Fire dispatcher vs security dispatcher

The differences between fire dispatchers and security dispatchers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a fire dispatcher has an average salary of $37,441, which is higher than the $33,347 average annual salary of a security dispatcher.

The top three skills for a fire dispatcher include BLM, computer applications and computer aided dispatch. The most important skills for a security dispatcher are customer service, patients, and patrol.

Fire dispatcher vs security dispatcher overview

	Fire Dispatcher	Security Dispatcher
Yearly salary	$37,441	$33,347
Hourly rate	$18.00	$16.03
Growth rate	4%	3%
Number of jobs	7,959	82,349
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 36%	High School Diploma, 33%
Average age	39	43
Years of experience	-	2

What does a fire dispatcher do?

Fire dispatchers or call operators are the people you hear when you call 911 or any emergency number. They evaluate your calls to determine whether or not you need the assistance of a firefighter. Dispatchers play an important role in an emergency or non-emergency response. Fire dispatchers provide life-saving medical instructions, send ambulances and firetrucks, and, if needed, police. And yet, despite all the hysterics, these dispatchers must remain calm and collected to get and provide valuable information. A dispatcher must have good communication skills, a high moral character and integrity, emotional self-control, and empathy.

What does a security dispatcher do?

Security Dispatcher are responsible for maintaining records, monitoring staff and equipment location, handling communications with various areas, and information personnel about traffic issues. They must be excellent in communication, decision making, listening, ability to multitask, speech clarity, accuracy, time management, and computer operation. These are the skills that a security dispatcher must have in order to accomplish their responsibilities.

Fire dispatcher vs security dispatcher salary

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

	Fire Dispatcher	Security Dispatcher
Average salary	$37,441	$33,347
Salary range	Between $28,000 And $49,000	Between $26,000 And $41,000
Highest paying City	Grants Pass, OR	Bellevue, WA
Highest paying state	Oregon	Alaska
Best paying company	Mayor Ethan Berkowitz	Brigham and Women's Hospital
Best paying industry	Government	Hospitality

Differences between fire dispatcher and security dispatcher education

There are a few differences between a fire dispatcher and a security dispatcher in terms of educational background:

	Fire Dispatcher	Security Dispatcher
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 36%	High School Diploma, 33%
Most common major	Criminal Justice	Criminal Justice
Most common college	-	-

Fire dispatcher vs security dispatcher demographics

Here are the differences between fire dispatchers' and security dispatchers' demographics:

	Fire Dispatcher	Security Dispatcher
Average age	39	43
Gender ratio	Male, 36.6% Female, 63.4%	Male, 43.0% Female, 57.0%
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 fire dispatcher and security 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.

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Security dispatcher example responsibilities.

Manage customer service satisfaction by providing update eta and location of drivers.
Train to use CPR and AEDs.
Train in the use of TDD for communicating with the hearing impair community.
Operate computers, fax machines, copiers, printers, TDD systems etc.
Receive and transmit all complaints, via radio or telephone, and log according to FCC standards.
Determine the nature of the emergency then dispatch the appropriate police, fire or ems agency to assist the caller.

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Fire dispatcher vs security dispatcher skills

Common fire dispatcher skills

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

Common security dispatcher skills

Customer Service, 15%
Patients, 8%
Patrol, 8%
Computer Aided Dispatch, 7%
Emergency Situations, 5%
CCTV, 5%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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