Office and administrative support
Public safety telecommunicator
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.
Median pay
$53,040
Growth to 2035
+4%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
9,000
Time to qualify*
6 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Public safety telecommunicator
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Public safety telecommunicator: 51% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- 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.
Also called: 911 Dispatcher · Communications Officer · Communications Operator · Communications Specialist · Emergency Communications Dispatcher · Emergency Communications Operator (ECO) · Police Dispatcher · Public Safety Dispatcher
Outlook and AI
Public safety telecommunicators held 105,600 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 109,500 by 2035 (+4%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Public safety telecommunicator vs. Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance
- Public safety telecommunicator vs. Emergency medical technician
- Public safety telecommunicator vs. Switchboard operators, including answering service
- Public safety telecommunicator vs. Paramedic
- Public safety telecommunicator vs. First-line supervisor of security workers
- Public safety telecommunicator vs. Police officer
- Public safety telecommunicator vs. Transit and railroad police
- Public safety telecommunicator vs. Ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical technicians
- Public safety telecommunicator vs. Airfield operations specialist
- Public safety telecommunicator vs. Telephone operator