How to hire a service dispatcher

How to hire a service dispatcher, step by step

Here's a step-by-step service dispatcher hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a service dispatcher job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new service dispatcher
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a service dispatcher do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The service dispatcher hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a service dispatcher to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a service dispatcher that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of service dispatchers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Service Dispatcher	Description	Hourly rate
   Service Dispatcher		$12-20
   Receptionist/Customer Service	Receptionists or customer service professionals are considered as the first contact point of the clients. They usually greet and welcome guests visiting an office or organization... Show more	$12-17
   Dispatch Coordinator	A dispatch coordinator is primarily in charge of dispatching and tracking vehicles that provide different services. The extent of their duties varies upon their industry or institution of employment... Show more	$14-22

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • HVAC
   • Data Entry
   • Phone Calls
   • Customer Complaints
   • Strong Customer Service
   • Outbound Calls
   • Computer System
   • Payroll
   • Purchase Orders
   • Inbound Calls
   • Office Equipment
   • Computer Aided Dispatch
   • Service Requests
   • Emergency Calls

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Achieve certification in service writer sales (upselling )
   • Make contact with police, ems, and fire.
   • Scan and register documents for the CMMS system
   • Enter and transcribe accurately and completely information into the CMMS.
   • Dispatch police, fire, and ems, to residential and commercial accounts.
   • Operate right cad emergency dispatch program for entry of all pertinent information dealing with emergency and non emergency calls.

   More service dispatcher duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your service dispatcher job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A service dispatcher salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, service dispatchers' average salary in alabama is 32% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level service dispatchers earn 38% less than senior-level service dispatchers.
   • Certifications. A service dispatcher with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a service dispatcher's salary.

   Average service dispatcher salary

   $16.18hourly

   $33,663 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level service dispatcher salary

   $26,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 21, 2026

   Average service dispatcher salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$41,276	$20
   2	New Jersey	$39,382	$19
   3	California	$36,627	$18
   4	Minnesota	$36,436	$18
   5	Wisconsin	$36,336	$17
   6	Oregon	$36,138	$17
   7	Ohio	$35,991	$17
   8	Colorado	$35,731	$17
   9	New York	$35,213	$17
   10	Virginia	$34,001	$16
   11	Indiana	$32,728	$16
   12	Texas	$32,323	$16
   13	Arizona	$32,316	$16
   14	Georgia	$32,309	$16
   15	North Carolina	$32,219	$15
   16	Maine	$31,819	$15
   17	Utah	$31,109	$15
   18	Florida	$30,870	$15
   19	South Carolina	$29,622	$14
   20	Alabama	$28,140	$14

   Average service dispatcher salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Basin Electric Power Cooperative	$45,351	$21.80
   2	Univ Of Colorado-Colorado Spgs	$42,266	$20.32
   3	Erie County, NY	$41,245	$19.83	1
   4	L3Harris	$41,131	$19.77
   5	Martin Marietta	$40,983	$19.70
   6	Orion Lighting	$40,978	$19.70	3
   7	Asbury Automotive Group	$40,386	$19.42	75
   8	City of Portland	$40,216	$19.33	1
   9	Rite-Hite	$39,606	$19.04	1
   10	Ring Power Cat	$39,553	$19.02
   11	Goodwin	$39,432	$18.96
   12	Crown Equipment	$37,853	$18.20	3
   13	Dover	$37,786	$18.17
   14	Service Corporation International	$36,805	$17.69	8
   15	City of Santa Ana	$36,793	$17.69	1
   16	Construction Services Company	$36,691	$17.64
   17	Excel Constructors	$36,362	$17.48
   18	Pinnacle Technical Resources	$36,316	$17.46	1
   19	Simon Roofing	$35,524	$17.08	2
   20	Bk	$35,153	$16.90	2

4. Writing a service dispatcher job description

   A job description for a service dispatcher role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a service dispatcher job description:

   Service dispatcher job description example

   Job DescriptionOhio’s leader in Commercial Food Equipment Service and Repair is currently seeking a Service Dispatcher to receive requests, by phone and email, and then communicate to team members to service those requests out of our Columbus location while providing exceptional customer service with professionalism and excellence.
   Responsibilities Include: Responding to calls in a calm, friendly and professional manner. Prioritizing calls according to relevant criteria (e.g., emergency need). Quickly and accurately collect important information from the customer. Accurately and concisely relaying necessary information to the team member(s) servicing the call. Maintaining detailed records of calls and processing completed service calls promptly and error-free. Assisting with keeping the work environment neat and orderly. Proactively searching for new sales opportunities to grow the existing customer base. Demonstrating the exceptional quality of work and a caring attitude towards customers and employees.
   Preferred Qualifications Include: Customer Service Dispatch Experience, preferably in Commercial Food Equipment Repair, HVAC, or related industry. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Self-motivated and creative, willing to go the extra mile to ensure a positive customer experience. Exercise good judgment and thoughtfulness when faced with customer issues, and do the right thing. Able to work on a team, while also working independently on side projects with little to no supervision. Genuine satisfaction is derived from helping others. Proficiency with Microsoft Office365 (e.g., Outlook, Excel, Teams), Order Management Systems, Mobile & Tablet devices.
   Benefits Include: Sign-on Bonus. Paid Vacation and Sick time. Health, Vision, and Dental plans. Disability and Life insurance. 401K with Match. Profit Sharing Program.
   Benefit Conditions: The waiting period may apply. Only full-time employees are eligible.
   About CPS.
   Celebrating 50 years in the industry, Commercial Parts & Service, Inc. opened in 1972 and we’ve since built our legacy on integrity, commitment, teamwork, and innovation. As the largest family-owned business of its kind in Ohio, we continue to drive forward while keeping grounded in our strong heritage. CPS is one of 32 CFESA Certified Companies in the country providing superior service and parts, and the largest one of its kind in the state of Ohio. If you are looking for personal growth instead of “just a job”, come work with CPS.
   
   This Company Describes Its Culture as Stable - traditional, stable, strong processes.
   
   This Job Is: A job for which minority and military experienced candidates are encouraged to apply. Open to applicants who do not have a high school diploma/GED. Open to applicants who do not have a college diploma. CPS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
   Work Remotely: No.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right service dispatcher for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your service dispatcher job on Zippia to find and recruit service dispatcher candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting service dispatchers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new service dispatcher

   Once you've decided on a perfect service dispatcher candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new service dispatcher first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a service dispatcher?