The median annual wage for police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers was $38,010 in May 2015.
The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $24,270, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $59,770.
Most dispatchers work 8- to 12-hour shifts, but some agencies require even longer ones. Overtime is common in this occupation.
Because emergencies can happen at any time, dispatchers are required to work some shifts on evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Police, Fire, and Ambulance Dispatchers
Median annual wages, May 2015
Police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers
$38,010
Total, all occupations
$36,200
Material recording, scheduling, dispatching, and distributing workers
$29,780
Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics