Dispatchers: Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

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Dispatchers

Dispatchers 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.

Salary
$44860
Becoming One
Easy
Education
No degree required
Job Satisfaction
Low
Job Growth

Personality



Job description

Dispatchers 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.

  • Monitor personnel or equipment locations and utilization to coordinate service and schedules.
  • Schedule or dispatch workers, work crews, equipment, or service vehicles to appropriate locations, according to customer requests, specifications, or needs, using radios or telephones.
  • Oversee all communications within specifically assigned territories.
  • Relay work orders, messages, or information to or from work crews, supervisors, or field inspectors, using telephones or two-way radios.
Read more about what does a Dispatcher really do at work and what is it like being and working as one.



Salary

Average salary
$42940 per year

Average hourly wage
$21 per hour


Dispatchers with little to no experience tend to make between $24560 and $30790 while the more experienced ones can earn over $51270 per year.

Top 5 paying states Hourly Annual
NE $28 $58,030
ND $27 $57,140
AK $25 $52,950
WA $24 $50,760
DC $24 $50,380

One of the easiest ways to increase your salary as a Dispatcher is to move to a higher paying state like NE. Right now, the highest paying states for Dispatchers are NE, ND, AK, WA and DC.

However, a higher pay at NE doesn’t guarantee that you will make more because the living expenses at NE might be twice as high than where you are currently at now.

Three other factors that can increase your salary as a Dispatcher is the degree you hold, the industry you work in, and lastly the company you work for.


Requirements

Recommended degree level
No degree required

We asked other Dispatchers what degree they had when they got the job and most of them said they had a High School Diploma followed by less than a High School Diploma.

Other than that, we also asked them what did they major in and here are the most popular majors that came up.

Traffic, Customs, and Transportation Clerk/Technician
Read more about how to become a Dispatcher and the degree, training and education you need.

Pros and Cons

Here are some of the pros and cons of being a Dispatcher.

PROS
Suitable for people who likes to follow routines
Suitable for people who wants to work in a supportive work environment
This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.
It is easy to get into this career. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
CONS
Not suitable for people who likes to work with designs
Salary is below average
Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week)

What is the job like

Job satisfaction
63%

Is this job meaningful
44%


63% of Dispatchers said they were satisfied with their job and 44% said they feel like their job is making other people’s lives better.


Is this right for me

Best personality for this career
The Organizers and The Builders

You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tends to like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas..

They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.



Learn more about Dispatchers

Summary (You are here)
Job Description
Salary
Requirements
Quiz

Related career information

Dispatchers job description, Dispatchers salary, Dispatchers information, what is the job of a Dispatcher like, pros and cons about Dispatchers, colleges and universities for Dispatchers, is Dispatchers the right career for me, careers in Office and Administration

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