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Office and Administration

Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, 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.

Visual summary of pay, outlook, skills, interests, and preparation for Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance
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Median pay

$48,880
Median annual pay for Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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10-year growth

-0.9%
Projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Annual openings

18,500
Projected annual openings, including growth and replacement demand.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Employment

218,700
Estimated U.S. employment for Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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Jobs added or lost

-2,100
Projected numeric employment change from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Entry preparation

High school diploma or equivalent
Typical additional preparation: Moderate-term on-the-job training.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024 profile
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O*NET occupation profile

What the work involves

Strongest O*NET signals first.

Essential skills

  1. 1Active Listening
  2. 2Speaking
  3. 3Monitoring
  4. 4Reading Comprehension
  5. 5Critical Thinking
  6. 6Writing

Knowledge areas

  1. 1Customer and Personal Service
  2. 2Public Safety and Security
  3. 3Administration and Management
  4. 4Administrative
  5. 5English Language
  6. 6Transportation

Abilities

  1. 1Oral Comprehension
  2. 2Oral Expression
  3. 3Speech Clarity
  4. 4Speech Recognition
  5. 5Deductive Reasoning
  6. 6Near Vision

Career interests

  1. 1Conventional
  2. 2Realistic
  3. 3Enterprising
  4. 4Social
  5. 5Investigative
  6. 6Artistic

Work styles

  1. 1Dependability
  2. 2Attention to Detail
  3. 3Stress Tolerance
  4. 4Cooperation
  5. 5Self-Control
  6. 6Adaptability

Work activities

  1. 1Getting Information
  2. 2Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
  3. 3Working with Computers
  4. 4Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  5. 5Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
  6. 6Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others

Work context

  1. 1Telephone Conversations
  2. 2Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
  3. 3Contact With Others
  4. 4Frequency of Decision Making
  5. 5Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities
  6. 6Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results

Representative tasks

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

Software and tools

Microsoft Excel · in demandMicrosoft Word · in demandMicrosoft Outlook · in demandMicrosoft Office software · in demandSAP software · hot technologyMicrosoft Windows · hot technologyKronos Workforce Timekeeper · hot technologyMicrosoft PowerPoint · hot technologyMicrosoft Access · hot technologyScheduling softwareSabre travel agent softwareRouting software

Sources

BLS provides national pay, employment, and projections. O*NET provides skills, interests, preparation, tasks, work context, and tools.

ChooseField compares fields using public labor-market and professional sources.