Occupations · Office and Administrative Support

Public Safety Telecommunicators

Operate 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 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 43-5031.00

$50,730median annual wage, May 2024

101,140people employed, United States

▲ 3.5%projected change, 2024→2034

10,700openings a year, incl. replacements

What it pays

A single “average salary” hides the spread. This is the whole distribution — the gap between the bottom and top bar is usually the number that matters.

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 · national, cross-industry · annual wage

Pay over time

Median up 79% between 2003 and 2024, before inflation. The band shows the 10th to 90th percentile.

BLS OEWS, one release per year. Before May 2011 only national estimates were published, so geography detail starts there.

Where the jobs are

Metro area	Median wage	Employed
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA	$59,440	5,870
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$77,800	2,160
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI	$65,030	2,130
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	$54,330	1,910
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	$50,250	1,830
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$60,590	1,790
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$55,310	1,710
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	$47,730	1,490
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX	$49,170	1,470
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$79,040	1,350
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$60,860	1,230
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA	$103,110	1,130

BLS OEWS May 2024, metropolitan estimates · the 12 areas with the most people in this occupation

Typical education to enter: High school diploma or equivalent · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34

What people in this job actually do

Ordered by how important the work is rated.

Provide emergency medical instructions to callers.
Question callers to determine their locations and the nature of their problems to determine type of response needed.
Determine response requirements and relative priorities of situations, and dispatch units in accordance with established procedures.
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.
Relay information and messages to and from emergency sites, to law enforcement agencies, and to all other individuals or groups requiring notification.
Record details of calls, dispatches, and messages.
Monitor various radio frequencies, such as those used by public works departments, school security, and civil defense, to stay apprised of developing situations.
Read and effectively interpret small-scale maps and information from a computer screen to determine locations and provide directions.
Operate and maintain mobile dispatch vehicles and equipment.
Maintain access to, and security of, highly sensitive materials.
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.
Scan status charts and computer screens, and contact emergency response field units to determine emergency units available for dispatch.

O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale

Skills that matter most

Importance, rated 1 to 5.

Active Listening4.4

Speaking4.1

Critical Thinking3.8

Reading Comprehension3.6

Active Learning3.1

Monitoring3.1

Writing3.0

Learning Strategies2.8

Mathematics2.0

Science1.4

O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale

Software and tools

A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.

Microsoft Access●Microsoft Excel●Microsoft Office software●Microsoft Outlook●Microsoft PowerPoint●Microsoft SharePoint●Microsoft Word●SAP software●911 system information databasesComputer aided dispatch softwareCorel WordPerfect Office SuiteGeographic information system GIS systemsIntrado SchoolMessengerLaw enforcement information databasesNational Crime Information Center (NCIC) databaseNational Law Enforcement Telecommunications System NLETSSpillman Technologies Spillman Computer-Aided DispatchWeb browser software

O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag

What this work is actually like

Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.

2 / 5Some preparation — a school diploma and a few months of on-the-job training.

O*NET 30.3 Job Zones

Working conditions that stand out

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets−2.0 below average

Spend Time Sitting+1.9 above average

Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People+1.8 above average

Conflict Situations+1.8 above average

Dealing with Violent or Physically Aggressive People+1.8 above average

Importance of Repeating Same Tasks+1.6 above average

Deal With External Customers or the Public in General+1.6 above average

O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2023-08

How people actually get in

Share of workers by the education they hold.

High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)63%

Some College Courses11%

Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)11%

Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)10%

O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2023-08

What kind of person the work suits

Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.

Conventional5.5

Realistic4.3

Social3.6

O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)

What you take with you

Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.

Social Perceptiveness3.9

Service Orientation3.8

Coordination3.8

Judgment and Decision Making3.4

Complex Problem Solving3.2

Persuasion3.1

Instructing3.0

Time Management2.9

O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale

Knowledge the work draws on

Public Safety and SecurityLaw and GovernmentEnglish LanguageTelecommunicationsCustomer and Personal ServiceGeography

Abilities it leans on

Oral ExpressionOral ComprehensionSpeech ClarityProblem SensitivitySpeech RecognitionSelective Attention

O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale

How this job is advertised

The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.

DispatcherCall TakerCall Person911 OperatorAlarm Operator911 DispatcherFire DispatcherTelecommunicatorDispatch OfficerRadio DispatcherPolice DispatcherDispatch OperatorEmergency OperatorDispatch Specialist

O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation

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What changed since 2015

Comparing O*NET release 20.1 (2015-10-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning. 1 entries that were only relabelled between releases are left out.

Now listed 12

+Spillman Technologies Spillman Computer-Aided Dispatch+Microsoft Outlook+Microsoft SharePoint+Computer aided dispatch software+Microsoft PowerPoint+Microsoft Excel+SAP software+Intrado SchoolMessenger+Corel WordPerfect Office Suite+Geographic information system GIS systems+Microsoft Office software+Microsoft Access

No longer listed 3

−Corel WordPerfect software−Computer aided dispatch CAD software−Spillman Technologies Spillman Computer-Aided Dispatch CAD

Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.

O*NET 30.3 related occupations

Also called

DispatcherCall TakerCall Person911 OperatorAlarm Operator911 DispatcherFire DispatcherRadio DispatcherDispatch ManagerDispatch OfficerTelecommunicatorDispatch Operator

O*NET 30.3 alternative titles

The same work in Europe

ESCO occupation	ISCO	Match
emergency medical dispatcher	4223.1.1	exact
telephone switchboard operator	4223.1	close
crisis helpline operator	3412.1	close

Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)

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