Public safety dispatcher vs telecommunicator

The differences between public safety dispatchers and telecommunicators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a telecommunicator has an average salary of $39,327, 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 telecommunicator are computer aided dispatch, CAD, and EMS.

Public safety dispatcher vs telecommunicator overview

	Public Safety Dispatcher	Telecommunicator
Yearly salary	$35,063	$39,327
Hourly rate	$16.86	$18.91
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	25,700	4,083
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 40%	Bachelor's Degree, 39%
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 telecommunicator do?

A telecommunicator receives calls and obtains information from people in need of assistance. Telecommunicators, also called 911 or public safety dispatchers, use a two-way radio in dispatching the right services to police officers, first responders, and firefighters. The telecommunicators coordinate communications between emergency personnel, police, and the public. They keep detailed records as well as trace drivers and their automobiles. The skills and knowledge necessary for this job include a dispatch system, public safety, and stressful situation management.

Public safety dispatcher vs telecommunicator salary

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

	Public Safety Dispatcher	Telecommunicator
Average salary	$35,063	$39,327
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $46,000	Between $28,000 And $53,000
Highest paying City	Berkeley, CA	Stockton, CA
Highest paying state	Pennsylvania	California
Best paying company	City of San Jos	City of Detroit
Best paying industry	Government	Government

Differences between public safety dispatcher and telecommunicator education

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

	Public Safety Dispatcher	Telecommunicator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 40%	Bachelor's Degree, 39%
Most common major	Criminal Justice	Criminal Justice
Most common college	-	-

Public safety dispatcher vs telecommunicator demographics

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

	Public Safety Dispatcher	Telecommunicator
Average age	39	39
Gender ratio	Male, 37.6% Female, 62.4%	Male, 29.0% Female, 71.0%
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 telecommunicator 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.

Telecommunicator example responsibilities.

Help organize telecommunication PSAP and back-up PSAP weekly.
Use NCIC and FCIC and provide accurate information for search.
Provide CPR instructions over the phone until emergency personnel arrive at location.
Monitor radio communications at the same time and update cad throughout emergency.
Monitor activities of officers on patrol and makes radio contact to ensure safety.
Maintain licenses to NCIC, FCIC, NLETS and other law enforcement information network.

Public safety dispatcher vs telecommunicator skills

Common public safety dispatcher skills

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

Common telecommunicator skills

Computer Aided Dispatch, 14%
CAD, 7%
EMS, 6%
NCIC, 6%
Patrol, 4%
Dispatch System, 4%

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Public Safety Dispatcher vs Telecommunicator

Updated January 8, 2025

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