How to hire a telecommunication operator

How to hire a telecommunication operator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step telecommunication operator hiring guide:

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

What does a telecommunication operator do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your telecommunication operator job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a telecommunication operator for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A telecommunication operator's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, telecommunication operators from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of telecommunication operator salaries for various roles:

   Type of Telecommunication Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Telecommunication Operator		$14-24
   Dispatcher	Dispatchers are generally responsible for coordinating with the customers regarding the delivery status of the products and providing precise logistics and the fastest transportation routes to the professional drivers to ensure smooth and timely deliveries. A dispatcher is required to monitor the driver's location, strictly track road situations at all times to provide real-time updates for the customers, and advise the driver for alternative routes... Show more	$12-21
   Public Safety Dispatcher	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... Show more	$12-22

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Patients
   • Customer Service
   • Emergency Situations
   • Telephone Calls
   • Non-Emergency Calls
   • Telecommunication
   • Computer Aided Dispatch
   • Emergency Codes
   • Computer System
   • Public Safety Agencies
   • EMS
   • CAD
   • Emergency Services
   • PBX

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage patients calls effectively and efficiently in a complex, fast-pace and challenging call center environment.
   • Report real-time facts and statistics to immediate patrol supervisors throughout the shift.
   • Answer inbound calls from citizens in need of police, fire, ems.
   • Answer PBX, used computerized system for physician's answering service, hospital phones and paging.
   • Maintain various alert logs and PBX activity logs for telecommunications office.
   • Broadcast orders to police patrol units in vicinity of complaint/situation to investigate.

   More telecommunication operator duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, telecommunication operators' average salary in oklahoma is 33% less than in minnesota.
   • Seniority. Entry-level telecommunication operators earn 40% less than senior-level telecommunication operators.
   • Certifications. A telecommunication operator 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 telecommunication operator's salary.

   Average telecommunication operator salary

   $39,381yearly

   $18.93 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level telecommunication operator salary

   $30,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average telecommunication operator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$48,028	$23
   2	Massachusetts	$45,452	$22
   3	Maine	$45,415	$22
   4	District of Columbia	$43,198	$21
   5	Pennsylvania	$42,437	$20
   6	New Mexico	$40,235	$19
   7	Illinois	$39,611	$19
   8	Michigan	$39,064	$19
   9	New Jersey	$38,910	$19
   10	Alabama	$38,834	$19
   11	Arkansas	$38,636	$19
   12	Maryland	$38,436	$18
   13	Ohio	$37,656	$18
   14	Indiana	$37,363	$18
   15	Texas	$36,438	$18
   16	South Carolina	$36,363	$17
   17	Arizona	$35,878	$17
   18	Louisiana	$35,703	$17
   19	Hawaii	$35,265	$17
   20	Virginia	$35,230	$17

   Average telecommunication operator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	City of Detroit	$51,038	$24.54
   2	Blessing Hospital Emergency Room	$48,832	$23.48	1
   3	Texas Instruments	$45,988	$22.11
   4	City of Rock Hill	$45,106	$21.69	1
   5	Health Alliance	$44,890	$21.58	1
   6	Goodyear, Arizona	$44,390	$21.34
   7	Queens Health Systems	$41,257	$19.84	1
   8	City of Webster Police Department	$41,165	$19.79
   9	Beth Israel Lahey Health	$39,803	$19.14	6
   10	PDS Tech	$39,765	$19.12
   11	VPNE	$39,713	$19.09
   12	Marin General Hospital: Foley Pamela MD	$39,245	$18.87
   13	Rock Hill Schools	$38,607	$18.56
   14	Griffin Foundation	$38,601	$18.56
   15	Northern Lights	$38,194	$18.36	7
   16	Lahey Health Behavioral Services	$38,191	$18.36
   17	Anna Jaques Hospital	$37,820	$18.18
   18	Crozer Health	$36,335	$17.47
   19	Arkansas Children's Hospital	$36,316	$17.46
   20	St Joseph Medical Group	$35,842	$17.23	2

4. Writing a telecommunication operator job description

   A telecommunication operator job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a telecommunication operator job description:

   Telecommunication operator job description example

   Telecommunications Operator I
   Annual Salary: $36,691 Per Year
   Position Type: Full Time
   Close Date: Until Filled General Description: The purpose of this class within the organization is to provide leadership and participate in central dispatch operations. This class works under general supervision, independently developing work methods and sequences.
   
   Minimum Training and Experience:
   
   Requires High School graduation or GED equivalent. Requires two years in dispatch or customer service or closely related experience preferred. Special Certifications and Licenses: Ability to obtain E911 Certification and NCIC Full Function Certification within one year of hire.
   
   Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Knowledge of operating procedures for dispatching emergency and safety services. Knowledge of the names and locations of the streets and principle buildings in the city. Knowledge of fire, police, rescue, and other appropriate organizations' operations. Ability to operate computer equipment. Ability to react quickly, calmly, and effectively under emergency conditions. Ability to speak clearly and concisely with a well-modulated voice. Ability to write legibly, maintain logs, records, and perform routine clerical work. Ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress when confronted with emergency situations or tight deadlines. Ability to maintain positive customer-focused relationships with co-workers, supervisors, agencies, the general public, and all other internal and external customers. Personally demonstrates appropriate customer service skills. Work is performed onsite. The incumbent must be present at work to perform the essential functions of this job. Essential Job Functions:
   Performs specialized work with telecommunications equipment to receive and transmit information. Work requires fast, effective processing of information and the performance of related clerical duties. Receives calls from the general public requesting emergency or safety services. Dispatches appropriate public safety units and assists in obtaining additional information and locating streets and addresses. Coordinates activities between various public safety agencies. Receives radio/telephone calls from field units, transmits messages via radio, telephone, or computer and makes inquiries to obtain information or service of other agencies. Maintains radio contact with public safety units that are on call. Keeps continuous record of status of units in and out of service and on cases. Performs NCIC and SCDMV queries; operates the NCIC terminal. Performs all other duties as may be assigned to meet organizational needs. Additional Notes:
   
   Shift Work Required This Notice is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties, knowledge, skills and abilities required to do the job. This is intended only to describe the general nature of the job. A more comprehensive list of duties, responsibilities and essential job functions is available on the job description. The City of Rock Hill is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, political affiliation, disability, national origin, genetic information, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical condition), or age.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find telecommunication operators for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any telecommunication operators they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level telecommunication operators with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with telecommunication operator candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you 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 telecommunication operator

   Once you have selected a candidate for the telecommunication operator position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new telecommunication operator. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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 telecommunication operator?