How to become a dispatcher, except police, fire, and ambulance

Schedule and dispatch workers, work crews, equipment, or service vehicles for conveyance of materials, freight, or passengers, or for normal installation, service, or emergency repairs rendered outside the place of business. Duties may include using radio, telephone, or computer to transmit assignments and compiling statistics and reports on work progress.

Steps to get there

Most employers expect usually requires a high school diploma or ged, though some occupations may not..Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.

What dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance do

• Confer with customers or supervising personnel to address questions, problems, or requests for service or equipment.
• Receive or prepare work orders.
• Record and maintain files or records of customer requests, work or services performed, charges, expenses, inventory, or other dispatch information.
• Arrange for necessary repairs to restore service and schedules.
• Advise personnel about traffic problems, such as construction areas, accidents, congestion, weather conditions, or other hazards.
• Prepare daily work and run schedules.

Skills that matter most

• Active Listening
• Speaking
• Monitoring
• Reading Comprehension
• Writing
• Critical Thinking
• Active Learning
• Learning Strategies

Is dispatcher, except police, fire, and ambulance a good career?

On the numbers, this job is close to the average across occupations. Median pay is 1% below the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.

Where it pays most

• District of Columbia $72,260
• Washington $59,330
• Minnesota $59,220
• North Dakota $57,580
• Delaware $57,170

Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance salary by state and city

Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.