Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between telecommunication operators and public safety 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 $35,063 average annual salary of a public safety dispatcher.
The top three skills for a telecommunication operator include patients, customer service and emergency situations. The most important skills for a public safety dispatcher are computer aided dispatch, customer service, and CAD.
| Telecommunication Operator | Public Safety Dispatcher | |
| Yearly salary | $39,381 | $35,063 |
| Hourly rate | $18.93 | $16.86 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 34,218 | 25,700 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 33% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| 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.
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. They must operate communications equipment, manage schedules, and quickly adapt to any situation as the calls can be unpredictable and critical. Furthermore, as a public safety dispatcher, it is essential to maintain records of all calls and interactions, adhering to the organization's policies and regulations at all times.
Telecommunication operators and public safety dispatchers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Telecommunication Operator | Public Safety Dispatcher | |
| Average salary | $39,381 | $35,063 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $50,000 | Between $26,000 And $46,000 |
| Highest paying City | Oakland, CA | Berkeley, CA |
| Highest paying state | Minnesota | Pennsylvania |
| Best paying company | City of Detroit | City of San Jos |
| Best paying industry | Government | Government |
There are a few differences between a telecommunication operator and a public safety dispatcher in terms of educational background:
| Telecommunication Operator | Public Safety Dispatcher | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 33% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Business | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between telecommunication operators' and public safety dispatchers' demographics:
| Telecommunication Operator | Public Safety Dispatcher | |
| Average age | 53 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 34.1% Female, 65.9% | Male, 37.6% Female, 62.4% |
| 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% |