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Public Safety Telecommunicators

Typical education: High school diplomaHigh pressure

What they do

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.

Kinds of work

  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $53,040 Median per year · $25.50/hr Most earn $37,320–$79,830

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Record details of calls, dispatches, and messages.
  • 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.
  • Question callers to determine their locations and the nature of their problems to determine type of response needed.
  • Scan status charts and computer screens, and contact emergency response field units to determine emergency units available for dispatch.
  • Test and adjust communication and alarm systems, and report malfunctions to maintenance units.
  • Enter, update, and retrieve information from teletype networks and computerized data systems regarding such things as wanted persons, stolen property, vehicle registration, and stolen vehicles.

Job outlook

United States
4% more jobs by 2035, about as fast as average · about 9,000 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals78.9%
  • State government, excluding education and hospitals5.5%
  • Ambulance services5.1%
  • Colleges, universities, and professional schools3.1%
  • General medical and surgical hospitals2.4%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: None

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: NoneEntry-level

This is an entry-level job. Most people start with a high school diploma and learn the work through on-the-job training at a 9-1-1 center, so you don't need years of experience first.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finish high school with strong communication, reading, and computer skills, since you'll type quickly and speak clearly under pressure.

  2. Agency training as a Public Safety Telecommunicator

    A few months, varies by agency

    Once hired, you learn call-taking, radio procedures, and emergency protocols, often with a trainer sitting beside you before you work alone.

  3. Public Safety Telecommunicator

    Career entry point

    You answer 9-1-1 calls, gather key details, dispatch help, and give callers instructions until help arrives.

Where it can lead

  1. Communications Center Supervisor

    2-5 years of experience first

    You oversee a shift of telecommunicators, handle scheduling and quality reviews, and help new staff learn; you usually need strong performance records and good judgment during crises.

  2. Emergency Communications Manager

    5-10 years of experience first

    You run the whole communications center, including budgets, staffing, equipment, and working with police, fire, and EMS leaders; this often requires supervisory experience and sometimes further education.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take English and speech or public speaking classesClear speaking and listening help you get the right information from a stressed caller quickly.
  • Take a typing or keyboarding classFast, accurate typing is needed to log calls and dispatch information in real time.
  • Join a debate, drama, or model UN clubThese clubs build calm speaking under pressure, a skill you'll use every shift.
  • Volunteer with a fire department, EMS group, or community safety programSeeing how emergency response works helps you understand what dispatchers coordinate.
  • Get a part-time job that involves customer serviceHandling people politely and staying patient in tense moments is strong preparation.

In college

  • Take courses in communication, psychology, or public safetyThese help you understand how people speak in crisis and how emergency services work together.
  • Earn a CPR or first aid certificationKnowing basic medical response helps you understand the instructions you may give callers.
  • Work a campus job that involves phones or radiosCampus dispatch, help desk, or campus safety aide roles give you real experience staying calm while helping others.
  • Join a student emergency or safety organizationGroups like campus emergency response teams build teamwork and familiarity with crisis procedures.
  • Apply for a summer internship or shadowing day at a local 9-1-1 center if one is offeredSeeing the work firsthand before you apply is one of the best ways to decide if it's right for you.

Tips for getting started

  • Practice typing and listening skills now, because accurate, calm call-taking matters more than most people expect.
  • Look up the hiring requirements for 9-1-1 centers in your area, since some ask for a minimum age, a background check, or a typing test.
  • Ask a local 9-1-1 center or county dispatch office if you can talk with a telecommunicator about what a typical shift is like.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

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