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The differences between dispatchers and police dispatchers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a police dispatcher has an average salary of $37,402, which is higher than the $35,328 average annual salary of a dispatcher.
The top three skills for a dispatcher include customer service, data entry and computer aided dispatch. The most important skills for a police dispatcher are computer aided dispatch, patrol, and CAD.
| Dispatcher | Police Dispatcher | |
| Yearly salary | $35,328 | $37,402 |
| Hourly rate | $16.98 | $17.98 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 5,818 | 6,964 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.25 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 33% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Average age | 43 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 2 | - |
Dispatchers are generally responsible for coordinating with the customers regarding the delivery status of the products and providing precise logistics and the fastest transportation routes to the professional drivers to ensure smooth and timely deliveries. A dispatcher is required to monitor the driver's location, strictly track road situations at all times to provide real-time updates for the customers, and advise the driver for alternative routes. Dispatchers also need to address possible customer complaints and process scheduling accurately to avoid inconsistencies in the delivery time.
Police Dispatchers are responsible for assessing incoming calls and deploying police resources using professional judgment. Their duties include answering emergency calls from agencies and the public, gathering information from police systems and call handlers, conducting priority assessments based on vulnerability and risks, and liaising with police officers to determine the logistics of place and time of an incident lodged. They also help facilitate investigations, reassure victims, and maintain accurate incident records.
Dispatchers and police dispatchers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Dispatcher | Police Dispatcher | |
| Average salary | $35,328 | $37,402 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $44,000 | Between $28,000 And $48,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Philadelphia, PA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Pennsylvania |
| Best paying company | Mt. San Antonio College | City of Seattle |
| Best paying industry | Government | Government |
There are a few differences between a dispatcher and a police dispatcher in terms of educational background:
| Dispatcher | Police Dispatcher | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 33% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Most common major | Business | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between dispatchers' and police dispatchers' demographics:
| Dispatcher | Police Dispatcher | |
| Average age | 43 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 38.1% Female, 61.9% | Male, 35.6% Female, 64.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 3.8% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | 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 | 7% | 17% |