A dispatcher's job can be stressful, and they typically take many calls, deal with stressful situations, and must endure the pressure of responding quickly and calmly in life-threatening situations.
Do dispatchers make good money?
Non-emergency dispatchers averaged $40,190 per year, or $19.42 per hour in 2019, according to the BLS. The lowest paid 10 percent earned $25,260 per year, or $12.14 per hour, while the best paid 10 percent received $67,860 annually, or $32.62 per hour.
How stressful is being a dispatcher?
In addition to the job's demands, dispatchers can experience traumatic calls that impact their emotional well-being. Nearly one-third of calls produce peritraumatic distress among 911 dispatchers. A study by the Journal of Traumatic Stress linked the distress to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
