The salary for 911 dispatchers varies quite a bit. In this comprehensive article, we will look at both averages and ranges of what a 911 dispatcher can earn in different parts of the country.
As a 911 dispatcher, you will be responsible for answering emergency calls and directing the appropriate response to those in need. You will work closely with other dispatchers, law enforcement officers, and medical professionals to ensure that the people of your community are kept safe.
The average salary for a 911 dispatcher is $37,000 per year, with some earning more than $50,000 annually.
Salary for 911 dispatcher
911 dispatchers serve as the critical link between people in distress and the emergency services they need at a moment’s notice to protect life and property. From small towns to major cities, both first responders and the community at large rely on skilled 911 dispatchers with the training to remain calm under pressure and skillfully gather and convey the key pieces of information that police, fire and EMS need to be ready when they arrive on scene.
Salaries for the emergency communication pros who make the entire emergency dispatch system tick from behind-the-scenes can vary widely. Dispatch centers can cover all kinds of different areas, from single metro area jurisdictions to multi-county regions, and that can mean a significant difference in salaries.
A Closer Look at 911 Dispatcher Jobs and Salary Benefits
According to the National Emergency Number Association (NENA), as of February 2021, there were 5,748 public service answering points (PSAPs) in the U.S. Every year, about 240 million calls are placed to PSAPs, about 80% of which are now made from mobile devices.
Growth in the emergency dispatcher profession is expected to remain strong in the coming years. As of 2019, there were 98,300 911 dispatcher jobs in the U.S. By 2029, this number is projected to grow to 104,3000 jobs – an increase of 6% during this period. The profession will see about 6,100 job openings during this period ending in 2029 due to a combination of new job growth and normal turnover resulting from retirements.
According to the BLS, 911 dispatchers earn, at the low end of the pay scale (25th percentile), about $34,630 and about $67,150 at the top end of the pay scale (90th percentile). Although, in general, earners at the 25th percentile are usually those who are fairly new to the profession and earners at the 90th percentile represent some of the most seasoned 911 dispatchers (who often hold a supervisor or director-level title), location continues to play a big part in the earning power of these professionals.
Highest Paying States and Major Metro Areas for 911 Dispatchers
In general, salaries for 911 dispatchers reflect the size of the emergency communications office and its service area, with large metro areas, and their large budgets, capable of employing more dispatchers with higher salaries. According to the BLS, the highest average salary for emergency dispatchers in nonmetropolitan areas is $62,440, while the highest paid average salary in metropolitan areas is significantly higher, at $96,230.
Geography, as expected, is one of the biggest factors that determine what 911 dispatchers can expect to earn, with dispatchers in parts of the country where the cost of living is higher typically earning more than their colleagues in more affordable areas.
As of May 2020, the states with the highest average salaries for emergency dispatchers were:
- California: $68,930
- Alaska: $61,640
- Washington: $61,550
- Oregon: $58,030
- Connecticut: $57,430
It’s no surprise that some of the highest paid 911 dispatchers are located in California metro areas, where the cost of living soars far above many other parts of the country:
- San Jose (includes Sunnyvale and Santa Clara), CA: $96,230
- San Francisco (includes Oakland and Hayward), CA: $88,100
- Santa Barbara (includes Santa Maria), CA: $79,340
- Santa Cruz (includes Watsonville), CA: $75,580
- Ventura (includes Oxnard and Thousand Oaks), CA: $74,930
- Stockton (includes Lodi), CA: $74,930
What can you expect to earn as an emergency dispatcher? The following BLS table provides insight into what emergency dispatchers are earning by state and by experience/education level (25th – new to the profession, likely no post-secondary education; 90th – four-year education, supervisory position), as of May 2020:
How Education and Experience Factor into a 911 Dispatcher’s Salary
Both education and experience influence salaries for emergency services dispatchers. While experience tends to pay a larger role, many agencies accept a formal education as a substitute for experience, on a year-by-year basis.
Associate and bachelor’s degrees in areas like public safety, criminal justice, emergency management, and communications are frequent pursuits of aspiring emergency dispatchers who want to prepare for supervisory-level careers and higher salaries.
