Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance
Also called: Dispatchers, Except Police 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.
Also called: Aircraft Dispatcher, Airplane Dispatch Clerk, Auto Service Dispatcher (Automotive Service Dispatcher), Automobile Rental Dispatcher, Bus and Trolley Dispatcher, Bus Dispatcher
Median pay
$50,340
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$36,030 – $78,140
People employed
202,810
Holland code
CRE
Conventional · Realistic · Enterprising
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you want to lead or coordinate other people’s work?
- 2.Are you OK repeating the same tasks most of the day?
- 3.Are you happy talking and working with people most of the day?
- 4.Do you work well under tight deadlines?
- 5.Are you OK working more than 40 hours a week?
- 6.Do you want a lot of freedom to make your own decisions?
- 7.Are you comfortable sitting at a desk most of the day?
- 8.Are you OK with hours that change?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
- Dealing with conflict is part of the job
Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance salary in every state →
What dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance do
- 01Schedule or dispatch workers, work crews, equipment, or service vehicles to appropriate locations, according to customer requests, specifications, or needs, using radios or telephones.
- 02Prepare daily work and run schedules.
- 03Confer with customers or supervising personnel to address questions, problems, or requests for service or equipment.
- 04Relay work orders, messages, or information to or from work crews, supervisors, or field inspectors, using telephones or two-way radios.
- 05Oversee all communications within specifically assigned territories.
- 06Receive or prepare work orders.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service
- Public Safety and Security
- Administration and Management
- Administrative
- English Language
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years.
- On-the-job training: over 1 month, up to and including 3 months.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance
- Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors81% · +16%
- Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters79% · +55%
- Postmasters and Mail Superintendents79% · +92%
- Office Clerks, General77% · −11%
- First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers75% · +11%
Change into dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service83% · $38,630
- Security Guards80% · $38,020
- Telephone Operators80% · $41,740
- Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors79% · $58,170
- Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks79% · $44,390
Majors that lead here
- Traffic, Customs, and Transportation Clerk/Technician
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.