Public safety telecommunicator vs communications dispatcher

The differences between public safety telecommunicators and communications dispatchers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a public safety telecommunicator has an average salary of $40,955, which is higher than the $35,153 average annual salary of a communications dispatcher.

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

Public safety telecommunicator vs communications dispatcher overview

	Public Safety Telecommunicator	Communications Dispatcher
Yearly salary	$40,955	$35,153
Hourly rate	$19.69	$16.90
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	21,538	19,172
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 41%	Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Average age	39	39
Years of experience	-	-

Public safety telecommunicator vs communications dispatcher salary

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

	Public Safety Telecommunicator	Communications Dispatcher
Average salary	$40,955	$35,153
Salary range	Between $28,000 And $58,000	Between $26,000 And $47,000
Highest paying City	Elmhurst, IL	Santa Rosa, CA
Highest paying state	Oregon	California
Best paying company	Rowan University	City of Richmond
Best paying industry	Government	Government

Differences between public safety telecommunicator and communications dispatcher education

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

	Public Safety Telecommunicator	Communications Dispatcher
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 41%	Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Most common major	Criminal Justice	Criminal Justice
Most common college	-	-

Public safety telecommunicator vs communications dispatcher demographics

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

	Public Safety Telecommunicator	Communications Dispatcher
Average age	39	39
Gender ratio	Male, 50.5% Female, 49.5%	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 telecommunicator and communications dispatcher duties and responsibilities

Public safety telecommunicator example responsibilities.

Manage truck and equipment inventory, rental tracking and GPS monitoring.
Certify in CPR and TTY/TDD phone calls.
Assist in patrol of campus during evening hours.
Receive and transmit radio communication to law enforcement agencies and police patrol cars for appropriate action.
Answer emergency calls/dispatch police fire and sheriff, enter and cancel stolen property and vehicles, run criminal history
Handle incoming calls in a busy AAA roadside service call center.

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 telecommunicator vs communications dispatcher skills

Common public safety telecommunicator skills

Computer Aided Dispatch, 17%
CAD, 10%
Criminal Justice, 8%
Emergency Situations, 8%
Patrol, 8%
Data Entry, 6%

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 Telecommunicator
Public Safety Telecommunicator vs Communications Dispatcher

Updated January 8, 2025

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