Public safety dispatcher vs communications dispatcher

The differences between public safety dispatchers and communications dispatchers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a communications dispatcher has an average salary of $35,153, which is higher than the $35,063 average annual salary of a public safety dispatcher.

The top three skills for a public safety dispatcher include computer aided dispatch, customer service and CAD. The most important skills for a communications dispatcher are computer aided dispatch, CAD, and emergency situations.

Public safety dispatcher vs communications dispatcher overview

	Public Safety Dispatcher	Communications Dispatcher
Yearly salary	$35,063	$35,153
Hourly rate	$16.86	$16.90
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	25,700	19,172
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 40%	Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Average age	39	39
Years of experience	-	-

What does a public safety dispatcher do?

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.

What does a communications dispatcher do?

Communications dispatchers are responsible for answering emergency calls and dispatch officials to sort out the situation. They are often called 911 operators or 911 dispatchers and respond to the calls from the public and relay the messages to the medical personnel, police, or the fire staff to the scene of the emergency occasion. Typical duties of communications dispatchers include receiving and responding to emergency calls, recording the calls, evaluating incidents, and prioritizing calls. Their job requires them to earn a certain certification as well as training. Interpersonal and strong listening skills are vital in this field.

Public safety dispatcher vs communications dispatcher salary

Public safety dispatchers and communications dispatchers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Public Safety Dispatcher	Communications Dispatcher
Average salary	$35,063	$35,153
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $46,000	Between $26,000 And $47,000
Highest paying City	Berkeley, CA	Santa Rosa, CA
Highest paying state	Pennsylvania	California
Best paying company	City of San Jos	City of Richmond
Best paying industry	Government	Government

Differences between public safety dispatcher and communications dispatcher education

There are a few differences between a public safety dispatcher and a communications dispatcher in terms of educational background:

	Public Safety Dispatcher	Communications Dispatcher
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 40%	Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Most common major	Criminal Justice	Criminal Justice
Most common college	-	-

Public safety dispatcher vs communications dispatcher demographics

Here are the differences between public safety dispatchers' and communications dispatchers' demographics:

	Public Safety Dispatcher	Communications Dispatcher
Average age	39	39
Gender ratio	Male, 37.6% Female, 62.4%	Male, 29.6% Female, 70.4%
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%

Differences between public safety dispatcher and communications dispatcher duties and responsibilities

Public safety dispatcher example responsibilities.

Manage the response and allocation of police, fire, ems personnel when call for service.
Provide a and CPR instructions.
Conduct layperson CPR instruction to local communities.
Train entry dispatchers on Fire/EMS call taking and dispatching.
Provide determinant dispatch codes base on EMD and EFD standards.
Job duties are the answering, processing and dispatching of police, fire and ems services.

Communications dispatcher example responsibilities.

Manage Facebook page and create event page for grand opening.
Provide first aid, CPR and emergency oxygen as required.
Provide telephone service on the TDD communication device for the deaf and hearing impair.
Respond verbally and used TDD (text telephone device for hearing or speech impair) to communicate with callers when need.
Maintain composure and compassion while handling emergency and non-emergency calls from a diverse community
Coordinate the response of ambulances and public safety units to emergency sites or in-progress crime situations.

Public safety dispatcher vs communications dispatcher skills

Common public safety dispatcher skills

Computer Aided Dispatch, 15%
Customer Service, 6%
CAD, 6%
Patrol, 5%
Dispatch System, 4%
NCIC, 3%

Common communications dispatcher skills

Computer Aided Dispatch, 12%
CAD, 8%
Emergency Situations, 5%
CPR, 5%
Dispatch System, 5%
Good Judgment, 5%

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Public Safety Dispatcher vs Communications Dispatcher

Updated January 8, 2025

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