How To Become A 911 Telecommunicator: What It Is and Career Path

What is a 911 telecommunicator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a 911 telecommunicator. For example, did you know that they make an average of $18.95 an hour? That's $39,425 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 4% and produce 3,600 job opportunities across the U.S.

Score911 TelecommunicatorUS Average

Salary

3.1

Avg. Salary $39,425

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

10.0

Growth rate 4%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.2

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.72%

Asian 0.90%

Black or African American 9.14%

Hispanic or Latino 11.11%

Unknown 6.00%

White 72.13%

Gender

female 69.58%

male 30.42%

Age - 38

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 38

Stress level

10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

4.9

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance

8.7

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a 911 telecommunicator

Explore 911 telecommunicator education requirements

Most common 911 telecommunicator degrees

Bachelor's

30.9 %

Associate

27.8 %

High School Diploma

25.8 %

Start to develop specific 911 telecommunicator skills

Skills	Percentages
EMS	12.26%
Computer Aided Dispatch	9.29%
CAD	8.88%
CPR	8.56%
EMD	5.74%

Complete relevant 911 telecommunicator training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New 911 telecommunicators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a 911 telecommunicator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real 911 telecommunicator resumes.

Gain additional 911 telecommunicator certifications

911 telecommunicator certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific 911 telecommunicator certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for 911 telecommunicators include Emergency Medical Dispatcher Certification (EMD) and Emergency Medical Dispatcher.

More About Certifications

Research 911 telecommunicator duties and responsibilities

Certify in firearms and CPR.
Maintain certification pursuant to CJIS/NCIC and EMD regulations.
Assist with first aid and CPR pre-arrival instructions when need.
Dispatch calls to fire, ems, city police, and county sheriff.

Prepare your 911 telecommunicator resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your 911 telecommunicator resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a 911 telecommunicator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable 911 telecommunicator resume templates

Build a professional 911 telecommunicator resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your 911 telecommunicator resume.