DETAILED OCCUPATION DATA

43-5031 Police, Fire, and Ambulance Dispatchers

Occupational Description:

Operate radio, telephone, or computer equipment at emergency response centers. Receive reports from the public of crimes, disturbances, fires, and medical or police emergencies. Relay information to law enforcement and emergency response personnel. May maintain contact with caller until responders arrive.

Occupational Employment Statistics(OES) Wage Data
Wages Updated to First Quarter, 2013
					Percentiles
Geography	Employment	Emp SE*	Mean	Mean SE*	10th	25th	Median	75th	90th
EDR 2 - Headwaters	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Minnesota	1,340	114	$23.00/hr	$0.32/hr	$16.98/hr	$19.89/hr	$22.75/hr	$26.54/hr	$29.26/hr
U S	95,640	861	$18.52/hr	$0.07/hr	$11.30/hr	$13.93/hr	$17.69/hr	$22.27/hr	$27.57/hr
*SE = Standard error, a measure of the statistical reliability of the estimate.

Other Regional Data For Police, Fire, and Ambulance Dispatchers
Geography (click title for details)	OES		Projections
Geography (click title for details)	Employment	Median Wage	% Change -
EDR 11 - 7 County Twin Cities	680	$24.77/hr	N/A
EDR 10 - Southeast	320	$20.55/hr	N/A
EDR 7W- Central	80	$22.37/hr	N/A
EDR 9 - South Central	50	$20.29/hr	N/A
EDR 8 - Southwest	50	$18.46/hr	N/A
EDR 6E- Southwest Central	40	$21.62/hr	N/A
EDR 5 - North Central	30	$19.45/hr	N/A
EDR 7E- East Central	20	$21.95/hr	N/A
EDR 4 - West Central	20	$21.21/hr	N/A
EDR 6W- Upper Minnesota Valley	N/A	N/A	N/A
EDR 2 - Headwaters	N/A	N/A	N/A

Related Occupations
Occupation (click title for details)	OES		Projections
Occupation (click title for details)	Employment	Median Wage	% Change -
Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs	60	$19.10/hr	N/A
Bill and Account Collectors	50	$18.17/hr	N/A
Counter and Rental Clerks	30	$10.42/hr	N/A
Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance	20	$19.99/hr	N/A
Radio Operators	N/A	N/A	N/A
Credit Authorizers, Checkers, and Clerks	N/A	N/A	N/A

Tasks for Police, Fire, and Ambulance Dispatchers

Receives incoming calls by telephone or alarm system.
Operates telecommunication equipment to relay information and messages to and from emergency site, and between law enforcement agencies.
Monitors alarm system to detect fires, illegal entry into establishments, or other emergencies.
Determines response needed to emergency.
Provides instructions to caller, utilizing knowledge of emergency medical care.
Questions caller, observes alarm register, and scans map, to determine if emergency is within service area.
Tests and adjusts communication and alarm systems, and reports malfunctions to maintenance units.
Records details of calls, dispatches, and messages and maintains logs and files, using computer.
Scans status charts and computer screen to determine emergency units available for response.
Questions caller to determine nature of problem and type and number of personnel and equipment needed.
Contacts officers to verify assignment locations.
Coordinates emergency requests, and dispatches response units to emergency, using radio or alarm system.