How To Become A Call Taker: What It Is and Career Path

What is a call taker and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Call takers are responsible for directing calls to a dispatch center. They answer the phone and screen to determine whether the call is an emergency or not. They then relay the information to the proper channel, which can be an ambulance, fire department, or law enforcement precinct. They also talk to the caller to assess their needs and gather crucial and timely information. Call takers earn an average salary of $34,000 annually or $16 per hour.

Call takers help to save lives and properties by making quick decisions and reacting reasonably. They are in charge of answering all inbound 911 calls and gathering information about the precise location of the event, kind of event or incident, the exact description of individuals, vehicles, locations, etc. They then input all info into CADS and appropriately route the callers to the designated dispatcher for appropriate action.

Call takers typically hold a high school diploma or its equivalent. They are expected to have knowledge of emergency services practices and an understanding of the geography of the region in which they work. Some employers prefer candidates with communication and telephone skills.

ScoreCall TakerUS Average

Salary

3.0

Avg. Salary $38,776

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 74.02%

male 25.98%

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 call taker

Explore call taker education requirements

Most common call taker degrees

High School Diploma

30.4 %

Bachelor's

26.8 %

Associate

22.2 %

Start to develop specific call taker skills

Skills	Percentages
Computer Aided Dispatch	15.02%
Taker	13.32%
CAD	7.79%
Data Entry	5.00%
Customer Service	4.71%

Complete relevant call taker training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New call takers 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 call taker based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real call taker resumes.

Research call taker duties and responsibilities

Manage truck and equipment inventory, rental tracking and GPS monitoring.
Dispatch all patrol officers and fire departments.
Enter confidential info through NCIC directly under SLED/FBI.
Place outbound calls to advise members of eta.

Prepare your call taker resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your call taker 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 call taker resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable call taker resume templates

Build a professional call taker 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 call taker resume.