Fire dispatcher vs emergency telecommunications dispatcher

The differences between fire dispatchers and emergency telecommunications dispatchers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an emergency telecommunications dispatcher has an average salary of $38,561, which is higher than the $37,441 average annual salary of a fire dispatcher.

The top three skills for a fire dispatcher include BLM, computer applications and computer aided dispatch. The most important skills for an emergency telecommunications dispatcher are EMS, computer aided dispatch, and CPR.

Fire dispatcher vs emergency telecommunications dispatcher overview

	Fire Dispatcher	Emergency Telecommunications Dispatcher
Yearly salary	$37,441	$38,561
Hourly rate	$18.00	$18.54
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	7,959	27,658
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 36%	Bachelor's Degree, 38%
Average age	39	39
Years of experience	-	-

Fire dispatcher vs emergency telecommunications dispatcher salary

Fire dispatchers and emergency telecommunications dispatchers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Fire Dispatcher	Emergency Telecommunications Dispatcher
Average salary	$37,441	$38,561
Salary range	Between $28,000 And $49,000	Between $28,000 And $51,000
Highest paying City	Grants Pass, OR	-
Highest paying state	Oregon	-
Best paying company	Mayor Ethan Berkowitz	-
Best paying industry	Government	-

Differences between fire dispatcher and emergency telecommunications dispatcher education

There are a few differences between a fire dispatcher and an emergency telecommunications dispatcher in terms of educational background:

	Fire Dispatcher	Emergency Telecommunications Dispatcher
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 36%	Bachelor's Degree, 38%
Most common major	Criminal Justice	Criminal Justice
Most common college	-	-

Fire dispatcher vs emergency telecommunications dispatcher demographics

Here are the differences between fire dispatchers' and emergency telecommunications dispatchers' demographics:

	Fire Dispatcher	Emergency Telecommunications Dispatcher
Average age	39	39
Gender ratio	Male, 36.6% Female, 63.4%	Male, 27.9% Female, 72.1%
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, 9.1% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 0.9% White, 72.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	17%	17%

Differences between fire dispatcher and emergency telecommunications dispatcher duties and responsibilities

Fire dispatcher example responsibilities.

Certify as APCO Telecommunicator and APCO EMD.
Dispatch police, fire, and ems to location for resident assistance.
Dispatch fire and ems as needed as well as the fire marshals.
Check for wanted/warrants using NCIC, ALACOP, and computer generate warrant lists.
Perform warrant checks when request through the ACIC and NCIC criminal information centers.
Save an infant by telling the mother how to give CPR to the non-responsive infant.

Emergency telecommunications dispatcher example responsibilities.

Perform EMD protocols for injure subscribers.
Provide assistance in accordance with state mandates of EMD.
Provide medical instruction to those on the scene of the emergency until the EMT's arrive.
Display patience, caring, and understanding until police, fire, or ems arrive on the scene.
Help the caller stay calm if need and give verbal directions such as CPR, gunshot victim, seizures, etc.
Operate NC DCI system within DCI and agency protocols, disseminate information to appropriate officers, and effect entries into NCIC.

Fire dispatcher vs emergency telecommunications dispatcher skills

Common fire dispatcher skills

BLM, 20%
Computer Applications, 16%
Computer Aided Dispatch, 6%
Firefighting, 5%
EMS, 5%
CAD, 4%

Common emergency telecommunications dispatcher skills

EMS, 13%
Computer Aided Dispatch, 11%
CPR, 9%
Public Safety Agencies, 7%
CAD, 6%
NCIC, 5%

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Fire Dispatcher
Fire Dispatcher vs Emergency Telecommunications Dispatcher

Updated January 8, 2025

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