Post job

What is an emergency services dispatcher and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being an emergency services dispatcher. For example, did you know that they make an average of $18.81 an hour? That's $39,118 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 4% and produce 3,600 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreEmergency Services DispatcherUS Average
Salary
3.1

Avg. Salary $39,118

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
10.0

Growth rate 4%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.2
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.72%

Asian 0.90%

Black or African American 9.14%

Hispanic or Latino 11.11%

Unknown 6.00%

White 72.13%

Gender

female 61.96%

male 38.04%

Age - 38
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 38
Stress level
10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
4.9

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance
8.7

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Emergency services dispatcher career paths

Key steps to become an emergency services dispatcher

  1. Explore emergency services dispatcher education requirements

    Most common emergency services dispatcher degrees

    Bachelor's

    34.5 %

    High School Diploma

    26.3 %

    Associate

    25.9 %
  2. Start to develop specific emergency services dispatcher skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Computer Aided Dispatch14.25%
    CAD7.19%
    Patrol6.56%
    EMS5.68%
    Customer Service5.56%
  3. Complete relevant emergency services dispatcher training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New emergency services dispatchers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an emergency services dispatcher based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real emergency services dispatcher resumes.
  4. Research emergency services dispatcher duties and responsibilities

    • Achieve and maintain certification pursuant to FBI/NCIC and EMD regulations.
    • Coordinate with other medical facilities for patients requiring higher levels of care, collaborating closely with ER physicians and patient administration.
    • Require to be BLS and ACLS certify.
    • Maintain emergency medical dispatch, CPR, and a certifications.
  5. Prepare your emergency services dispatcher resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your emergency services dispatcher resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an emergency services dispatcher resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable emergency services dispatcher resume templates

    Build a professional emergency services dispatcher resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your emergency services dispatcher resume.
    Emergency Services Dispatcher Resume
    Emergency Services Dispatcher Resume
    Emergency Services Dispatcher Resume
    Emergency Services Dispatcher Resume
    Emergency Services Dispatcher Resume
    Emergency Services Dispatcher Resume
    Emergency Services Dispatcher Resume
    Emergency Services Dispatcher Resume
    Emergency Services Dispatcher Resume
  6. Apply for emergency services dispatcher jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an emergency services dispatcher job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first emergency services dispatcher job

Zippi

Are you an emergency services dispatcher?

Share your story for a free salary report.

Average emergency services dispatcher salary

The average emergency services dispatcher salary in the United States is $39,118 per year or $19 per hour. Emergency services dispatcher salaries range between $29,000 and $52,000 per year.

Average emergency services dispatcher salary
$39,118 Yearly
$18.81 hourly

What am I worth?

salary-calculator

How do emergency services dispatchers rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Emergency services dispatcher reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2022
Pros

Working from home makes life much easier to manage.

Cons

Pay is not a liveable wage.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020
Pros

Brief the point of contact between customer and driver

Cons

Micromanagement from those who think they are superior


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2020
Pros

Quick paced, professional environment Troubleshooting. Assisting peers with any issues they might have.

Cons

Micromanagment from superiors.


Working as an emergency services dispatcher? Share your experience anonymously.
Overall rating*
Career growth
Work/Life balance
Pay/Salary

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse office and administrative jobs