Police, Fire, and Ambulance Dispatchers

What Police, Fire, and Ambulance Dispatchers Do

Police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers, also called public safety telecommunicators, answer emergency and nonemergency calls.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFB5YEzQUfI

Work Environment

Police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers work in emergency communication centers called public safety answering points (PSAPs). Dispatchers must be available around the clock, so they often have to work evenings, weekends, and holidays. Overtime and long shifts—sometimes 12 hours—are common. The pressure to respond quickly and calmly in alarming situations can be stressful.

How to Become a Police, Fire, or Ambulance Dispatcher

Most police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers have a high school diploma. Many states require dispatchers to become certified.

Pay

The median annual wage for police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers was $41,910 in May 2019.

Job Outlook

Employment of police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers is projected to grow 6 percent from 2019 to 2029, faster than the average for all occupations.

Police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers, also called public safety telecommunicators, answer emergency and nonemergency calls.

Duties

Police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers typically do the following:

Answer 9-1-1 emergency telephone and alarm system calls
Determine the type of emergency and its location and decide the appropriate response on the basis of agency procedures
Relay information to the appropriate first-responder agency
Coordinate the dispatch of emergency response personnel to accident scenes
Give basic over-the-phone medical instructions before emergency personnel arrive
Monitor and track the status of police, fire, and ambulance units
Synchronize responses with other area communication centers
Keep detailed records of calls

Dispatchers answer calls from people who need help from police, firefighters, emergency services, or a combination of the three. They take emergency, nonemergency, and alarm system calls.

Dispatchers must stay calm while collecting vital information from callers to determine the severity of a situation and the location of those who need help. They then communicate this information to the appropriate first-responder agencies.

Dispatchers keep detailed records of the calls that they answer. They use computers to log important facts, such as the nature of the incident and the caller’s name and location. Most computer systems detect the location of cell phones and landline phones automatically.

Dispatchers often must instruct callers on what to do before responders arrive. Many dispatchers are trained to offer medical help over the phone. For example, they might help the caller provide first aid at the scene until emergency medical services arrive. At other times they may advise callers on how to remain safe while waiting for assistance.

Police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers held about 98,300 jobs in 2019. The largest employers of police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers were as follows:

Local government, excluding education and hospitals	79%
Ambulance services	6
State government, excluding education and hospitals	6
Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private	3
Hospitals; state, local, and private	2

Dispatchers typically work in communication centers, often called public safety answering points (PSAPs). Some dispatchers work for unified communication centers, where they answer calls for all types of emergency services, while others may work specifically for police or fire departments.

Work as a dispatcher can be stressful. Dispatchers often work long shifts, take many calls, and deal with troubling situations. Some calls require them to assist people who are in life-threatening situations, and the pressure to respond quickly and calmly can be demanding.

Work Schedules

Most dispatchers work 8- to 12-hour shifts, but some agencies require even longer ones. Overtime is common in this occupation.

Because emergencies can happen at any time, dispatchers are required to work some shifts during evenings, weekends, and holidays.

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers.

Occupation	Job Duties	Entry-Level Education	Median Annual Pay, May 2019
Air Traffic Controllers	Air traffic controllers coordinate the movement of aircraft to maintain safe distances between them.	Associate’s degree	$122,990
Customer Service Representatives	Customer service representatives interact with customers to handle complaints, process orders, and answer questions.	High school diploma or equivalent	$34,710
EMTs and Paramedics	Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics respond to emergency calls, performing medical services and transporting patients to medical facilities.	Postsecondary nondegree award	$35,400
Power Plant Operators, Distributors, and Dispatchers	Power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers control the systems that generate and distribute electric power.	High school diploma or equivalent	$85,950
Security Guards and Gambling Surveillance Officers	Security guards and gambling surveillance officers protect property from illegal activity.	High school diploma or equivalent	$29,710