How to hire an emergency communications officer

How to hire an emergency communications officer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step emergency communications officer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an emergency communications officer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new emergency communications officer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the emergency communications officer you need to hire. Certain emergency communications officer roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them an emergency communications officer to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire an emergency communications officer that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of emergency communications officers.

   Type of Emergency Communications Officer	Description	Hourly rate
   Emergency Communications Officer	Police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers, also called public safety telecommunicators, answer emergency and nonemergency calls.	$13-25
   Public Safety Dispatcher	A public safety dispatcher is primarily responsible for handling emergency or non-emergency calls from the public. They are in charge of identifying the caller's needs calmly and proactively, dispatching law enforcement officers or emergency responders at the scene in a timely and efficient manner... Show more	$12-22
   Fire Dispatcher	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... Show more	$13-23

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Patrol
   • Computer Aided Dispatch
   • Emergency Situations
   • CPR
   • CAD
   • EMS
   • Emergency Communications
   • Public Safety Agencies
   • Data Entry
   • Emergency Services
   • Dispatch System
   • Medical Services
   • Law Enforcement Agencies
   • Radio Traffic

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Dispatch all patrol units to calls for service.
   • Monitor Fire/EMS calls of adjacent jurisdictions.
   • Maintain composure and compassion while handling emergency and non-emergency calls from a diverse community
   • Retrieve sensitive information such as, DMV files and background histories.
   • Insert foley catheter or straight cath a patient as directed.
   • Receive training regarding updates and changes of policies, procedure and regulations to CJIS.

   More emergency communications officer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the emergency communications officer job description is a good way to get more applicants. An emergency communications officer salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for an emergency communications officer in Tennessee may be lower than in Oregon, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level emergency communications officer. Additionally, an emergency communications officer with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average emergency communications officer salary

   $39,422yearly

   $18.95 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level emergency communications officer salary

   $28,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 23, 2026

   Average emergency communications officer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Illinois	$49,550	$24
   2	California	$47,676	$23
   3	Kansas	$47,346	$23
   4	Texas	$42,867	$21
   5	Nevada	$42,492	$20
   6	Virginia	$39,557	$19
   7	Arizona	$39,073	$19
   8	Missouri	$37,970	$18
   9	Florida	$37,336	$18
   10	Idaho	$35,331	$17
   11	North Carolina	$34,449	$17
   12	Alabama	$34,070	$16
   13	Georgia	$31,583	$15

   Average emergency communications officer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	City of Austin	$41,087	$19.75	1
   2	Duke University Health System	$38,947	$18.72	17
   3	City of Richmond	$38,064	$18.30	6
   4	Securitas Electronic Security	$37,370	$17.97	753
   5	City of Durham	$37,218	$17.89	3
   6	SEi Security	$35,800	$17.21
   7	Pasco	$34,762	$16.71
   8	Securitas AB	$34,571	$16.62	1,316
   9	GardaWorld Federal Services	$34,554	$16.61	364
   10	G4S	$34,543	$16.61	16
   11	Richmond Ambulance Authority	$34,279	$16.48	5
   12	State of Arizona	$34,116	$16.40	49
   13	G4s Secure Solutions International Inc.	$33,495	$16.10
   14	Allied Universal	$33,364	$16.04
   15	MGM Resorts International	$32,461	$15.61	9

4. Writing an emergency communications officer job description

   An emergency communications officer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of an emergency communications officer job description:

   Emergency communications officer job description example

   Allied Universal , North America's leading security and facility services company, provides rewarding careers that give you a sense of purpose. While working in a dynamic, diverse and inclusive workplace, you will be part of a team that fuels a culture that will reflect in our communities and customers we serve. We offer medical, dental and vision coverage, life insurance, 401K, employee assistance programs, company discounts, perks and more for all full-time positions!
   
   Allied Universal is hiring a Emergency Deployment Officer. As an Emergency Deployment Officer, you can deploy to a work site up to 200+ miles from the nearest AUS office. Each deployment will be temporary, for a time period that will vary by assignment. The officer must be prepared to work up to 60 hours a week and in arduous conditions. The officer must also be prepared to perform physical duties to include walking and standing . While deployed, the officer will typically conduct foot and / or vehicle patrol (interior and / or exterior), control access and egress, compose reports, deter criminal activity and misconduct, and perform other duties as specified in post orders. Travel with overnight stay as needed. Deployment may be up to several weeks at a time and officers must commit to a minimum of 30 days. Advance notice for deployment will typically be 24-48 hours; Emergency Deployment Officers are expected to be prepared to deploy on short notice.
   RESPONSIBILITIES
   
   Support Allied Universal customer, PG&E, by responding to natural disasters, protest and power outtages throughout California, coordinating efforts with PG&E and other government agencies. Manage access control systems during crisis and situations permitting access to authorized personel, monitoring entrance and exit points. Investigate and prepare incident reports on accidents and suspicious activity. Provide assistance to customers, employees and, visitors in a professional and courteous manner. Warn violators of rule infractions, such as loitering, smoking or, carrying forbidden items
   
   Hourly Rate: $17.50
   
   Additional: Mileage Reimbursement, per diem and hotel accommodations
   
   Must have flexible schedule and able to accept any shift.
   
   QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS:
   
   * Perform security patrols of designated areas on foot or in vehicle
   * Watch for irregular or unusual conditions that may create security concerns or safety hazards
   * Sound alarms or calls police or fire department in case of fire or presence of unauthorized persons
   
   BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
   
   * Formal Education, Licenses, Investigation, and Certifications Required:
   * Must possess a high school diploma or equivalent
   * Must possess atleast one year of verifiable security experience
   * Must possess the applicable license for the state to which you are deployed or have a license eligible for reciprocity for the state for which you are deployed. Allied Universal will provide the means to be licensed in multiple states as needed.
   * Must possess a valid driver's license
   * Licensing requirements are subject to state and/or local laws and regulations and may be required prior to employment.
   
   * Type and Length of Specific Experience Required:
   * If previously employed, meaningful and verifiable work history
   
   Allied Universal is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race/ethnicity, age, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetic information, disability, protected veteran status or relationship/association with a protected veteran, or any other basis or characteristic protected by law. For more information: www.aus.com
   
   If you have any questions regarding Equal Employment Opportunity, Affirmative Action, Diversity and Inclusion, have difficulty using the online system and require an alternate method to apply, or require an accommodation at any time during the recruitment and/or employment process, please contact our local Human Resources department. To find an office near you, please visit: www.aus.com/offices.
   
   PPO 14417

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right emergency communications officer for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your emergency communications officer job on Zippia to find and recruit emergency communications officer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit emergency communications officers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new emergency communications officer

   Once you have selected a candidate for the emergency communications officer position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new emergency communications officer. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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