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Dispatcher salary
Average dispatcher salary
$35,328
Understanding Dispatcher Salaries
As of October 2025, the average dispatcher salary in the United States is approximately $35,328 per year, translating to around $17 per hour. However, salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as location, years of experience, and industry type.
Salary Variations by State
Dispatchers in certain states tend to earn more due to demand and cost of living. For instance, states like California and New York often report higher averages due to their larger metropolitan areas and active transportation sectors.
Experience Level Impact
Entry-level dispatchers might start at lower salary points, typically around $30,000 annually, while those with several years of experience can earn significantly more. Advanced positions, such as supervisory roles, can command salaries exceeding $50,000.
Industry Differences
Dispatcher roles exist in various sectors, including emergency services, transportation, and logistics. Each sector has its salary standards, with emergency services often offering competitive pay due to the critical nature of the work.
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Where can a Dispatcher earn more?
Dispatcher salaries by experience level
Dispatcher salary estimates from across the web
Average dispatcher salary by state
The average dispatcher salary in Alaska, Washington, and Connecticut are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average dispatcher salary states are Florida, Tennessee, and Mississippi.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for dispatchers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $46,570 | $22.39 |
| 2 | Washington | $44,513 | $21.40 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $38,034 | $18.29 |
| 4 | North Dakota | $37,609 | $18.08 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $38,738 | $18.62 |
| 6 | Oregon | $37,970 | $18.25 |
| 7 | Vermont | $38,518 | $18.52 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $39,659 | $19.07 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | $37,056 | $17.82 |
| 10 | California | $39,969 | $19.22 |
| 11 | Colorado | $37,316 | $17.94 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $37,559 | $18.06 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $41,084 | $19.75 |
| 14 | Wyoming | $35,527 | $17.08 |
| 15 | Illinois | $37,254 | $17.91 |
| 16 | Virginia | $37,365 | $17.96 |
| 17 | Iowa | $34,997 | $16.83 |
| 18 | West Virginia | $35,949 | $17.28 |
| 19 | Missouri | $34,094 | $16.39 |
| 20 | Ohio | $34,217 | $16.45 |
| 21 | Montana | $33,574 | $16.14 |
| 22 | Utah | $33,642 | $16.17 |
| 23 | New York | $37,927 | $18.23 |
| 24 | Michigan | $34,416 | $16.55 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $34,544 | $16.61 |
| 26 | South Dakota | $33,416 | $16.07 |
| 27 | Nebraska | $35,302 | $16.97 |
| 28 | Idaho | $35,188 | $16.92 |
| 29 | Indiana | $33,559 | $16.13 |
| 30 | Hawaii | $34,966 | $16.81 |
| 31 | Arizona | $33,185 | $15.95 |
| 32 | Rhode Island | $34,525 | $16.60 |
| 33 | Maryland | $34,360 | $16.52 |
| 34 | Kansas | $32,292 | $15.53 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $31,427 | $15.11 |
| 36 | Texas | $32,819 | $15.78 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $31,914 | $15.34 |
| 38 | Georgia | $33,250 | $15.99 |
| 39 | Nevada | $31,632 | $15.21 |
| 40 | Florida | $31,552 | $15.17 |
| 41 | Delaware | $34,360 | $16.52 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $32,718 | $15.73 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $32,134 | $15.45 |
| 44 | District of Columbia | $33,849 | $16.27 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $31,969 | $15.37 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $32,118 | $15.44 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $31,336 | $15.07 |
| 48 | Maine | $31,822 | $15.30 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $29,487 | $14.18 |
| 50 | Alabama | $29,903 | $14.38 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $29,291 | $14.08 |
Highest paying cities for dispatchers
The highest-paying cities for dispatchers are Seattle, WA, Oakland, CA, and Boston, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $44,841 | $21.56 |
| 2 | Oakland, CA | $41,073 | $19.75 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $39,638 | $19.06 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $38,015 | $18.28 |
| 5 | Portland, OR | $37,738 | $18.14 |
| 6 | Sterling, VA | $37,556 | $18.06 |
| 7 | Colorado Springs, CO | $37,464 | $18.01 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $37,333 | $17.95 |
| 9 | Omaha, NE | $35,310 | $16.98 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $34,728 | $16.70 |
| 11 | Wilmington, DE | $34,431 | $16.55 |
| 12 | Baltimore, MD | $34,425 | $16.55 |
| 13 | Columbus, OH | $34,202 | $16.44 |
| 14 | Saint Louis, MO | $34,145 | $16.42 |
| 15 | Richmond, IN | $33,708 | $16.21 |
| 16 | Salt Lake City, UT | $33,573 | $16.14 |
| 17 | Phoenix, AZ | $33,274 | $16.00 |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $33,175 | $15.95 |
| 19 | San Antonio, TX | $33,116 | $15.92 |
| 20 | Kansas City, KS | $32,331 | $15.54 |
Dispatchers are the most in-demand in these five cities:
Dispatcher salary details
A dispatcher's salary ranges from $27,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $44,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a dispatcher's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
| 75th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
| Average | $35,328 | $2,944 | $17 |
| 25th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
| 10th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
Highest paying dispatcher jobs
The highest paying types of dispatchers are train dispatcher, dispatcher/driver, and dispatcher supervisor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Telecommunication Operator | $39,381 | $3,282 | $18.93 | 34,218 |
| Yardmaster/Customer Service/Crew Dispatching | $31,397 | $2,616 | $15.09 | 157,794 |
| Communications Operator | $31,491 | $2,624 | $15.14 | 48,509 |
| Operations/Dispatch | $39,483 | $3,290 | $18.98 | 60,313 |
| Transportation Dispatcher | $36,218 | $3,018 | $17.41 | 12,205 |
| Public Safety Dispatcher | $35,063 | $2,922 | $16.86 | 25,700 |
Top companies hiring dispatchers now:
Which companies pay dispatchers the most?
Dispatcher salaries at Mt. San Antonio College and Argonne National Laboratory are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average dispatcher salary at companies like Saint Xavier University and Moody's are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mt. San Antonio College | $58,545 | $28.15 |
| 2 | Argonne National Laboratory | $56,857 | $27.34 |
| 3 | Saint Xavier University | $49,353 | $23.73 |
| 4 | Moody's | $46,750 | $22.48 |
| 5 | University of California-Berkeley | $46,682 | $22.44 |
| 6 | Town of Davie, FL | $45,593 | $21.92 |
| 7 | Licking County | $45,523 | $21.89 |
| 8 | National Grid plc | $45,367 | $21.81 |
| 9 | North Arkansas Regional Medical Center | $44,875 | $21.57 |
| 10 | Steel Dynamics | $44,798 | $21.54 |
| 11 | Aqua | $44,690 | $21.49 |
| 12 | Brown County | $44,626 | $21.45 |
| 13 | Baker Hughes | $44,558 | $21.42 |
| 14 | York County | $44,504 | $21.40 |
| 15 | Multnomah County | $44,346 | $21.32 |
| 16 | Sherburne County | $44,049 | $21.18 |
| 17 | Bentley University | $43,900 | $21.11 |
| 18 | Big Horn Electric | $43,886 | $21.10 |
| 19 | University of California | $43,773 | $21.04 |
| 20 | City of San Antonio | $43,480 | $20.90 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Dispatcher salary by industry
The average dispatcher salary varies across industries:
- The average dispatcher salary in the government industry is $38,914, the highest of any industry.
- The average dispatcher salary in the finance industry is $38,397.
- Dispatchers in the professional industry earn an average salary of $34,589, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for dispatchers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Government | $38,914 | $18.71 |
| 2 | Energy | $38,397 | $18.46 |
| 3 | Utilities | $37,267 | $17.92 |
| 4 | Transportation | $35,630 | $17.13 |
| 5 | Manufacturing | $35,123 | $16.89 |
| 6 | Telecommunication | $35,107 | $16.88 |
| 7 | Professional | $34,589 | $16.63 |
High paying dispatcher jobs
Dispatcher salary trends
The average dispatcher salary has risen by $4,983 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average dispatcher earned $30,345 annually, but today, they earn $35,328 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for dispatchers over the last decade.
Compare dispatcher salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average dispatcher salary over time
Compare dispatcher salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Dispatcher salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $35,300 | $16.98 | +1.9% |
| 2024 | $34,600 | $16.66 | +1.8% |
| 2023 | $34,000 | $16.36 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | $33,400 | $16.08 | +2.2% |
| 2021 | $32,700 | $15.72 | +2.1% |
Recently added dispatcher salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waste Connections | Dispatcher | Justin, TX | 06/30/2025 | $41,740 |
| Waste Connections | Dispatcher | Miami, FL | 06/30/2025 | $41,740 |
| Guardian Pharmacy | Dispatcher | Anaheim, CA | 06/30/2025 | $43,827 |
| Gobeacon | Dispatcher | Lancaster, CA | 06/30/2025 | $33,392 |
| Gobeacon | Dispatch | Columbia, MO | 06/30/2025 | $43,827 |
| Gobeacon | Dispatch | Olathe, KS | 06/30/2025 | $45,184 |
| Ait Worldwide Logistics | Dispatcher I | Freeport, NY | 06/29/2025 | $53,010 |
| American Residential Services | Hvac Sales Dispatcher | Atlanta, GA | 06/29/2025 | $37,566 |
| Interface Security Systems | Alarm Monitoring Dispatcher-Night Shift (1030Pm-715Am) | Plano, TX | 06/29/2025 | $40,383 |
| Mesilla Valley Transportation | ECT Dispatcher | Groveport, OH | 06/29/2025 | $45,914 |
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