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Police dispatcher vs security dispatcher

The differences between police dispatchers and security 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 $33,347 average annual salary of a security dispatcher.

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

Police dispatcher vs security dispatcher overview

Police DispatcherSecurity Dispatcher
Yearly salary$37,402$33,347
Hourly rate$17.98$16.03
Growth rate4%3%
Number of jobs6,96482,349
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 38%High School Diploma, 33%
Average age3943
Years of experience-2

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.

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.

Police dispatcher vs security dispatcher salary

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

Police DispatcherSecurity Dispatcher
Average salary$37,402$33,347
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $48,000Between $26,000 And $41,000
Highest paying CityPhiladelphia, PABellevue, WA
Highest paying statePennsylvaniaAlaska
Best paying companyCity of SeattleBrigham and Women's Hospital
Best paying industryGovernmentHospitality

Differences between police dispatcher and security dispatcher education

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

Police DispatcherSecurity Dispatcher
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 38%High School Diploma, 33%
Most common majorCriminal JusticeCriminal Justice
Most common college--

Police dispatcher vs security dispatcher demographics

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

Police DispatcherSecurity Dispatcher
Average age3943
Gender ratioMale, 35.6% Female, 64.4%Male, 43.0% Female, 57.0%
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, 10.3% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 3.8% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage17%7%

Differences between police dispatcher and security dispatcher duties and responsibilities

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

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.
  • Show more

Police dispatcher vs security dispatcher skills

Common police dispatcher skills
  • Computer Aided Dispatch, 15%
  • Patrol, 8%
  • CAD, 7%
  • NCIC, 6%
  • Law Enforcement Agencies, 6%
  • Dispatch System, 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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