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Fire dispatcher salary
Average fire dispatcher salary
$37,441
Average Fire Dispatcher Salary
As of October 2025, the average salary for a fire dispatcher in the United States stands at $37,441 per year or approximately $18 per hour. This salary can vary based on factors such as location and experience. For instance, fire dispatchers with several years of experience may earn significantly more than entry-level positions.
Salary by State
Fire dispatcher salaries differ across states. Some of the highest-paying states include:
- California
- New York
- Texas
These states often have higher living costs, which is reflected in the salaries offered. Additionally, urban areas tend to offer better pay compared to rural locations.
Highest Paying Cities
In terms of cities, metropolitan areas like Los Angeles and New York City provide some of the best salary opportunities for fire dispatchers. Understanding the salary landscape can help candidates make informed career choices and strategically position themselves in the job market.
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Where can a Fire Dispatcher earn more?
Fire dispatcher salaries by experience level
Average fire dispatcher salary by state
The average fire dispatcher salary in Oregon, California, and Minnesota are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average fire dispatcher salary states are South Carolina, Oklahoma, and Louisiana.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for fire dispatchers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $54,001 | $25.96 |
| 2 | Wyoming | $46,579 | $22.39 |
| 3 | California | $53,538 | $25.74 |
| 4 | North Dakota | $43,933 | $21.12 |
| 5 | Washington | $44,684 | $21.48 |
| 6 | Minnesota | $48,862 | $23.49 |
| 7 | Kansas | $42,099 | $20.24 |
| 8 | West Virginia | $44,475 | $21.38 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | $41,635 | $20.02 |
| 10 | Colorado | $41,654 | $20.03 |
| 11 | Maine | $48,382 | $23.26 |
| 12 | Illinois | $47,076 | $22.63 |
| 13 | Alaska | $40,512 | $19.48 |
| 14 | Nevada | $38,754 | $18.63 |
| 15 | Vermont | $42,078 | $20.23 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $42,338 | $20.35 |
| 17 | Montana | $37,807 | $18.18 |
| 18 | Iowa | $37,958 | $18.25 |
| 19 | Rhode Island | $41,862 | $20.13 |
| 20 | South Dakota | $37,442 | $18.00 |
| 21 | Connecticut | $42,829 | $20.59 |
| 22 | Idaho | $34,530 | $16.60 |
| 23 | Delaware | $40,672 | $19.55 |
| 24 | New York | $40,045 | $19.25 |
| 25 | Indiana | $33,488 | $16.10 |
| 26 | New Mexico | $32,753 | $15.75 |
| 27 | Utah | $32,511 | $15.63 |
| 28 | New Jersey | $38,935 | $18.72 |
| 29 | Virginia | $35,356 | $17.00 |
| 30 | Michigan | $36,875 | $17.73 |
| 31 | Arizona | $32,968 | $15.85 |
| 32 | Maryland | $35,922 | $17.27 |
| 33 | Massachusetts | $38,354 | $18.44 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $36,681 | $17.64 |
| 35 | District of Columbia | $39,681 | $19.08 |
| 36 | Missouri | $34,016 | $16.35 |
| 37 | Pennsylvania | $33,581 | $16.14 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $27,541 | $13.24 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $28,052 | $13.49 |
| 40 | Florida | $27,825 | $13.38 |
| 41 | Alabama | $27,600 | $13.27 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $27,367 | $13.16 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $26,420 | $12.70 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $27,871 | $13.40 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $30,163 | $14.50 |
| 46 | Ohio | $29,944 | $14.40 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $26,795 | $12.88 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $26,191 | $12.59 |
| 49 | Texas | $26,048 | $12.52 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $21,056 | $10.12 |
| 51 | Georgia | $26,094 | $12.55 |
Highest paying cities for fire dispatchers
The highest-paying cities for fire dispatchers are Grants Pass, OR, San Diego, CA, and Bellingham, WA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grants Pass, OR | $53,629 | $25.78 |
| 2 | San Diego, CA | $50,102 | $24.09 |
| 3 | Bellingham, WA | $44,995 | $21.63 |
| 4 | Anchorage, AK | $40,530 | $19.49 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $40,066 | $19.26 |
| 6 | Bayonne, NJ | $39,088 | $18.79 |
| 7 | Las Vegas, NV | $38,465 | $18.49 |
| 8 | San Marcos, TX | $25,768 | $12.39 |
Fire dispatcher salary details
A fire dispatcher's salary ranges from $28,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $49,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a fire dispatcher's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $49,000 | $4,083 | $24 |
| 75th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
| Average | $37,441 | $3,120 | $18 |
| 25th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
| 10th Percentile | $28,000 | $2,333 | $13 |
Highest paying fire dispatcher jobs
The highest paying types of fire dispatchers are emergency dispatch operator, 911 operator, and operations/dispatch.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Telecommunicator | $39,327 | $3,277 | $18.91 | 4,083 |
| Communications Operator | $31,491 | $2,624 | $15.14 | 48,509 |
| Call Taker | $38,776 | $3,231 | $18.64 | 11,539 |
| Operations/Dispatch | $39,483 | $3,290 | $18.98 | 60,313 |
| Communications Dispatcher | $35,153 | $2,929 | $16.90 | 19,172 |
| Public Safety Dispatcher | $35,063 | $2,922 | $16.86 | 25,700 |
Top companies hiring fire dispatchers now:
Which companies pay fire dispatchers the most?
Fire dispatcher salaries at Mayor Ethan Berkowitz and City Of Branson are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average fire dispatcher salary at companies like Bureau of Land Management and City of San Diego are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mayor Ethan Berkowitz | $52,531 | $25.26 |
| 2 | City Of Branson | $46,880 | $22.54 |
| 3 | Bureau of Land Management | $44,655 | $21.47 |
| 4 | City of San Diego | $41,321 | $19.87 |
| 5 | State of Nevada Employees' Association Inc | $39,683 | $19.08 |
| 6 | The State of Oregon | $36,830 | $17.71 |
| 7 | The Hill Group | $35,997 | $17.31 |
| 8 | Fenix Technology LLC | $34,861 | $16.76 |
| 9 | MGM Resorts International | $33,300 | $16.01 |
| 10 | State Of Idaho | $32,365 | $15.56 |
| 11 | Bkb | $32,214 | $15.49 |
| 12 | Texas State Teachers Association | $30,236 | $14.54 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Fire dispatcher salary trends
The average fire dispatcher salary has risen by $6,366 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average fire dispatcher earned $31,075 annually, but today, they earn $37,441 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for fire dispatchers over the last decade.
Compare fire dispatcher salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average fire dispatcher salary over time
Compare fire dispatcher salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Fire dispatcher salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $37,400 | $18.00 | +3.2% |
| 2025 | $36,200 | $17.43 | +3.0% |
| 2024 | $35,200 | $16.91 | +2.5% |
| 2023 | $34,300 | $16.48 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $33,600 | $16.16 | +2.2% |
Recently added fire dispatcher salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of The Interior | Fire Dispatch (Forestry Technician) | Pine Ridge, SD | 06/26/2025 | $47,938 |
| State of Alaska | Wildland Fire Dispatcher/3 Flex (PCN) | Palmer, AK | 06/13/2025 | $45,267 |
| Municipality of Anchorage (Ak | Fire Dispatcher-Range 23/Iaff | Anchorage, AK | 06/08/2025 | $79,744 |
| Brown County (Wi | 911 Police, Fire & EMS Dispatcher | Brownsville, WI | 05/26/2025 | $59,146 |
| City of Live Oak | Telecommunications Officer-911 Police/Fire Dispatcher | Live Oak, TX | 05/25/2025 | $50,911 |
| Nevada National Security Sites | Fire Dispatcher | Nevada | 05/22/2025 | $90,430 |
| Oregon | Wildland Fire Dispatcher | John Day, OR | 04/28/2025 | $44,376 |
| State of Washington | East Zone IA Supervisor, Wildland Fire Dispatcher 4 (Wfd4) | Colville, WA | 04/26/2025 | $45,732 |
| State of Oregon | Wildland Fire Dispatcher | John Day, OR | 04/24/2025 | $44,376 |
| Department of The Interior | Fire Logistics Dispatcher (DHA) | Washington, DC | 04/18/2025 | $36,230 |
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