Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance fall under the Office and Administrative Support category in the U.S. occupational classification. Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance earn a median salary of $48,880 per year, ranking in the top 66% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -0.9% job growth through 2034, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Entry into this field typically requires a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, certifications, or postsecondary credentials, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance earn?

The median annual wage for dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance is $48,880. That puts dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance at #532 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance is -0.9%, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Employment is projected to move from approximately 218K positions in 2024 to 216K in 2034, a net change of -2K. A declining outlook does not mean the field is disappearing; it means automation, demographics, or substitution effects are shrinking the pool of openings. Students entering a declining field should plan for adjacent skills that transfer to growing roles.

What do dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Arrange for necessary repairs to restore service and schedules.
2. 2.Prepare daily work and run schedules.
3. 3.Confer with customers or supervising personnel to address questions, problems, or requests for service or equipment.
4. 4.Relay work orders, messages, or information to or from work crews, supervisors, or field inspectors, using telephones or two-way radios.
5. 5.Record and maintain files or records of customer requests, work or services performed, charges, expenses, inventory, or other dispatch information.
6. 6.Monitor personnel or equipment locations and utilization to coordinate service and schedules.
7. 7.Determine types or amounts of equipment, vehicles, materials, or personnel required, according to work orders or specifications.
8. 8.Schedule or dispatch workers, work crews, equipment, or service vehicles to appropriate locations, according to customer requests, specifications, or needs, using radios or telephones.

Top skills for dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance?

Many dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance enter the field with a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, though employers increasingly favor candidates with certifications or some postsecondary coursework. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

Related careers your child might also consider

• Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants
  $74,260 median
• First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
  $66,140 median
• Brokerage Clerks
  $62,940 median
• Postal Service Clerks
  $61,630 median
• Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks
  $57,770 median
• Postal Service Mail Carriers
  $57,490 median

Common questions parents ask about dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance