How to hire a police communications operator

How to hire a police communications operator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step police communications operator hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a police communications operator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new police communications operator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a police communications operator, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a police communications operator to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a police communications operator that fits the bill.

   Here's a comparison of police communications operator salaries for various roles:

   Type of Police Communications Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Police Communications Operator	Police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers, also called public safety telecommunicators, answer emergency and nonemergency calls.	$13-26
   Call Taker	A call taker works at a call or dispatch center, where they are primarily in charge of answering calls, identifying the callers' needs, and coordinating services to assist them right away. Although their responsibilities depend on their company or industry of employment, it usually involves answering inquiries, processing requests, arranging appointments or reservations, and handling issues and concerns, resolving them promptly and efficiently... Show more	$13-24
   Fire Dispatcher	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... Show more	$13-23

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Computer Aided Dispatch
   • Dispatch System
   • Two-Way Radio
   • CAD
   • Computer System
   • Criminal Justice
   • NCIC
   • Law Enforcement Agencies
   • Emergency Situations
   • EMS
   • Non-Emergency Calls
   • Emergency Services
   • Telephone Calls
   • Patrol

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage busy company switchboard, operating PBX or private branch exchange systems to facilitate connections.
   • Screen, train, test, and certify operators to gain access to LLETS and/or NCIC.
   • Supervise telecommunication operations and reinforce the confidentiality in telecommunications.
   • Perform monthly inventory and destruction of COMSEC material while maintaining strict accountability standards.
   • Control COMSEC for company level operations and follow all destruction and pickup regulations.
   • Supervise telecommunication operations and reinforce the confidentiality in telecommunications.

   More police communications operator duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the police communications operator job description is a good way to get more applicants. A police communications operator salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a police communications operator in Tennessee may be lower than in Oregon, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level police communications operator. Additionally, a police communications operator with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average police communications operator salary

   $39,636yearly

   $19.06 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level police communications operator salary

   $28,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 24, 2025

   Average police communications operator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Colorado	$48,532	$23
   2	District of Columbia	$47,279	$23
   3	Pennsylvania	$44,953	$22
   4	California	$44,901	$22
   5	Maryland	$42,734	$21
   6	Texas	$37,393	$18
   7	Florida	$33,616	$16

   Average police communications operator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Georgetown University	$46,675	$22.44	13
   2	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	$44,540	$21.41
   3	Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania	$42,073	$20.23
   4	The University System of Maryland Foundation	$40,292	$19.37
   5	The University of Texas at San Antonio	$38,681	$18.60	13
   6	Jefferson Center Mental Health	$36,827	$17.71
   7	Pennsylvania State Treasurer	$36,471	$17.53	8
   8	City of Carlsbad	$35,672	$17.15	2
   9	University of Florida	$31,124	$14.96	9
   10	Frostburg State University	$30,124	$14.48	2
   11	Florida Gulf Coast University	$29,710	$14.28
   12	UTRGV - The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley	$29,452	$14.16	3
   13	Town of Bay Harbor	$28,356	$13.63	1

4. Writing a police communications operator job description

   A police communications operator job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a police communications operator job description:

   Police communications operator job description example

   The Pennsylvania State Police is seeking an experienced and dependable Police Communications Operator who has experience working in a fast-paced environment where priorities must be recognized and adjusted as needed. The selected candidate must be available and willing to work rotating shifts, including weekends and holidays regardless of weather conditions and may be required to extend their shift due to operational needs.
   
   If you are looking for a challenging, rewarding career and possess excellent communication skills, the Pennsylvania State Police would like to talk to you!
   
   As a Police Communications Operator (PCO) for the Pennsylvania State Police, you will receive calls from the general public and county 911 operators regarding emergency and non-emergency police issues; question callers to gather details, determine response requirements, and assign relative priorities of incidents; dispatch and relay incident information to responding Troopers; contact municipal police, fire, ambulance, towing, PennDOT, etc., to provide incident details and request assistance and response; utilize CLEAN, JNET and PFAD to access, research, and maintain records; establish and maintain incident information in electronic record management systems; and communicate with Troopers and other PCOs regarding active incidents or concerns.
   
   Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.
   Work Schedule and Additional Information:
   
   * Full-time employment (40-hour work week).
   * Work hours: Rotating Shifts, including weekends and holidays.
   * Salary: Please note, selected candidates who are new to employment within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will begin employment at the starting annual salary of $44,712 (before taxes).
   * You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.
   
   QUALIFICATIONS
   
   Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:
   
   * Two years of experience using two-way radio, multi-line telephone, or computer aided dispatch systems; or
   * Two years of experience using computer systems for entering, updating, and retrieving information; or
   * Completion of 60 college credits; or
   * An equivalent combination of experience and training.
   
   Necessary Special Requirements:
   
   * All employees must possess a clear, firm voice and no major speech, hearing, or visual impairments that would interfere with understanding verbal communication, being understood, or using electronic communications equipment and visual display equipment.
   
   * All employees must obtain an active Public Safety Telecommunicator certification issued by the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials within the probationary period and maintain the same for the duration of employment in this job.
   
   * All employees must obtain active Commonwealth Law Enforcement Assistance Network (CLEAN) and Pennsylvania Justice Network (JNET) certifications issued by the Pennsylvania State Police within the probationary period and maintain the same for the duration of employment in this job.
   
   Additional Requirements:
   
   * You must be able to perform essential job functions.
   
   Legal Requirements:
   
   * You must pass criminal history and background investigations.
   * This job title has been identified as performing critical duties. Prior to placement in this job title, the selected candidate regardless of their current job, must submit a Report of Medications for screening by the State Police Medical Officer.
   
   How to Apply:
   
   * Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
   * If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
   * Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
   * Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.
   
   Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):
   
   * 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).
   
   The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find police communications operators for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any police communications operators they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level police communications operators with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your police communications operator job on Zippia to find and recruit police communications operator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit police communications operators, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new police communications operator

   Once you've decided on a perfect police communications operator candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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