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Police dispatcher salary
Average police dispatcher salary
$37,402
Average Police Dispatcher Salary
The average salary for a Police Dispatcher is $37,402 per year, which translates to about $18 per hour. This role is crucial in managing emergency calls and coordinating responses, making it vital for community safety.
Factors That Impact Salary
Several factors can affect a police dispatcher's salary:
- Location: Salaries vary significantly by state and city. For instance, urban areas often offer higher pay due to the cost of living.
- Experience: Entry-level dispatchers typically earn less than those with several years of experience. As skills and responsibilities increase, so does the salary.
- Department Size: Larger departments may offer better compensation packages compared to smaller agencies.
Highest Paying States
Some of the highest-paying states for police dispatchers include California, New York, and Texas, reflecting the demand for skilled professionals in these regions.
By understanding these factors, prospective dispatchers can make informed decisions about their career paths and salary expectations.
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Where can a Police Dispatcher earn more?
Police dispatcher salaries by experience level
Police dispatcher salary estimates from across the web
Average police dispatcher salary by state
The average police dispatcher salary in Pennsylvania, Maine, and California are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average police dispatcher salary states are Alabama, Florida, and Kentucky.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for police dispatchers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $47,601 | $22.89 |
| 2 | Washington | $44,588 | $21.44 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $54,492 | $26.20 |
| 4 | Wyoming | $45,884 | $22.06 |
| 5 | Nevada | $40,144 | $19.30 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $43,064 | $20.70 |
| 7 | Kansas | $42,343 | $20.36 |
| 8 | Iowa | $46,440 | $22.33 |
| 9 | Maine | $48,777 | $23.45 |
| 10 | West Virginia | $44,922 | $21.60 |
| 11 | Minnesota | $46,667 | $22.44 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $42,497 | $20.43 |
| 13 | Alaska | $39,952 | $19.21 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $42,920 | $20.63 |
| 15 | Colorado | $41,528 | $19.97 |
| 16 | Utah | $40,051 | $19.26 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $41,232 | $19.82 |
| 18 | Montana | $36,952 | $17.77 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $40,236 | $19.34 |
| 20 | Connecticut | $43,575 | $20.95 |
| 21 | Vermont | $42,408 | $20.39 |
| 22 | Massachusetts | $40,597 | $19.52 |
| 23 | Arizona | $36,435 | $17.52 |
| 24 | Oregon | $38,215 | $18.37 |
| 25 | Delaware | $41,256 | $19.83 |
| 26 | New Jersey | $39,609 | $19.04 |
| 27 | New Mexico | $33,872 | $16.28 |
| 28 | Maryland | $36,095 | $17.35 |
| 29 | South Dakota | $36,712 | $17.65 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $36,283 | $17.44 |
| 31 | Michigan | $36,546 | $17.57 |
| 32 | New York | $39,705 | $19.09 |
| 33 | Indiana | $33,908 | $16.30 |
| 34 | Idaho | $34,308 | $16.49 |
| 35 | Virginia | $31,830 | $15.30 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $29,361 | $14.12 |
| 37 | North Carolina | $31,283 | $15.04 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $30,374 | $14.60 |
| 39 | Illinois | $35,919 | $17.27 |
| 40 | Ohio | $30,172 | $14.51 |
| 41 | Missouri | $29,633 | $14.25 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $28,385 | $13.65 |
| 43 | Texas | $28,782 | $13.84 |
| 44 | Florida | $27,459 | $13.20 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $27,138 | $13.05 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $31,507 | $15.15 |
| 47 | Alabama | $28,193 | $13.55 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $28,687 | $13.79 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $27,424 | $13.18 |
| 50 | Georgia | $26,532 | $12.76 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $23,937 | $11.51 |
Highest paying cities for police dispatchers
The highest-paying cities for police dispatchers are Philadelphia, PA, Santa Rosa, CA, and Bellingham, WA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia, PA | $54,507 | $26.21 |
| 2 | Santa Rosa, CA | $50,278 | $24.17 |
| 3 | Bellingham, WA | $44,826 | $21.55 |
| 4 | Garden City, KS | $42,011 | $20.20 |
| 5 | Boulder, CO | $41,866 | $20.13 |
| 6 | Milwaukee, WI | $41,218 | $19.82 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $40,597 | $19.52 |
| 8 | Washington, DC | $40,188 | $19.32 |
| 9 | Anchorage, AK | $40,029 | $19.24 |
| 10 | Phoenix, AZ | $36,668 | $17.63 |
| 11 | Albuquerque, NM | $34,224 | $16.45 |
| 12 | Meridian, ID | $34,212 | $16.45 |
| 13 | Carmel, IN | $33,977 | $16.34 |
| 14 | Lima, OH | $30,239 | $14.54 |
| 15 | Kansas City, MO | $29,938 | $14.39 |
| 16 | Dallas, TX | $28,770 | $13.83 |
| 17 | Tulsa, OK | $28,566 | $13.73 |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $26,696 | $12.83 |
Police dispatcher salary details
A police dispatcher's salary ranges from $28,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $48,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a police dispatcher's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $48,000 | $4,000 | $23 |
| 75th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
| Average | $37,402 | $3,117 | $18 |
| 25th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
| 10th Percentile | $28,000 | $2,333 | $13 |
Highest paying police dispatcher jobs
The highest paying types of police dispatchers are police officer, emergency dispatch operator, and communications officer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Communications Officer | $40,161 | $3,347 | $19.31 | 73,260 |
| Telecommunication Operator | $39,381 | $3,282 | $18.93 | 34,218 |
| Communications Operator | $31,491 | $2,624 | $15.14 | 48,509 |
| Telecommunicator | $39,327 | $3,277 | $18.91 | 4,083 |
| Call Taker | $38,776 | $3,231 | $18.64 | 11,539 |
| Operations/Dispatch | $39,483 | $3,290 | $18.98 | 60,313 |
Top companies hiring police dispatchers now:
Which companies pay police dispatchers the most?
Police dispatcher salaries at City of Seattle and Mayor Ethan Berkowitz are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average police dispatcher salary at companies like City and County of Denver Government and City of Birmingham are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | City of Seattle | $54,608 | $26.25 |
| 2 | Mayor Ethan Berkowitz | $50,453 | $24.26 |
| 3 | City and County of Denver Government | $49,808 | $23.95 |
| 4 | City of Birmingham | $44,901 | $21.59 |
| 5 | City of Austin | $44,572 | $21.43 |
| 6 | City of Grandview (Missouri) | $44,040 | $21.17 |
| 7 | City of Dallas Employees | $43,553 | $20.94 |
| 8 | City of Pomona | $43,388 | $20.86 |
| 9 | California State University, Fullerton | $43,334 | $20.83 |
| 10 | City of La Mesa | $42,978 | $20.66 |
| 11 | University of Colorado Boulder | $42,754 | $20.55 |
| 12 | UMass Memorial Health | $42,585 | $20.47 |
| 13 | City of Brentwood | $41,961 | $20.17 |
| 14 | Emory University | $41,862 | $20.13 |
| 15 | Parkland Hospital | $41,833 | $20.11 |
| 16 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $41,448 | $19.93 |
| 17 | City of Concord | $41,086 | $19.75 |
| 18 | City of Mesa | $41,056 | $19.74 |
| 19 | City Of Alamo | $41,052 | $19.74 |
| 20 | City of Garden City | $40,916 | $19.67 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Police dispatcher salary trends
The average police dispatcher salary has risen by $6,359 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average police dispatcher earned $31,043 annually, but today, they earn $37,402 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for police dispatchers over the last decade.
Compare police dispatcher salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average police dispatcher salary over time
Compare police dispatcher salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Police dispatcher salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $37,400 | $17.98 | +3.2% |
| 2024 | $36,200 | $17.41 | +3.0% |
| 2023 | $35,100 | $16.89 | +2.5% |
| 2022 | $34,200 | $16.47 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $33,600 | $16.15 | +2.2% |
Recently added police dispatcher salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Dallas, Tx | Police Dispatch Analyst III-Dallas Police (Civil Service) | Marilla, NY | 06/29/2025 | $58,800 |
| DHRM | Police Dispatcher | Enon, VA | 06/27/2025 | $40,000 |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | Police Dispatcher | Richmond, VA | 06/26/2025 | $43,303 |
| Municipality of Anchorage (Ak | Police Dispatcher (Multiple Vacancies)-Range 32/APD | Anchorage, AK | 06/26/2025 | $76,384 |
| State of Virginia | Police Dispatcher | Enon, VA | 06/26/2025 | $40,000 |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Dispatcher-Police | University, MS | 06/25/2025 | $37,462 |
| Town of Gilbert (Az | Police Dispatcher | Gilbert, AZ | 06/25/2025 | $62,255 |
| VCU | Police Dispatcher | Richmond, VA | 06/25/2025 | $43,303 |
| State of Florida | Police Dispatcher | Saint Augustine, FL | 06/23/2025 | $34,867 |
| City of West Wendover, Nv | Police Dispatcher | West Wendover, NV | 06/23/2025 | $39,236 |
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