Emergency dispatch operator vs lead dispatch

The differences between emergency dispatch operators and lead dispatches can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an emergency dispatch operator has an average salary of $45,398, which is higher than the $39,625 average annual salary of a lead dispatch.

The top three skills for an emergency dispatch operator include departmental procedures, emergency dispatch and customer service. The most important skills for a lead dispatch are data entry, logistics, and payroll.

Emergency dispatch operator vs lead dispatch overview

	Emergency Dispatch Operator	Lead Dispatch
Yearly salary	$45,398	$39,625
Hourly rate	$21.83	$19.05
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	48,634	4,847
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 34%	High School Diploma, 34%
Average age	39	43
Years of experience	-	2

Emergency dispatch operator vs lead dispatch salary

Emergency dispatch operators and lead dispatches have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Emergency Dispatch Operator	Lead Dispatch
Average salary	$45,398	$39,625
Salary range	Between $32,000 And $64,000	Between $30,000 And $50,000
Highest paying City	-	Seattle, WA
Highest paying state	-	Alaska
Best paying company	-	Yaamava' Resort & Casino
Best paying industry	-	Health Care

Differences between emergency dispatch operator and lead dispatch education

There are a few differences between an emergency dispatch operator and a lead dispatch in terms of educational background:

	Emergency Dispatch Operator	Lead Dispatch
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 34%	High School Diploma, 34%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Emergency dispatch operator vs lead dispatch demographics

Here are the differences between emergency dispatch operators' and lead dispatches' demographics:

	Emergency Dispatch Operator	Lead Dispatch
Average age	39	43
Gender ratio	Male, 29.8% Female, 70.2%	Male, 44.3% Female, 55.7%
Race ratio	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%	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%
LGBT Percentage	17%	7%

Differences between emergency dispatch operator and lead dispatch duties and responsibilities

Emergency dispatch operator example responsibilities.

Train in first responder, CPR, hazmat, wreckmaster.
Educate customers in event history, update data, and troubleshoot their alarm system.
Analyze, troubleshoot and resolve customer telephone inquiries regarding billing issues, service offerings, and equipment usage.
Deploy fire, police, EMT workers to designate locations to assist with crime, injuries, or fire.
Have current appropriate plans, procedures, guidance and laws issue by the county and FEMA available within the EOC.
Answer emergency calls/dispatch police fire and sheriff, enter and cancel stolen property and vehicles, run criminal history

Lead dispatch example responsibilities.

Manage dot hrs for drivers as far as what tasks can be done in a certain amount of time.
Maintain scheduling and performance data when there MDT (mobile data terminal) which is there GPS goes down.
Monitor mileage through GPS tracking software, maintain records and schedule all necessary fleet repairs base on usage and necessity.
Maintain and develop positive business relationships with a customer's key personnel involve in or directly relevant to a logistics activity.
Transition into dispatch and begin posting and dispatching emergency and non-emergency transport ambulances.

Emergency dispatch operator vs lead dispatch skills

Common emergency dispatch operator skills

Departmental Procedures, 15%
Emergency Dispatch, 13%
Customer Service, 11%
Inbound Calls, 10%
Outbound Calls, 10%
Customer Satisfaction, 6%

Common lead dispatch skills

Data Entry, 15%
Logistics, 12%
Payroll, 6%
Computer System, 6%
Non-Emergency Calls, 5%
Computer Aided Dispatch, 4%

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Office and Administrative Industry
Emergency Dispatch Operator
Emergency Dispatch Operator vs Lead Dispatch

Updated January 8, 2025

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