Dispatcher demographics and statistics in the US
Dispatcher demographics research summary. Zippia estimates dispatcher demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our dispatcher estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about dispatchers after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 246,408 dispatchers currently employed in the United States.
- 61.9% of all dispatchers are women, while 38.1% are men.
- The average dispatcher age is 43 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of dispatchers is White (62.4%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (17.5%), Black or African American (10.3%) and Unknown (5.1%).
- Dispatchers are most in-demand in New York, NY.
- Seattle, WA pays an annual average wage of $44,841, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women dispatchers earned 93% of what men earned.
- Alaska is the best state for dispatchers to live.
- Dispatchers are 66% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Dispatcher demographics by:
Dispatcher gender statistics
61.9% of dispatchers are women and 38.1% of dispatchers are men.
- Female, 61.9%
- Male, 38.1%
Dispatcher gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 61.9% |
| Male | 38.1% |
Dispatcher gender pay gap
Women earn 93¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$36,682
Female income
$34,103
Dispatcher gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in dispatcher positions over time. Currently, 61.9% of dispatchers are female.
Dispatcher gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 35.67% | 64.33% |
| 2011 | 36.06% | 63.94% |
| 2012 | 34.78% | 65.22% |
| 2013 | 36.69% | 63.31% |
| 2014 | 34.30% | 65.70% |
| 2015 | 37.52% | 62.48% |
| 2016 | 36.62% | 63.38% |
| 2017 | 35.47% | 64.53% |
| 2018 | 42.26% | 57.74% |
| 2019 | 43.09% | 56.91% |
| 2020 | 43.48% | 56.52% |
| 2021 | 38.14% | 61.86% |
Dispatcher related jobs gender ratio
We compared dispatchers with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, centrifugal operator and flight information expediter have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetician | 3% | 97% |
| Schedule Checker | 10% | 90% |
| Plant Clerk | 14% | 86% |
| Dispatcher | 38% | 62% |
| Raw Scales Operator | 95% | 5% |
| Flight Information Expediter | 95% | 5% |
| Centrifugal Operator | 96% | 4% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Dispatcher demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among dispatchers is White, which makes up 62.4% of all dispatchers. Comparatively, 17.5% of dispatchers are Hispanic or Latino and 10.3% of dispatchers are Black or African American.
- White, 62.4%
- Hispanic or Latino, 17.5%
- Black or African American, 10.3%
- Unknown, 5.1%
- Asian, 3.8%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
Dispatcher race
| Dispatcher race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 62.4% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 17.5% |
| Black or African American | 10.3% |
| Unknown | 5.1% |
| Asian | 3.8% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.9% |
Dispatcher race and ethnicity over time
See how dispatcher racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Dispatcher race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 75.41% | 9.59% | 1.82% | 10.57% |
| 2011 | 72.29% | 11.37% | 1.84% | 11.47% |
| 2012 | 72.43% | 10.81% | 2.40% | 12.06% |
| 2013 | 73.67% | 10.30% | 2.21% | 10.51% |
| 2014 | 71.75% | 11.62% | 1.92% | 12.02% |
| 2015 | 72.03% | 11.76% | 1.89% | 11.94% |
| 2016 | 72.37% | 10.12% | 3.03% | 11.86% |
| 2017 | 72.17% | 9.51% | 2.13% | 13.04% |
| 2018 | 67.67% | 11.06% | 3.56% | 15.37% |
| 2019 | 68.95% | 9.16% | 3.15% | 16.34% |
| 2020 | 63.83% | 10.51% | 3.44% | 17.71% |
| 2021 | 62.40% | 10.27% | 3.85% | 17.51% |
Dispatcher wage gap by race
According to our data, white dispatchers have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american dispatchers have the lowest average salary at $36,207.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $36,893 |
| White | $37,236 |
| Black or African American | $36,207 |
| Asian | $36,435 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $36,649 |
Average dispatcher age
See how the average age of dispatchers varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Dispatcher age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 38.5 | 41 |
| White | 45 | 47 |
| Black or African American | 46.5 | 45.5 |
| Asian | 36 | 35.5 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 37 | 36.5 |
Dispatcher age breakdown
The average age of dispatchers is 40+ years years old, representing 60% of the dispatcher population.
Dispatcher age breakdown
| Dispatcher Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 60% |
| 30-40 years | 24% |
| 20-30 years | 16% |
Dispatcher educational attainment
The most common degree for dispatchers is high school diploma, with 33% of dispatchers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 27% and bachelor's degree degree at 24%.
- High School Diploma, 33%
- Bachelor's, 27%
- Associate, 24%
- Diploma, 8%
- Other Degrees, 8%
Dispatchers by degree level
| Dispatcher degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 33% |
| Bachelor's | 27% |
| Associate | 24% |
| Diploma | 8% |
| Other Degrees | 8% |
Dispatcher jobs you might like
Dispatcher wage gap by degree level
According to the data, dispatchers with a Bachelor's degree earn more than those without, at $38,122 annually. With a Associate degree, dispatchers earn a median annual income of $37,775 compared to $36,015 for dispatchers with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $36,015 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $38,122 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $37,775 |
Dispatcher employment statistics
Most dispatchers work for a private in the transportation industry.
Company size where dispatchers work
Below, you can see the size of companies where dispatchers work.
Dispatcher jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 5% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 12% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 21% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 10% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 28% |
| > 10,000 employees | 24% |
Dispatcher jobs by company type
Employees with the dispatcher job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most dispatchers prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Dispatcher jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 1% |
| Public | 24% |
| Private | 66% |
| Government | 10% |
Dispatcher jobs by industry
The most common industries for dispatchers are transportation, professional and government.
Dispatcher industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Transportation | 18% |
| Professional | 12% |
| Fortune 500 | 10% |
| Government | 8% |
| Utilities | 6% |
| Manufacturing | 6% |
| Energy | 5% |
| Hospitality | 4% |
| Telecommunication | 4% |
| Health Care | 4% |
| Retail | 4% |
| Technology | 4% |
| Construction | 3% |
| Media | 2% |
| Automotive | 2% |
| Finance | 2% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
| Non Profits | 1% |
| Insurance | 1% |
Dispatcher turnover and employment statistics
Dispatcher unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for dispatchers between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Dispatcher unemployment rate by year
| Year | Dispatcher unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 8.02% |
| 2011 | 6.93% |
| 2012 | 5.71% |
| 2013 | 5.09% |
| 2014 | 4.22% |
| 2015 | 3.94% |
| 2016 | 3.81% |
| 2017 | 3.05% |
| 2018 | 3.49% |
| 2019 | 3.26% |
| 2020 | 4.16% |
| 2021 | 5.61% |
Average dispatcher tenure
The average dispatcher stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 80,622 dispatchers resumes in Zippia's database.
Dispatcher tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 27% |
| 1-2 years | 34% |
| 3-4 years | 14% |
| 5-7 years | 14% |
| 8-10 years | 5% |
| 11+ years | 6% |
Dispatcher LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of dispatchers that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Inventory Control Associate | 6.40% | 157,859 |
| Dispatcher | 7.39% | - |
| Call Worker Person | 8.26% | 56,860 |
| Parcel Assistant | 10.33% | 10,187 |
| Flight Information Expediter | 10.63% | 59,929 |
| Posting Machine Operator | 11.70% | 53,653 |
| Fire Alarm Operator | 17.25% | 29,577 |
Similar dispatcher jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Inventory Control Associate | 6.40% | 157,859 |
| Call Worker Person | 8.26% | 56,860 |
| Parcel Assistant | 10.33% | 10,187 |
| Flight Information Expediter | 10.63% | 59,929 |
| Posting Machine Operator | 11.70% | 53,653 |
| Fire Alarm Operator | 17.25% | 29,577 |
Foreign languages spoken by dispatchers
The most common foreign language among dispatchers is Spanish at 76.4%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 4.7% and Russian is the third-most popular at 2.7%.
- Spanish, 76.4%
- French, 4.7%
- Russian, 2.7%
- German, 2.2%
- Carrier, 1.9%
- Other, 12.1%
Dispatcher languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 76.4% |
| French | 4.7% |
| Russian | 2.7% |
| German | 2.2% |
| Carrier | 1.9% |
| Other | 12.1% |
