Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance, play a coordinating role that connects people, information, and services. With national employment of 219,000 and 18,000 annual openings, this career offers a sizable job market for new entrants and experienced workers. The national median annual salary of $48,880 reflects solid earning potential, with higher wages in certain states and metro areas. Typical entry into this field is possible with a high school diploma or equivalent, making it accessible for those who want to start working relatively quickly. Key strengths for success include customer service, problem solving and decision making, leadership, and strong speaking and listening abilities. Being detail oriented, adaptable, and comfortable with computers and information technology are also important. For people who enjoy coordinating activities, working with others, and using critical and analytical thinking under changing conditions, this occupation can be a practical and stable option, with related paths in customer service, sales, and other clerical roles.
The national median annual salary for dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance, is $48,880. Earnings potential varies by location, with several states offering higher median wages. Among the top states by opportunity score, Washington has the highest listed median salary at $59,330, followed by New York at $55,810, Massachusetts at $55,690, and Colorado at $54,070. California’s median of $52,350 also exceeds the national median. At the metro level, salaries can be even higher. The San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, metro shows a median salary of $60,780, while New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, is $58,180, and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, is $58,610. Several other major metros, including Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, also report median salaries above $56,000. These figures indicate that choosing certain states or metro areas can significantly influence earning potential within this occupation.
Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance, currently employ about 219,000 workers nationwide. The projected employment growth rate is -0.9%, suggesting that overall employment in this occupation is expected to decline slightly. Even with this small projected decrease, there are 18,000 annual openings. This combination indicates that many opportunities are likely to come from turnover, retirements, and job changes rather than net new growth. The consistent appearance of the same -0.9% growth rate across top states and metro areas suggests that this modest decline is a broad national pattern rather than limited to specific regions. For job seekers, this means that while the total number of positions may edge down over time, there should still be ongoing hiring needs. Individuals entering the field may benefit from focusing on locations and employers with regular staffing needs and from building strong skills in customer service, problem solving, and technology use to stay competitive.
Location plays a major role in opportunity and pay for dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance. Among states, California leads with an opportunity score of 67.38, a median salary of $52,350, and employment of 23,970, making it both a large and relatively well-paying market. Massachusetts and New York follow closely with opportunity scores around 66 and median salaries near or above $55,000. Colorado and Washington also rank highly, with Washington offering the highest listed state median salary at $59,330. At the metro level, the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, area has the highest opportunity score at 77.42 and the highest metro median salary at $60,780, though employment there is 720, indicating a smaller but high-opportunity market. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, metro combines a very high opportunity score of 77.27 with the largest listed metro employment of 11,590. Other strong metros include San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV; and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, all offering relatively high salaries and solid opportunity scores.
The typical education for dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance, is a high school diploma or equivalent. This creates an entry path that does not require a college degree, which can appeal to those who want to move into the workforce sooner or change careers without extensive additional schooling. While the formal education requirement is relatively modest, the role depends heavily on a strong skill set. Important strengths include customer service; problem solving and decision making; and clear speaking and listening. Interpersonal skills and adaptability matter as well, as dispatchers interact with many different people and situations. Being detail oriented and capable in writing and reading supports accurate communication. Comfort with computers and information technology is also important, as many tasks rely on digital tools. Critical and analytical thinking rounds out the profile, helping dispatchers evaluate information and make sound decisions. Related careers that draw on similar skills include customer service representatives, sales representatives of services, and various clerical and interviewing roles.
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