Overview
SourcedOperate telephone, radio, or other communication systems to receive and communicate requests for emergency assistance at 9-1-1 public safety answering points and emergency operations centers. Take information from the public and other sources regarding crimes, threats, disturbances, acts of terrorism, fires, medical emergencies, and other public safety matters. May coordinate and provide information to law enforcement and emergency response personnel. May access sensitive databases and other information sources as needed. May provide additional instructions to callers based on knowledge of and certification in law enforcement, fire, or emergency medical procedures.
O*NET definition of Public Safety Telecommunicators (SOC 43-5031) · Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed.
Titles employers use
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership; U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database; GovJobs Wiki (editorial). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Requirements
Sourced- Education needed to enter
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
Education workers say the job requires
Share of surveyed workers in Public Safety Telecommunicators (SOC 43-5031) naming each level as required to be hired, 26 respondents, O*NET survey August 2023. Each employer sets its own minimum.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4); U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.
How to get hired
SourcedPublic safety telecommunicators typically need a high school diploma to enter the occupation and then are trained on the job. Many states and localities require these workers to become certified.
From the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile “Public Safety Telecommunicators”, published August 27, 2026 · Read the full profile. National guidance; each employer runs its own hiring process.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–35 edition (XML compilation). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Academy and training
Sourced- SOC 43-5031
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job zone
- Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Academy length, curriculum and paid-training policies are set by each employer and state; they are part of the employer collection stage.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Promotion ladder
EditorialSeniority steps: single title × seniority steps; growth via steps, overtime, bidding (bus operator, sanitation, dispatcher). Typical structure for a 911 communications center; titles, steps and timing differ by employer.
- Call-Taker / Dispatcher Trainee
- Dispatcher I
- Dispatcher II (police/fire console)
- Communications Training Officer
- Shift Supervisor
- Communications Manager / 911 Director
Source: GovJobs Wiki (editorial).
Pay
SourcedMedian annual wage by employer type, national, May 2025. Federal includes the U.S. Postal Service; state and local include public schools and hospitals.
| Employer type | Workers | 10th pct. | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | 7,250 | $41,440 | $48,190 | $57,710 | $70,430 | $85,950 |
| Local | 82,690 | $37,390 | $45,960 | $53,880 | $64,490 | $80,180 |
| All government | 89,940 | $37,610 | $46,100 | $54,440 | $64,780 | $80,370 |
| Private sector | 12,560 | $35,150 | $40,450 | $47,820 | $59,590 | $71,450 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.
State government pay plans
Official pay ranges for the job classes that match 911 Dispatcher / Public Safety Telecommunicator in 29 state civil-service plans. They cover state employees only, not cities, counties or school districts.
| State | Job classes in the state plan | Annual range |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | Dispatcher 1, Dispatcher Senior 3 classes · effective July 9, 2022 · Arizona Department of Administration, Human Resources Division | $25,510 – $66,009 |
| Arkansas | Dispatcher 1 class · effective July 1, 2025 · Arkansas Department of Shared Administrative Services, Office of Personnel Management | $47,397 – $70,148 |
| California | Communications Operator, Public Safety Dispatcher, California Highway Patrol 2 classes · effective September 14, 2026 · California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) | $56,280 – $87,672 |
| Connecticut | State Police Dispatcher Trainee, State Police Dispatcher 2 classes · effective June 26, 2026 · Connecticut Department of Administrative Services (DAS), Statewide Human Resources | $53,031 – $79,342 |
| Delaware | Communications Dispatcher 1 class · effective July 12, 2026 · Delaware Department of Human Resources, Classification and Compensation | $33,143 – $49,715 |
| Georgia | Dispatcher 1–4, Dispatcher 1 Non Exempt, Dispatcher 2 Non Exempt, +4 more 10 classes · effective September 17, 2025 · Georgia Department of Administrative Services (DOAS), Human Resources Administration — Compensation | $33,845 – $86,784 |
| Illinois | Communications Dispatcher, Telecommunicator Trainee, Telecommunicator 3 classes · effective July 1, 2026 · Illinois Department of Central Management Services | $51,264 – $82,248 |
| Kentucky | Public Safety Telecommunicator I–III 3 classes · effective September 16, 2026 · Kentucky Personnel Cabinet | $30,104 – $49,714 |
| Louisiana | Communications Officer 1–3 3 classes · effective July 1, 2023 · Louisiana Department of State Civil Service | $33,405 – $73,632 |
| Maryland | MSP Emergency Dispatcher TRN, MSP Emergency Dispatcher I–III 4 classes · effective July 1, 2026 · Maryland Department of Budget and Management (DBM) | $52,354 – $106,155 |
| Massachusetts | Law Enforcement Dispatcher I–IV, Communications Officer, Cd, Public Safety Dispatcher I–III 8 classes · effective July 12, 2026 · Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Human Resources Division (HRD) | $51,235 – $114,649 |
| Michigan | Emergency Dispatcher-E, Emergency Dispatcher-A 2 classes · effective October 1, 2026 · Michigan Civil Service Commission | $49,754 – $68,994 |
| Mississippi | Dispatcher I–II 2 classes · effective July 1, 2026 · Mississippi State Personnel Board | $22,040 – $50,161 |
| Nebraska | State Patrol Communications Specialist 3 classes · effective July 1, 2026 · Nebraska Department of Administrative Services, State Personnel Division | $47,667 – $70,267 |
| Nevada | Public Safety Dispatcher 1 class · effective July 1, 2026 · Nevada Department of Administration, Division of Human Resource Management (DHRM) | $60,448 – $89,325 |
| New Jersey | Communications Operator Trainee, Communications Operator 1–3, Public Safety Telecommunicator Trainee, +2 more 7 classes · effective July 11, 2026 · New Jersey Civil Service Commission | $46,727 – $92,953 |
| New Mexico | Associate Public Safety Dispatcher, Public Safety Dispatcher 2 classes · effective July 4, 2026 · New Mexico State Personnel Office (SPO), Compensation and Classification | $38,885 – $70,575 |
| New York | Radio Dispatcher 1 class · effective April 1, 2026 · New York State Department of Civil Service | $47,110 – $57,813 |
| North Carolina | Telecommunicator 1 class · effective February 1, 2026 · North Carolina Office of State Human Resources (OSHR) | $32,287 – $56,502 |
| Ohio | Radio Dispatcher 1 class · effective July 1, 2026 · Ohio Department of Administrative Services (DAS), Classification & Compensation | $44,678 – $49,192 |
| Oklahoma | Communications Officer (DPS) I–V 5 classes · effective August 30, 2026 · Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES), Human Capital Management | $38,964 – $214,364 |
| Oregon | OSP Telecommunicator 1–2 | $68,292 – $107,736 |
| Pennsylvania | Police Communications Operator 1 class · effective July 1, 2026 · Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Office of Administration | $46,827 – $75,298 |
| South Dakota | Dispatcher 1 class · effective July 1, 2026 · South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources and Administration (BHRA); Unified Judicial System for judicial classes | $34,694 – $48,963 |
| Tennessee | Communications Dispatcher 1–2 2 classes · effective September 1, 2026 · Tennessee Department of Human Resources | $30,972 – $46,440 |
| Texas | Police Communications Operator I–VII 7 classes · effective September 1, 2025 · Texas State Auditor's Office (SAO), State Classification Team | $37,144 – $93,138 |
| Utah | Radio Dispatcher 1 class · effective June 21, 2025 · Utah Department of Government Operations, Division of Human Resource Management (DHRM) | $42,411 – $48,506 |
| Washington | Communications Officer 1–4 5 classes · effective July 1, 2026 · Washington Office of Financial Management (OFM), State Human Resources | $53,796 – $117,948 |
| Wisconsin | Law Enforcement Dispatcher 1 class · effective June 28, 2026 · Wisconsin Department of Administration, Division of Personnel Management | $46,738 – $103,626 |
Lowest class minimum to highest class maximum. Hourly rates are converted at 2,080 hours a year, and other rates at the plan's pay periods; the plans publish the exact rates. Classes are matched to this job by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).
Sources: 29 official state pay plans, linked in each row.
Schedule
SourcedShare of surveyed workers in the occupation (O*NET work context, August 2023). Shift patterns and differentials depend on the employer.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Day-to-day work
Sourced- Provide emergency medical instructions to callers.4.9
- Question callers to determine their locations and the nature of their problems to determine type of response needed.4.9
- Determine response requirements and relative priorities of situations, and dispatch units in accordance with established procedures.4.8
- Receive incoming telephone or alarm system calls regarding emergency and non-emergency police and fire service, emergency ambulance service, information, and after-hours calls for departments within a city.4.8
- Relay information and messages to and from emergency sites, to law enforcement agencies, and to all other individuals or groups requiring notification.4.7
- Record details of calls, dispatches, and messages.4.7
- Monitor various radio frequencies, such as those used by public works departments, school security, and civil defense, to stay apprised of developing situations.4.7
- Read and effectively interpret small-scale maps and information from a computer screen to determine locations and provide directions.4.6
- Maintain access to, and security of, highly sensitive materials.4.6
- Enter, update, and retrieve information from teletype networks and computerized data systems regarding such things as wanted persons, stolen property, vehicle registration, and stolen vehicles.4.6
The 10 most important of 16 core tasks for Public Safety Telecommunicators, ranked by importance (1–5) in the O*NET survey of August 2023.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Related jobs
DerivedExams and free practice tests
Sourced| Exam | Administered by | Used in | Type | Official page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CritiCall Dispatcher/Calltaker Test Computer-based test of multitasking and computer skills for 911/public-safety dispatcher, calltaker and telecommunicator applicants; available online (unproctored) or locally for proctored administration. | Biddle Consulting Group (TestGenius) | US | skills | Official page |
| ECOMM Emergency Communications Exam About 2 hours; CallTaker Video Test (situational judgment), Recording Pertinent Information (note-taking) Test and Dispatcher multitasking test tracking four police units. | National Testing Network (NTN) | US | written | Official page |
| POST Entry-Level Dispatcher Selection Test Battery Measures verbal, reasoning, memory and perceptual abilities; separately timed tests of 5 to 15 minutes each; whole battery takes about 2.5 to 3 hours including a short break. | California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) | CA | written | Official page |
| TCOLE State Licensing Examinations (Basic Peace Officer, Basic County Corrections, Telecommunicator) Peace Officer: 250 questions, 180 minutes; County Corrections: 100 questions, 105 minutes; Telecommunicator: 80 questions, 90 minutes; must be taken within 180 days of completing the basic course. | Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) | TX | licensing | Official page |
Each exam is checked against its administrator's official page. Employers choose which exam they use; confirm with the hiring agency.
Source: Exam administrators and hiring authorities (per record), Official exam administrator pages. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Free practice tests
APCO Public Safety Telecommunicator 1 (PST1)Entrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep- CritiCall Public Safety Dispatcher Pre-Employment TestPractice for a named exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- IAED Emergency Fire Dispatcher (EFD) CertificationEntrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- IAED Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD)Entrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- IAED Emergency Police Dispatcher (EPD) CertificationEntrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- IAED Emergency Telecommunicator Course (ETC) CertificationEntrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- NENA Emergency Number Professional (ENP) CertificationEntrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- NTN ECOMM Emergency Communications Operator Exam (911 Dispatcher)Practice for a named exam · free on Open Exam Prep
State versions: 2 states. Pick yours:
Source: Open Exam Prep, Open Exam Prep free practice tests. Data captured October 1, 2026. Each link was opened and its exam title checked on the date shown.
By state
SourcedMedian annual wage for Public Safety Telecommunicators (SOC 43-5031) in each state, all employers (BLS state estimates do not separate government from private). Highest first.
| State | Workers | 10th pct. | Median | 90th pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 8,520 | $49,350 | $80,120 | $108,650 |
| Washington | 1,980 | $56,920 | $78,850 | $96,130 |
| Oregon | 1,110 | $53,750 | $71,980 | $96,530 |
| Alaska | 390 | $47,340 | $66,660 | $103,020 |
| Minnesota | 1,460 | $54,400 | $66,550 | $84,960 |
| Colorado | 1,800 | $48,250 | $63,520 | $83,750 |
| Connecticut | 1,820 | $49,290 | $62,410 | $78,810 |
| Massachusetts | 2,790 | $48,470 | $61,720 | $79,470 |
| New York | 5,470 | $45,950 | $61,450 | $79,630 |
| Illinois | 4,350 | $38,920 | $61,260 | $94,970 |
| Nevada | 1,010 | $45,170 | $60,040 | $87,240 |
| Wisconsin | 1,820 | $46,430 | $60,000 | $74,970 |
| North Dakota | 270 | $47,790 | $59,940 | $63,180 |
| Vermont | 280 | $47,520 | $59,470 | $73,500 |
| New Jersey | 4,010 | $46,080 | $59,240 | $79,040 |
| District of Columbia | 60 | $44,480 | $59,080 | $67,540 |
| Maryland | 1,610 | $46,840 | $58,910 | $76,500 |
| Rhode Island | 370 | $47,880 | $58,310 | $68,730 |
| New Hampshire | 560 | $45,810 | $58,240 | $70,600 |
| Ohio | 4,550 | $38,490 | $58,100 | $69,980 |
| Maine | 730 | $44,800 | $57,250 | $74,280 |
| Hawaii | 170 | $44,350 | $57,020 | $65,380 |
| Iowa | 980 | $47,340 | $56,770 | $72,000 |
| Arizona | 1,790 | $46,950 | $56,600 | $77,890 |
| Utah | 880 | $47,070 | $54,120 | $75,890 |
| Michigan | 2,100 | $40,970 | $53,310 | $67,440 |
| Delaware | 260 | $47,150 | $53,140 | $82,610 |
| Idaho | 580 | $43,360 | $51,780 | $75,560 |
| Wyoming | 350 | $45,100 | $50,600 | $69,720 |
| Virginia | 3,050 | $37,840 | $50,490 | $73,770 |
| Nebraska | 750 | $39,670 | $50,270 | $65,320 |
| Florida | 6,090 | $37,060 | $50,170 | $77,820 |
| Texas | 7,730 | $37,950 | $50,040 | $64,190 |
| Pennsylvania | 3,620 | $39,350 | $49,890 | $64,370 |
| New Mexico | 640 | $38,240 | $49,060 | $62,000 |
| Indiana | 2,150 | $38,730 | $49,050 | $63,660 |
| South Dakota | 420 | $36,960 | $47,900 | $60,310 |
| Montana | 560 | $39,310 | $47,640 | $61,270 |
| Missouri | 2,750 | $35,810 | $46,990 | $62,100 |
| North Carolina | 3,730 | $38,080 | $46,550 | $59,770 |
| Tennessee | 1,840 | $33,840 | $46,390 | $66,180 |
| Kentucky | 1,350 | $29,770 | $45,670 | $59,060 |
| Kansas | 1,370 | $34,930 | $45,110 | $58,960 |
| South Carolina | 1,490 | $34,520 | $43,540 | $56,930 |
| Georgia | 3,480 | $31,820 | $42,790 | $59,760 |
| West Virginia | 880 | $30,060 | $40,490 | $52,940 |
| Oklahoma | 1,930 | $29,760 | $39,890 | $61,490 |
| Alabama | 2,230 | $29,850 | $38,960 | $56,420 |
| Louisiana | 1,470 | $29,150 | $38,550 | $59,730 |
| Arkansas | 1,460 | $31,010 | $38,240 | $47,860 |
| Mississippi | 1,430 | $27,080 | $34,510 | $48,760 |
51 states with published estimates.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Not yet collected
These dimensions are part of every job page. We publish them only once they are sourced from official documents such as job postings, pay plans, union contracts and state standards.
- 05 ProbationNot yet collectedProbation length and what ends it
- 09 Benefits and pensionNot yet collectedPension plan and formula, retirement age and years, DROP, retiree health, Social Security coverage, 457(b) and PSLF eligibility
- 10 Union contractsNot yet collectedBargaining unit, union and the current contract, with its source and effective dates
- 11 Transfers and lateral entryNot yet collectedLateral entry policy, certification reciprocity, lateral bonuses and moves between agencies
- 15 Employer directoryNot yet collectedEvery public employer that hires this job, with its own pay and rules