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The differences between telecommunication operators and police dispatchers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a telecommunication operator has an average salary of $39,381, which is higher than the $37,402 average annual salary of a police dispatcher.
The top three skills for a telecommunication operator include patients, customer service and emergency situations. The most important skills for a police dispatcher are computer aided dispatch, patrol, and CAD.
| Telecommunication Operator | Police Dispatcher | |
| Yearly salary | $39,381 | $37,402 |
| Hourly rate | $18.93 | $17.98 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 34,218 | 6,964 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 33% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Average age | 53 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 2 | - |
A Telecommunication Operator handles all incoming calls and transfers them when necessary to appropriate quarters. As a Telecommunication operator, you will be tasked with responding to inquiries, answering messages, and passing along communication to the right individuals. In addition to that, you will be tasked with organizing the telephone directory and performing a host of other administrative tasks. You will also have the responsibility of processing packages and incoming mails and delivering outgoing mails and packages to the post office or other shipping facilities.
Police Dispatchers are responsible for assessing incoming calls and deploying police resources using professional judgment. Their duties include answering emergency calls from agencies and the public, gathering information from police systems and call handlers, conducting priority assessments based on vulnerability and risks, and liaising with police officers to determine the logistics of place and time of an incident lodged. They also help facilitate investigations, reassure victims, and maintain accurate incident records.
Telecommunication operators and police dispatchers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Telecommunication Operator | Police Dispatcher | |
| Average salary | $39,381 | $37,402 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $50,000 | Between $28,000 And $48,000 |
| Highest paying City | Oakland, CA | Philadelphia, PA |
| Highest paying state | Minnesota | Pennsylvania |
| Best paying company | City of Detroit | City of Seattle |
| Best paying industry | Government | Government |
There are a few differences between a telecommunication operator and a police dispatcher in terms of educational background:
| Telecommunication Operator | Police Dispatcher | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 33% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Most common major | Business | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between telecommunication operators' and police dispatchers' demographics:
| Telecommunication Operator | Police Dispatcher | |
| Average age | 53 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 34.1% Female, 65.9% | Male, 35.6% Female, 64.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 15.0% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.9% Asian, 3.8% White, 60.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% | 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 | 19% | 17% |