How to hire a telecommunicator

How to hire a telecommunicator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step telecommunicator hiring guide:

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

What does a telecommunicator do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a telecommunicator, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   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 telecommunicator 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 telecommunicator that fits the bill.

   Here's a comparison of telecommunicator salaries for various roles:

   Type of Telecommunicator	Description	Hourly rate
   Telecommunicator	Police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers, also called public safety telecommunicators, answer emergency and nonemergency calls.	$13-25
   Operations/Dispatch	An operations dispatcher is a communication liaison between delivery drivers, customers, and an operations center of a delivery service or distributorship. You should effectively communicate with drivers for timely and efficient deliveries and inform customers of expected times of delivery... Show more	$13-25
   Call Taker	A call taker works at a call or dispatch center, where they are primarily in charge of answering calls, identifying the callers' needs, and coordinating services to assist them right away. Although their responsibilities depend on their company or industry of employment, it usually involves answering inquiries, processing requests, arranging appointments or reservations, and handling issues and concerns, resolving them promptly and efficiently... Show more	$13-24

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Computer Aided Dispatch
   • CAD
   • EMS
   • NCIC
   • Patrol
   • Dispatch System
   • CPR
   • Emergency Services
   • EMD
   • Public Safety Agencies
   • Medical Dispatch
   • Data Entry
   • Stressful Situations
   • Computer System

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Help organize telecommunication PSAP and back-up PSAP weekly.
   • Use NCIC and FCIC and provide accurate information for search.
   • Provide CPR instructions over the phone until emergency personnel arrive at location.
   • Monitor radio communications at the same time and update cad throughout emergency.
   • Monitor activities of officers on patrol and makes radio contact to ensure safety.
   • Maintain licenses to NCIC, FCIC, NLETS and other law enforcement information network.

   More telecommunicator duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your telecommunicator job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A telecommunicator can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, telecommunicators' average salary in arkansas is 57% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level telecommunicators 47% less than senior-level telecommunicators.
   • Certifications. A telecommunicator with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a telecommunicator's salary.

   Average telecommunicator salary

   $39,327yearly

   $18.91 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level telecommunicator salary

   $28,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

   Average telecommunicator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$60,810	$29
   2	Oregon	$57,180	$27
   3	Illinois	$55,082	$26
   4	Minnesota	$50,757	$24
   5	West Virginia	$48,187	$23
   6	Washington	$46,704	$22
   7	Wisconsin	$44,994	$22
   8	Michigan	$40,728	$20
   9	New Mexico	$39,097	$19
   10	Pennsylvania	$38,682	$19
   11	Missouri	$37,558	$18
   12	Texas	$36,882	$18
   13	Ohio	$34,152	$16
   14	North Carolina	$34,131	$16
   15	Florida	$33,621	$16
   16	South Carolina	$31,005	$15
   17	Kentucky	$29,851	$14
   18	Arkansas	$25,656	$12

   Average telecommunicator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	City of Detroit	$47,608	$22.89
   2	Ramsey County	$42,992	$20.67
   3	City of San Antonio	$41,927	$20.16
   4	Polk County Sheriff's Office	$41,014	$19.72	1
   5	Chicago State University	$40,917	$19.67
   6	City of Champaign	$40,518	$19.48	1
   7	1 8 3 Lanes	$39,827	$19.15
   8	Orange County Government	$39,782	$19.13
   9	Harnett County	$39,414	$18.95
   10	City of Tuscaloosa	$39,154	$18.82
   11	UNC Health Care	$39,086	$18.79	2
   12	Middlebury College	$38,733	$18.62
   13	City of Houston	$38,676	$18.59
   14	New Hanover County	$38,625	$18.57	1
   15	Forsyth County	$38,154	$18.34
   16	City of Corvallis	$37,819	$18.18
   17	The State of Oregon	$37,736	$18.14	2
   18	FirstHealth of the Carolinas	$37,349	$17.96
   19	Outagamie County	$37,145	$17.86	1
   20	Rockingham County	$37,090	$17.83

4. Writing a telecommunicator job description

   A telecommunicator 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 telecommunicator job description:

   Telecommunicator job description example

   * Answers emergency and non-emergency calls for service. Receives and records information, and requests for police/security services in a computerized database
   * Dispatches field personnel according to need and priority of the service request
   * Transmits and receives radio calls from field units via two-way radio. The ability to speak concisely and distinctly
   * Coordinate and maintain effective communications between field units and neighboring law enforcement agencies
   * Uses a computer-aided dispatch system to enter, research and retrieve information
   * Monitor closed-circuit television, security, fire, and alarm systems
   * React calmly, quickly, and decisively in emergencies to obtain, summarize and relay information both orally and in written form
   * Must be able to follow oral and written instructions
   * Demonstrate the ability to handle multiple tasks, working under stressful conditions. Activation of emergency procedures for evacuations or similar emergencies
   * Operation of specialized communication networking computer terminal to access confidential and restricted law enforcement information
   * Compile information from different sources to develop a daily briefing or a log that provides information to assist in the daily operations of the agency
   * Run queries through Regional, State, and National Crime Information databases as requested by the district police personnel
   * Notify outside emergency personnel of weather-related emergencies
   * Enter information in the Automated Records Management System (ARMS) computer database
   * Maintains confidentiality of information contained in source documents
   * Performs all other tasks and duties as assigned
   * High school diploma or equivalent
   * One (1) year of experience taking public safety/emergency calls in a call center or relevant experience working in a dispatching environment
   * Possess, or obtain within 6 months of employment, the Telecommunications Operator Certificate as issued by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE), including TLETS/NLETS and TCIC/NCIC for Full Access Operators training as provided by the Texas Department of Public Safety
   * Demonstrated ability to perform responsibilities with minimum supervision
   * Demonstrated proficiency in the use of a person computer
   * Demonstrated ability to recognize public safety hazards
   * Demonstrated ability to read and interpret documents, including safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions and procedures manuals
   * Demonstrated organizational, prioritization, effective telephone and communication skills, and interpersonal skills required to achieve the goals of the position
   * Demonstrated ability to receive and give verbal instructions effectively
   * Demonstrated ability to speak clearly and comprehensible
   * Must be willing to undergo a criminal background check and drug screening
   * Ability to communicate in English/Spanish preferred

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find telecommunicators for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit telecommunicators, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 telecommunicator

   Once you've found the telecommunicator candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   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.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new telecommunicator. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

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 telecommunicator?