Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance
SOC code 43-5032 · O*NET-SOC 43-5032.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Office and administration
Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$50,340
a year
Hourly
$24.20
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$54,740
$26.32 per hour
Middle 50%
$42,750 – $62,450
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$36,030 – $78,140
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
202,810
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $36,030
- $17.32/hr
- 25th percentile
- $42,750
- $20.56/hr
- Median percentile
- $50,340
- $24.20/hr
- 75th percentile
- $62,450
- $30.02/hr
- 90th percentile
- $78,140
- $37.57/hr
What do dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance do?
Schedule and dispatch workers, work crews, equipment, or service vehicles for conveyance of materials, freight, or passengers, or for normal installation, service, or emergency repairs rendered outside the place of business. Duties may include using radio, telephone, or computer to transmit assignments and compiling statistics and reports on work progress.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Schedule or dispatch workers, work crews, equipment, or service vehicles to appropriate locations, according to customer requests, specifications, or needs, using radios or telephones.
- Prepare daily work and run schedules.
- Confer with customers or supervising personnel to address questions, problems, or requests for service or equipment.
- Relay work orders, messages, or information to or from work crews, supervisors, or field inspectors, using telephones or two-way radios.
- Oversee all communications within specifically assigned territories.
- Receive or prepare work orders.
- Record and maintain files or records of customer requests, work or services performed, charges, expenses, inventory, or other dispatch information.
- Arrange for necessary repairs to restore service and schedules.
How to qualify for this work
Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 47% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)47%
- Some College Courses26%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree8%
- Post-Secondary Certificate7%
Common questions
How much does a dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance earn?
The national median is $50,340 a year. The full range runs from $36,030 at the 10th percentile to $78,140 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Active Listening4.0/5
- Speaking4.0/5
- Monitoring3.9/5
- Reading Comprehension3.8/5
- Writing3.1/5
- Critical Thinking3.1/5
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service4.3/5
- Public Safety and Security4.0/5
- Administration and Management3.9/5
- Administrative3.7/5
- English Language3.5/5
- Transportation3.5/5
- Personnel and Human Resources3.3/5
- Computers and Electronics3.1/5
Transferable strengths: Coordination, Time Management, Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation.