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What is a police communications dispatcher and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a police communications dispatcher. For example, did you know that they make an average of $19.27 an hour? That's $40,084 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 4% and produce 3,600 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScorePolice Communications DispatcherUS Average
Salary
3.1

Avg. Salary $40,084

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 68.00%

male 32.00%

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

Police Communications Dispatcher career paths

Key steps to become a police communications dispatcher

  1. Explore police communications dispatcher education requirements

    Most common police communications dispatcher degrees

    Bachelor's

    34.8 %

    Associate

    30.4 %

    High School Diploma

    18.3 %
  2. Start to develop specific police communications dispatcher skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Computer Aided Dispatch20.08%
    CAD10.66%
    Good Judgment6.56%
    Two-Way Radio5.99%
    Computer System5.97%
  3. Complete relevant police communications dispatcher training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New police communications 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 a police communications dispatcher based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real police communications dispatcher resumes.
  4. Research police communications dispatcher duties and responsibilities

    • Train and skil in the use of the NCIC system.
    • Provide crucial NCIC computerize data to units in the field.
    • Maintain department vehicles and patrol cars maintenance fleet service records.
    • Relay call for service from citizens to patrol officers for a quick responding.
  5. Prepare your police communications dispatcher resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your police communications 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 a police communications 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 Police Communications Dispatcher Resume templates

    Build a professional Police Communications 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 Police Communications Dispatcher resume.
    Police Communications Dispatcher Resume
    Police Communications Dispatcher Resume
    Police Communications Dispatcher Resume
    Police Communications Dispatcher Resume
    Police Communications Dispatcher Resume
    Police Communications Dispatcher Resume
    Police Communications Dispatcher Resume
    Police Communications Dispatcher Resume
    Police Communications Dispatcher Resume
  6. Apply for police communications dispatcher jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a police communications 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 Police Communications Dispatcher Job

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Average police communications dispatcher salary

The average Police Communications Dispatcher salary in the United States is $40,084 per year or $19 per hour. Police communications dispatcher salaries range between $29,000 and $54,000 per year.

Average Police Communications Dispatcher Salary
$40,084 Yearly
$19.27 hourly

What Am I Worth?

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How do police communications dispatchers rate their job?

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Police Communications Dispatcher reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2022
Pros

Working from home makes life much easier to manage.


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


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A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2020
Pros

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


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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.

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