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Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance


Nature of the Work About this section

Dispatchers schedule and dispatch workers, equipment, or service vehicles to carry materials or passengers. They keep records, logs, and schedules of the calls that they receive and of the transportation vehicles that they monitor and control. Many dispatchers employ computer-aided dispatch systems to accomplish these tasks.

Education and Training About this section

Workers usually have a high school degree and learn the skills needed to do their jobs through a few months of on-the-job training.

Job Outlook About this section

Current and Projected Employment.

2008 Employment 195,700
2018 Employment 190,700
Employment Change -5,000
Growth Rate -3%

Employment change. Employment is expected to decline slowly. Increasing worker productivity may cause an employment decline; however population growth and economic expansion may limit the decline.

Job prospects. Favorable opportunities are expected, largely due to job openings arising from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force. As the equipment becomes more complex, individuals with computer skills and experience should have the best prospects for employment.

Earnings About this section

Median annual wages for dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance, were $33,850 in May 2008.

Air traffic controllers; Customer service representatives; Police, fire and ambulance dispatchers; Reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks.

Sources of Additional Information About this section


Disclaimer:

Links to non-BLS Internet sites are provided for your convenience and do not constitute an endorsement.

Information about work opportunities for dispatchers is available from local employers and State employment service offices.

O*NET-SOC Code Coverage About this section

Get more information from O*NET—the Occupational Information Network:

O*NET provides comprehensive information on key characteristics of workers and occupations. For information on a specific occupation, select the appropriate link below. For more information on O*NET, visit their homepage.


Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos342.htm (visited February 09, 2012).

 

Last Modified Date: December 17, 2009