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The differences between call takers and fire dispatchers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a call taker has an average salary of $38,776, which is higher than the $37,441 average annual salary of a fire dispatcher.
The top three skills for a call taker include computer aided dispatch, taker and CAD. The most important skills for a fire dispatcher are BLM, computer applications, and computer aided dispatch.
| Call Taker | Fire Dispatcher | |
| Yearly salary | $38,776 | $37,441 |
| Hourly rate | $18.64 | $18.00 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 11,539 | 7,959 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 30% | Bachelor's Degree, 36% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
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. When it comes to employment, a call taker may work for 911 dispatch centers, taxi companies, towing services, and private hotlines.
Fire dispatchers or call operators are the people you hear when you call 911 or any emergency number. They evaluate your calls to determine whether or not you need the assistance of a firefighter. Dispatchers play an important role in an emergency or non-emergency response. Fire dispatchers provide life-saving medical instructions, send ambulances and firetrucks, and, if needed, police. And yet, despite all the hysterics, these dispatchers must remain calm and collected to get and provide valuable information. A dispatcher must have good communication skills, a high moral character and integrity, emotional self-control, and empathy.
Call takers and fire dispatchers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Call Taker | Fire Dispatcher | |
| Average salary | $38,776 | $37,441 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $51,000 | Between $28,000 And $49,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Mateo, CA | Grants Pass, OR |
| Highest paying state | California | Oregon |
| Best paying company | City of San Antonio | Mayor Ethan Berkowitz |
| Best paying industry | Government | Government |
There are a few differences between a call taker and a fire dispatcher in terms of educational background:
| Call Taker | Fire Dispatcher | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 30% | Bachelor's Degree, 36% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between call takers' and fire dispatchers' demographics:
| Call Taker | Fire Dispatcher | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 26.0% Female, 74.0% | Male, 36.6% Female, 63.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 0.9% White, 72.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 0.9% White, 72.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 17% | 17% |