What does an emergency dispatcher do?
Emergency dispatcher responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real emergency dispatcher resumes:
- Perform (EMD) emergency medical dispatch procedures until the police, fire fighters or paramedics arrive.
- Receive emergency and non emergency calls via telephone, TDD or radio.
- Assist with over the phone medical instruction, CPR instruction, and traumatic emergencies.
- Coordinate response of ambulances and public safety units to emergency sites or in-progress crime situations.
- Coordinate response of ambulances, fire, and police units to emergencies and in-progress crime situations.
- Assist with leading callers through various procedures such as CPR while waiting for units to arrive on scene.
- Monitor, interpret, and transmit information using NCIC and OLETS systems per state law and department policy.
- Collect and dispatch highly confidential information from LEIN, NCIC, CMIS and other various sources as requested.
- Assist EMD dispatcher with case entry questions for determination of significant facts pertaining to the caller's chief complaints.
- Operate a multi-line telephone console system, alerting system, and TDD system for the deaf and hearing impair.
- Maintain composure and compassion while handling emergency and non-emergency calls from a diverse community
- Assist road service providers by clarifying AAA policies, providing accurate directions and additional information need to perform request services.
- dispatch proper police/fire personnel to emergencies/ other situations, e911 dispatcher
Emergency dispatcher skills and personality traits
We calculated that 12% of Emergency Dispatchers are proficient in Computer Aided Dispatch, EMS, and Customer Service. They’re also known for soft skills such as Ability to multitask, Communication skills, and Empathy.
We break down the percentage of Emergency Dispatchers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Computer Aided Dispatch, 12%
Entered information into a computer aided dispatch system verifying location and type of equipment needed.
- EMS, 6%
Receive patient information and relay to EMS and hospitals using medical terminology.
- Customer Service, 6%
Performed specialized communication and dispatching work involving the operations activities of Orange County Utilities Customer Service Division.
- CAD, 6%
Enter 911 calls into CAD system with information gathered from the caller and arranged in order of events.
- Public Safety Agencies, 6%
Serve as the communications link between the community and public safety agencies for 14 Military Installations in the Navy Region Southwest.
- Non-Emergency Telephone Calls, 6%
Answer emergency 911 and non-emergency telephone calls.
"computer aided dispatch," "ems," and "customer service" are among the most common skills that emergency dispatchers use at work. You can find even more emergency dispatcher responsibilities below, including:
Ability to multitask. The most essential soft skill for an emergency dispatcher to carry out their responsibilities is ability to multitask. This skill is important for the role because "public safety telecommunicators must stay calm in order to simultaneously answer calls, collect vital information, coordinate responders, monitor multiple displays, and use a variety of equipment." Additionally, an emergency dispatcher resume shows how their duties depend on ability to multitask: "assisted emd dispatcher with case entry questions for determination of significant facts pertaining to the caller's chief complaints. "
Communication skills. Another essential skill to perform emergency dispatcher duties is communication skills. Emergency dispatchers responsibilities require that "public safety telecommunicators work with law enforcement, emergency response teams, and civilians." Emergency dispatchers also use communication skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "have significant experience and knowledge of general office function such as filing, data entry and communication. "
Empathy. emergency dispatchers are also known for empathy, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to emergency dispatcher responsibilities, because "public safety telecommunicators must be willing to help a range of callers with varying needs." An emergency dispatcher resume example shows how empathy is used in the workplace: "displayed patience, caring, and understanding until police, fire, or ems arrived on the scene. "
Listening skills. emergency dispatcher responsibilities often require "listening skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "public safety telecommunicators must listen carefully to collect relevant details, even though some callers might have trouble speaking because of anxiety or stress." This resume example shows what emergency dispatchers do with listening skills on a typical day: "communicated with officers and motorists in distress; dispatched emergency response crews and fire rescue. "
Typing skills. Another crucial skill for an emergency dispatcher to carry out their responsibilities is "typing skills." A big part of what emergency dispatchers relies on this skill, since "public safety telecommunicators enter the details of calls into computers; typing speed and accuracy are essential when responding to emergencies." How this skill relates to emergency dispatcher duties can be seen in an example from an emergency dispatcher resume snippet: "read aloud emergency dispatch cards pertaining to each caller's emergency while typing each answer into a cad system. "
The three companies that hire the most emergency dispatchers are:
- Hackensack Meridian Health15 emergency dispatchers jobs
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute12 emergency dispatchers jobs
- University of Alaska4 emergency dispatchers jobs
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Compare different emergency dispatchers
Emergency dispatcher vs. Call taker
A call taker works at a call or dispatch center, where they are primarily in charge of answering calls, identifying the callers' needs, and coordinating services to assist them right away. Although their responsibilities depend on their company or industry of employment, it usually involves answering inquiries, processing requests, arranging appointments or reservations, and handling issues and concerns, resolving them promptly and efficiently. When it comes to employment, a call taker may work for 911 dispatch centers, taxi companies, towing services, and private hotlines.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, emergency dispatcher responsibilities require skills like "non-emergency telephone calls," "dispatch police," "emergency response," and "medical dispatch." Meanwhile a typical call taker has skills in areas such as "taker," "gps," "patrol," and "service calls." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Call takers really shine in the government industry with an average salary of $42,836. Comparatively, emergency dispatchers tend to make the most money in the government industry with an average salary of $37,537.call takers tend to reach similar levels of education than emergency dispatchers. In fact, call takers are 0.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Emergency dispatcher vs. Telecommunication operator
A Telecommunication Operator handles all incoming calls and transfers them when necessary to appropriate quarters. As a Telecommunication operator, you will be tasked with responding to inquiries, answering messages, and passing along communication to the right individuals. In addition to that, you will be tasked with organizing the telephone directory and performing a host of other administrative tasks. You will also have the responsibility of processing packages and incoming mails and delivering outgoing mails and packages to the post office or other shipping facilities.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, emergency dispatcher responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "non-emergency telephone calls," "data entry," "dispatch police," and "emergency response." Meanwhile, a telecommunication operator has duties that require skills in areas such as "patients," "telephone calls," "non-emergency calls," and "telecommunication." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
On average, telecommunication operators earn a higher salary than emergency dispatchers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, telecommunication operators earn the most pay in the government industry with an average salary of $45,658. Whereas emergency dispatchers have higher pay in the government industry, with an average salary of $37,537.In general, telecommunication operators achieve similar levels of education than emergency dispatchers. They're 1.1% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Emergency dispatcher vs. Communications operator
A communications operator is responsible for receiving incoming calls from customers and clients and transferring them to the appropriate department for their needs and concerns. Communications operators perform administrative duties, such as organizing directory, updating customers' information on the database, and pulling-up reports. They also help agents in responding to the customers' inquiries and processing their requests. A communications operator must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in documenting calls for audits and references.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, emergency dispatchers are more likely to have skills like "public safety agencies," "non-emergency telephone calls," "emergency response," and "medical dispatch." But a communications operator is more likely to have skills like "patients," "pbx," "public safety," and "non-emergency calls."
Communications operators make a very good living in the government industry with an average annual salary of $37,079. On the other hand, emergency dispatchers are paid the highest salary in the government industry, with average annual pay of $37,537.Most communications operators achieve a similar degree level compared to emergency dispatchers. For example, they're 1.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Emergency dispatcher vs. 911 telecommunicator
Types of emergency dispatcher
Updated January 8, 2025
