How to hire a 911 emergency dispatcher

How to hire a 911 emergency dispatcher, step by step

Here's a step-by-step 911 emergency dispatcher hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a 911 emergency dispatcher job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new 911 emergency dispatcher
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a 911 emergency dispatcher, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A 911 emergency dispatcher's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, 911 emergency dispatchers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of 911 emergency dispatchers.

   Type of 911 Emergency Dispatcher	Description	Hourly rate
   911 Emergency Dispatcher	Police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers, also called public safety telecommunicators, answer emergency and nonemergency calls.	$12-23
   Communications Officer	A communications officer is responsible for maintaining the brand image of an organization through monitoring marketing campaigns and public relations techniques. Communications officers handle press releases, social media management, media outreach, reviewing digital contents, and disseminating public communications within the company's premises and appropriate audience... Show more	$12-29
   Call Taker	A call taker works at a call or dispatch center, where they are primarily in charge of answering calls, identifying the callers' needs, and coordinating services to assist them right away. Although their responsibilities depend on their company or industry of employment, it usually involves answering inquiries, processing requests, arranging appointments or reservations, and handling issues and concerns, resolving them promptly and efficiently... Show more	$13-24

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • EMS
   • Computer Aided Dispatch
   • NCIC
   • CAD
   • Public Safety Agencies
   • Law Enforcement Agencies
   • CPR
   • Computer System
   • Emergency Situations
   • Fire Ambulance
   • Medical Dispatch
   • Dispatch System
   • Dispatch Police
   • Medical Services

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Help deliver several healthy babies with the assistance of the 911 EMD cards.
   • Help callers perform CPR, Heimlich maneuver, and other lifesaving measures of injure subjects.
   • Answer emergency and non-emergency calls and dispatch the appropriate department whether it be police, fire, or ems.
   • Operate a nationwide computerize crime information system (NCIC) to all criminal justice agencies-local, state and federal.
   • Log warrant entries, missing persons, and stolen vehicles as well as other miscellaneous items into the national NCIC program.
   • Administer CPR instructions to numerous third party individuals.

   More 911 emergency dispatcher duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your 911 emergency dispatcher job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A 911 emergency dispatcher can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, 911 emergency dispatchers' average salary in south carolina is 58% less than in pennsylvania.
   • Seniority. Entry-level 911 emergency dispatchers 45% less than senior-level 911 emergency dispatchers.
   • Certifications. A 911 emergency dispatcher with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a 911 emergency dispatcher's salary.

   Average 911 emergency dispatcher salary

   $36,782yearly

   $17.68 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level 911 emergency dispatcher salary

   $27,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 24, 2025

   Average 911 emergency dispatcher salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Minnesota	$46,436	$22
   2	Colorado	$41,362	$20
   3	New Jersey	$41,077	$20
   4	New York	$40,766	$20
   5	Wisconsin	$40,417	$19
   6	California	$39,742	$19
   7	Utah	$38,904	$19
   8	Indiana	$35,522	$17
   9	New Mexico	$32,827	$16
   10	Arizona	$32,272	$16
   11	Ohio	$30,109	$14
   12	Texas	$29,412	$14
   13	Oklahoma	$27,440	$13
   14	Georgia	$25,956	$12

   Average 911 emergency dispatcher salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Clark County	$45,521	$21.89	2
   2	Stearns County MN	$42,516	$20.44
   3	Medstar Health	$40,459	$19.45	5
   4	Redevelopment Agency of Salt Lake City	$40,148	$19.30
   5	City of Stafford	$38,477	$18.50	2
   6	City of Rochester NY	$37,944	$18.24	2
   7	Williamson County	$37,352	$17.96
   8	Rutgers University	$37,286	$17.93	4
   9	City of Columbus	$36,421	$17.51	1
   10	Archuleta County	$35,876	$17.25	1
   11	Lake County	$35,630	$17.13	2
   12	City of Peoria	$35,503	$17.07	1
   13	City of Astoria	$35,134	$16.89
   14	Milwaukee County	$34,840	$16.75
   15	Arapahoe County	$33,858	$16.28
   16	Scott County, Iowa	$33,510	$16.11
   17	Livingston County	$33,083	$15.91
   18	Valparaiso University	$32,542	$15.65
   19	Missouri City Hall	$32,387	$15.57
   20	American Medical Response	$31,583	$15.18

4. Writing a 911 emergency dispatcher job description

   A good 911 emergency dispatcher job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a 911 emergency dispatcher job description:

   911 emergency dispatcher job description example

   Salary Range: $45,400-$65,800
   Hourly Rate: $20.00-$29.00
   
   If you are eager to launch your career in public safety, we want to hear from you!
   Experienced and non-experienced candidates welcome!
   Veterans and retired public safety professionals encouraged to apply!
   
   To learn more about the experience of working at IXP directly from our employees click here to choose a video from our “About Me at IXP” series!
   
   Position Overview
   
   Position is an essential personnel position which requires working in a variety of situations including during holidays, weekends, day/evening/night shifts, and during state of emergency. Position supports a 24/7, 365-day operation. Successful candidates must be able to work all shifts and have the flexibility to alter schedule based on departmental and operational need.
   
   This position is responsible for receiving emergency and non-emergency calls for service over the telephone and by other means, employing appropriate call screening protocols, and responding to those calls by dispatching the appropriate public safety resources. This position is responsible for interaction with other public safety dispatch centers in the answering and transferring of calls and incident information, and for maintaining communications with field personnel in law enforcement, fire and EMS agencies. This position is required to respond appropriately to requests for services and information from field personnel. The Telecommunicator will report directly to the Shift Supervisor.
   
   Essential Functions & Responsibilities
   
   Processes incoming and outgoing emergency and non-emergency telephone calls, ensuring agency policy, procedures and goals are met.
   Dispatches and communicates with law enforcement, fire and EMS units, ensuring agency policy, procedures and goals are met.
   Provides Supervisor with input regarding policies and procedures pertaining to the operation of the communications center.
   Coordinates with Supervisor to implement changes in Center procedures.
   Speaks English clearly and verbally communicates effectively.
   Works effectively and calmly in a high stress environment.
   Maintains familiarity with the general geography of the communities served.
   Meets all training requirements of the Company and site locations.
   Participates in available professional development for center staff.
   Communicates in a positive manner with Supervisor and other center staff.
   Reports commendable performance or deficiencies or liability issues to Supervisor in a timely manner.
   
   Preferred knowledge/ability to learn new skills
   
   Knowledge of accepted call handling practices for public safety call takers with an emphasis on professionalism and high level of customer service.
   Familiarity with principles and practices of radio communications as well as the proper policies and procedures used in public safety dispatching with an emphasis on professionalism and high level of customer service.
   Knowledge of all aspects of operations of a public safety communications center.
   Communication facilities, equipment and management practices as they pertain to the operation of a public safety communications center.
   Technology systems utilized by a public safety communications center.
   Operational needs of public safety responders for law enforcement, fire and EMS.
   Agency's geographical service areas and relationship/location of public safety responders.
   Practical working knowledge in public safety communications.
   
   Requirements
   
   Successfully complete a myriad of training initiatives and certifications for call receiving and dispatching.
   Learn to operate a variety of technology including contemporary computer, radio and telephone systems.
   Work independently with minimal supervision.
   Work in an environment where multiple activities are routinely underway that influence the performance of the duties assigned.
   Coordinate multiple priorities and competing demands on time.
   Simultaneously process information from multiple sources (verbal, text, and video) and keep information clear.
   Quickly and accurately recall information, specifically names, numbers and details.
   Make appropriate decisions based on minimal information.
   Deal with sensitive information in a discreet and professional manner.
   Follow prescribed rules, regulations and procedures.
   Recall details and record information/numbers quickly and correctly.
   Communicate effectively and professionally, both orally and in writing.
   Work collaboratively and cooperatively with co-workers and personnel from customer agencies.
   Be able to work in a shift-work environment with variable hours of work and schedule over the course of typical work year.
   Present ideas and recommendations in a clear and concise manner.
   Be reliable, and highly dependable in reporting for work on time and as scheduled, on a consistent basis.
   Be available for overtime as needed.
   
   Qualifications and Skills
   
   High School Diploma (or equivalent).
   Two (2) years of proven paid experience in public safety communications (preferred).
   Three (3) years general work experience, (preferred).
   
   Must have completed/ or will complete:
   Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) Terminal Operator Certification
   Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) Certification through the National Academies of Emergency Dispatch (NAED).
   Emergency Fire Dispatch (EFD) Certification through the National Academies of Emergency Dispatch (NAED).
   Emergency Telecommunicator Certification (ETC) through the National Academies of Emergency Dispatch (NAED).
   General police, fire and EMS operations training.
   Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
   
   Work Environment
   
   Shift work environment where we offer flexible shifts for an employee life/work balance.
   Breaks and meals scheduled by Supervisors rather than individual desire.
   Call back and overtime required.
   24/7 operations with work scheduled on days others consider holidays.
   Work performed at a stationary workstation.
   Occasionally will need to handle hostile or abusive callers in a professional manner.
   Must be able to perform under pressure and in a stressful environment.
   
   Physical Demands
   
   Dexterity of hands and fingers to operate personal computers.
   Sitting for extended periods of time working at computer keyboards, monitoring a variety of public safety communications systems, completing documentation required of operations.
   Vision, specifically to include up close, distance, color and peripheral; depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
   Hearing and speaking to exchange information with emergency callers and public safety personnel.
   
   #IND1

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right 911 emergency dispatcher for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with 911 emergency dispatchers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit 911 emergency dispatchers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your 911 emergency dispatcher job on Zippia to find and recruit 911 emergency dispatcher candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit 911 emergency dispatchers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new 911 emergency dispatcher

   Once you have selected a candidate for the 911 emergency dispatcher position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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