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The differences between police dispatchers and public safety dispatchers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a police dispatcher has an average salary of $37,402, which is higher than the $35,063 average annual salary of a public safety dispatcher.
The top three skills for a police dispatcher include computer aided dispatch, patrol and CAD. The most important skills for a public safety dispatcher are computer aided dispatch, customer service, and CAD.
| Police Dispatcher | Public Safety Dispatcher | |
| Yearly salary | $37,402 | $35,063 |
| Hourly rate | $17.98 | $16.86 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 6,964 | 25,700 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
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.
A public safety dispatcher is primarily responsible for handling emergency or non-emergency calls from the public. They are in charge of identifying the caller's needs calmly and proactively, dispatching law enforcement officers or emergency responders at the scene in a timely and efficient manner. They must operate communications equipment, manage schedules, and quickly adapt to any situation as the calls can be unpredictable and critical. Furthermore, as a public safety dispatcher, it is essential to maintain records of all calls and interactions, adhering to the organization's policies and regulations at all times.
Police dispatchers and public safety dispatchers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Police Dispatcher | Public Safety Dispatcher | |
| Average salary | $37,402 | $35,063 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $48,000 | Between $26,000 And $46,000 |
| Highest paying City | Philadelphia, PA | Berkeley, CA |
| Highest paying state | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| Best paying company | City of Seattle | City of San Jos |
| Best paying industry | Government | Government |
There are a few differences between a police dispatcher and a public safety dispatcher in terms of educational background:
| Police Dispatcher | Public Safety Dispatcher | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between police dispatchers' and public safety dispatchers' demographics:
| Police Dispatcher | Public Safety Dispatcher | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 35.6% Female, 64.4% | Male, 37.6% Female, 62.4% |
| 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% |