How to hire an emergency communications technician

How to hire an emergency communications technician, step by step

Here's a step-by-step emergency communications technician 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 technician job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new emergency communications technician
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your emergency communications technician job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find an emergency communications technician for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   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 technician 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 technician that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of emergency communications technicians and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Emergency Communications Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   Emergency Communications Technician	Police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers, also called public safety telecommunicators, answer emergency and nonemergency calls.	$14-28
   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
   Police Dispatcher	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... Show more	$13-23

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Emergency Communications
   • Patient Care
   • CPR
   • Computer Aided Dispatch
   • Data Entry
   • Medical Services
   • CAD
   • Computer System
   • Ambulances
   • Safety Regulations
   • Fire/EMS
   • NCIC
   • Criminal Justice
   • Non-Emergency Services

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Compile a supplementary report for incorrect VCIN codes.
   • Coordinate emergency services for police, fire and ambulances.
   • Assist and independently train new hires and senior management on new protocols, CPR, and EMD software.
   • Maintain composure and compassion while handling emergency and non-emergency calls from a diverse community
   • Receive training regarding updates and changes of policies, procedure and regulations to CJIS.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your emergency communications technician job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An emergency communications technician can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, emergency communications technicians' average salary in arkansas is 58% less than in oregon.
   • Seniority. Entry-level emergency communications technicians 50% less than senior-level emergency communications technicians.
   • Certifications. An emergency communications technician with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an emergency communications technician's salary.

   Average emergency communications technician salary

   $42,950yearly

   $20.65 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level emergency communications technician salary

   $30,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 30, 2026

4. Writing an emergency communications technician job description

   An emergency communications technician 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. To help get you started, here's an example of an emergency communications technician job description:

   Emergency communications technician job description example

   Shifts and Locations Available:
   
   PRN/Supplemental - 0-24 hrs per week, as needed (depending upon shift availability)
   
   Location: Special Events Venues in Downtown Indianapolis. Including: Lucas Oil Stadium, Victory Field, and Indiana Convention Center
   
   About the Position:
   
   Are you seeking an opportunity to continue utilizing your professional skills while striving to provide the best care for the community you serve during our community events downtown? Then our Special Events EMT is the one for you!
   
   The IU Health (IUH) team supports the downtown community in various ways, one of them being by providing safety and care during our downtown events. These include, but are not limited to basketball, football, and convention events. Our EMTs participate in all aspects of and manage the care, transport, and treatment of ill/injured patients. This included patients in both emergency and non-emergency situations.
   
   A team member will have the chance to coordinate and manage neonatal, infant, pediatric, adult, and elderly patients. Therefore, they need to possess the required knowledge and skill for care. During care, EMTs may be required to acquire consents and authorizations from the patient or legal guardians. As a crew member, there are opportunities to work with ground-breaking technology available in our ambulances.
   
   As a PRN/Supplemental team member, you'll have the opportunity to take advantage of some of the benefits IUH has to offer its team. We provide continuous opportunities for education and certification/licensure, volunteer and community outreach opportunities, as well as lateral and vertical movement within the organization. In addition, we offer flexible scheduling for our teams!
   
   • High School Diploma or GED is required.
   
   • Requires Basic Life Support certification through the AHA. Other advanced life support certifications may be required per unit/department specialty according to patient care policies.
   
   • EMT or PCA certification is preferred.
   
   • Requires knowledge of routine patient care procedures.
   
   • Requires familiarity with standard medical equipment and supplies.
   
   • Requires basic understanding of infection control.
   
   • Requires Knowledge of EMTALA
   
   • Some experience in patient care within a hospital setting is preferred.
   
   REQNUMBER: 340140

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right emergency communications technician 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 technician job on Zippia to find and recruit emergency communications technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit emergency communications technicians, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   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 technician

   Once you've found the emergency communications technician candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   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.

   To prepare for the new emergency communications technician first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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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