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Operations/dispatch vs police dispatcher

The differences between operations/dispatches and police dispatchers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an operations/dispatch has an average salary of $39,483, which is higher than the $37,402 average annual salary of a police dispatcher.

The top three skills for an operations/dispatch include patrol, data entry and computer aided dispatch. The most important skills for a police dispatcher are computer aided dispatch, patrol, and CAD.

Operations/dispatch vs police dispatcher overview

Operations/DispatchPolice Dispatcher
Yearly salary$39,483$37,402
Hourly rate$18.98$17.98
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs60,3136,964
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 29%Bachelor's Degree, 38%
Average age3939
Years of experience--

What does an operations/dispatch do?

An operations dispatcher is a communication liaison between delivery drivers, customers, and an operations center of a delivery service or distributorship. You should effectively communicate with drivers for timely and efficient deliveries and inform customers of expected times of delivery. Operations dispatchers develop the most efficient delivery routes and keep in touch with drivers throughout a delivery run, monitor any abrupt changes on the routes such as constructions, and work with management to alter set routes to accommodate customer needs.

What does a police dispatcher do?

Police Dispatchers are responsible for assessing incoming calls and deploying police resources using professional judgment. Their duties include answering emergency calls from agencies and the public, gathering information from police systems and call handlers, conducting priority assessments based on vulnerability and risks, and liaising with police officers to determine the logistics of place and time of an incident lodged. They also help facilitate investigations, reassure victims, and maintain accurate incident records.

Operations/dispatch vs police dispatcher salary

Operations/dispatches and police dispatchers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Operations/DispatchPolice Dispatcher
Average salary$39,483$37,402
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $54,000Between $28,000 And $48,000
Highest paying CityFremont, CAPhiladelphia, PA
Highest paying statePennsylvaniaPennsylvania
Best paying companyAECOMCity of Seattle
Best paying industryGovernmentGovernment

Differences between operations/dispatch and police dispatcher education

There are a few differences between an operations/dispatch and a police dispatcher in terms of educational background:

Operations/DispatchPolice Dispatcher
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 29%Bachelor's Degree, 38%
Most common majorBusinessCriminal Justice
Most common college--

Operations/dispatch vs police dispatcher demographics

Here are the differences between operations/dispatches' and police dispatchers' demographics:

Operations/DispatchPolice Dispatcher
Average age3939
Gender ratioMale, 46.9% Female, 53.1%Male, 35.6% Female, 64.4%
Race ratioBlack 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 Percentage17%17%

Differences between operations/dispatch and police dispatcher duties and responsibilities

Operations/dispatch example responsibilities.

  • Manage customer service satisfaction by providing update eta and location of drivers.
  • Assist A/R with basic accounting issues.
  • Certify by ACJIC as a NCIC operator.
  • Call taker job are taking customers calls.
  • Cross-Train as both call taker and dispatcher.
  • Dispatch calls to the appropriate agency - police, fire, ems.
  • Show more

Police dispatcher example responsibilities.

  • Rout dispatch calls to police, EMT, and fire departments.
  • Dispatch and answer phones for police, fire and ems units to calls for emergency and non-emergency situations.
  • Work with programs such as NCIS/LEAPS, CJIS and IMC.
  • Assist with completion of subpoenas and warrants.
  • Respond to emergency calls and dispatch appropriate police and EMT units.
  • Conduct the operations of radio, telephone, and cad computer systems.
  • Show more

Operations/dispatch vs police dispatcher skills

Common operations/dispatch skills
  • Patrol, 11%
  • Data Entry, 7%
  • Computer Aided Dispatch, 7%
  • Quality Customer Service, 6%
  • Two-Way Radio, 6%
  • Emergency Situations, 6%
Common police dispatcher skills
  • Computer Aided Dispatch, 15%
  • Patrol, 8%
  • CAD, 7%
  • NCIC, 6%
  • Law Enforcement Agencies, 6%
  • Dispatch System, 4%

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