How much do Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance make?
Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance earn a median annual salary of $50,340 in the United States, which works out to roughly $24.20 per hour for full-time work. Most earn between $36,030 at the entry level and $78,140 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $42,750 and $62,450 a year.
That is $11,050 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance salary range by percentile
Half of all Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance earn between $42,750 and $62,450 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,030 | $17.32 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $42,750 | $20.55 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $50,340 | $24.20 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $62,450 | $30.02 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,140 | $37.57 |
Highest-paying states for Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. District of Columbia leads the country for Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance pay at $72,260 a year, followed by Washington ($59,330) and Minnesota ($59,220). At the other end, South Dakota posts the lowest median at $43,920 — a gap of $28,340 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $72,260 | $34.74 | +44% |
| 2 | Washington | $59,330 | $28.52 | +18% |
| 3 | Minnesota | $59,220 | $28.47 | +18% |
| 4 | North Dakota | $57,580 | $27.68 | +14% |
| 5 | Illinois | $57,240 | $27.52 | +14% |
Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 51 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 203,000 people work as Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $54,740 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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