How much does a 911 dispatcher make?
a year · about $26 an hour
A typical 911 dispatcher in the United States makes $53,040 a year, about $26 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
At a 911 center, you answer phone or text calls, ask where help is needed, and type details while listening to radios. You send police, firefighters, or paramedics, track their progress, and may coach callers on safety or CPR.
Did you know? A 911 dispatcher may coach a caller through CPR by phone while help is on the way, so life-saving help can begin before an ambulance arrives.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $37,320 and $79,830How do you become one?
Finish high school or earn a GED, then apply; some U.S. agencies require a typing test and applicants to be 18. New hires train on the job, and state or local rules may require certification, including medical-dispatch training.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like keeping things organized and building and doing
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., pay can differ with experience, extra certifications, the kind of employer, and location. Some agencies add pay for night shifts, certifications, or speaking another language, so each employer sets its own rules.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in California ($80,120), lowest in Mississippi ($34,510).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $37,320 | $53,040 | $79,830 | about 103,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| California | $80,120 | about 9,000 |
| Washington | $78,850 | about 2,000 |
| Oregon | $71,980 | about 1,000 |
| Minnesota | $66,550 | about 1,000 |
| Colorado | $63,520 | about 2,000 |
Official definition: 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.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/police-fire-and-ambulance-disp
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.911.gov/issues/telecommunicators-and-training/
- www.balchspringstx.gov/501/Dispatcher911-Operator-Salary-and-Benefi
- www.phila.gov/2020-04-16-911-call-takers-and-dispatchers-meet-the-first-of-the-f
- www.governmentjobs.com/careers/highpointnc/jobs/newprint/4658847
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY