All About Dispatchers

Dispatcher Definition 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.

Daily Life Of a Dispatcher

• Oversee all communications within specifically assigned territories.
• Record and maintain files or records of customer requests, work or services performed, charges, expenses, inventory, or other dispatch information.
• Relay work orders, messages, or information to or from work crews, supervisors, or field inspectors, using telephones or two-way radios.
• Determine types or amounts of equipment, vehicles, materials, or personnel required, according to work orders or specifications.
• Ensure timely and efficient movement of trains, according to train orders 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.

Dispatcher Required Skills

These are the skills Dispatchers say are the most useful in their careers:

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Other Dispatcher Job Titles

• Car Supplier
• Street Department Dispatcher
• Drop Board Worker
• Garbage Truck Dispatcher
• Motor Coach Supervisor

What Kind of Dispatcher Job Opportunities Are There?

There were about 201,700 jobs for Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance in 2016 (in the United States).

Dispatcher jobs are decreasing by a rate of -0.1%. This means the total job opportunities are shrinking. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a loss of -100 jobs for Dispatchers by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 18,000 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance are Texas, California, and Florida.

Watch out if you plan on working in Ohio, Minnesota, or District of Columbia. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Dispatcher Salary

Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance Make between $24,560 and $65,660 a year. The median salary for this occupation is $39,470.

How much do Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance make in different U.S. states?

Annual Mean Salary by State

State	Annual Mean Salary
Nebraska	$58,030
North Dakota	$57,140
Alaska	$52,950
Washington	$50,760
District of Columbia	$50,380
New York	$48,570
Connecticut	$47,820
Illinois	$46,270
Massachusetts	$46,020
Delaware	$45,760
Minnesota	$45,520
California	$45,370
Iowa	$44,660
Oregon	$44,510
Utah	$44,320
Missouri	$44,150
Rhode Island	$44,120
Colorado	$43,980
Indiana	$43,920
New Mexico	$43,720
New Jersey	$43,720
New Hampshire	$43,720
Wyoming	$43,320
Wisconsin	$43,130
Hawaii	$43,080
South Carolina	$43,010
Vermont	$42,820
Ohio	$42,150
Maryland	$41,790
Pennsylvania	$41,630
Texas	$41,440
Kansas	$41,240
Virginia	$41,140
West Virginia	$41,050
Michigan	$40,870
Maine	$40,860
Mississippi	$40,370
North Carolina	$39,920
Oklahoma	$39,320
Georgia	$39,250
Nevada	$39,200
Montana	$39,170
Alabama	$38,980
Arizona	$38,970
Louisiana	$38,780
Tennessee	$38,690
Kentucky	$38,470
Idaho	$37,220
Arkansas	$36,490
Florida	$35,930
South Dakota	$34,190

Tools & Technologies Used by Dispatchers

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Dispatchers may use on a daily basis:

• Microsoft Outlook
• Microsoft Office
• TMW PowerSuite
• Microsoft Dynamics
• Computer aided design CAD software
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Access
• SAP
• Microsoft Word

Becoming a Dispatcher

Individuals working as Dispatchers have obtained the following education levels:

How many years of work experience do I need?

Who Employs Dispatchers?

You May Also Be Interested In…

Those who work as Dispatchers sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:

• First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics

College Factual

O*NET Online

Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons