Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance · California

Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance Salary in California

Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance in California earn a median annual wage of $52,350 —4.0% above the national median of $50,340. That ranks CA #19 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$52,350
Median hourly
$25.17
Entry level (P10)
$39,520
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$81,070
90th percentile
Employment
23,970
1.3 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+4.0%
U.S. $50,340

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$39,520
$46,120
$52,350
$63,160
$39,520$52,350$81,070
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $52,350.

Employment concentration (1.01×) is close to the national average.

Highest-paying states for dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance

All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. California is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1District of Columbia$72,260$34.743000.33
2Washington$59,330$28.534,9201.06
3Minnesota$59,220$28.472,7600.72
4North Dakota$57,580$27.686001.08
5Illinois$57,240$27.52——
6Delaware$57,170$27.496701.05
7Alaska$56,730$27.285701.33
8Vermont$56,360$27.102600.65
9New York$55,810$26.8311,1600.88
10Massachusetts$55,690$26.773,5100.74

Related occupations in California

Occupations in the same job family, compared within California.

Frequently asked questions

How much do dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance make in California?

The median annual wage for dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance in California is $52,350, or $25.17 per hour. That is 4.0% above the national median of $50,340.

What is the entry-level dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance salary in California?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $39,520 per year ($19.00/hour). The 25th percentile is $46,120.

How many people work as dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance in California?

About 23,970 people work in this occupation in California, or 1.3 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is California a good state for dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance?

California ranks #19 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment concentration (1.01x) is close to the national average.

Which state pays dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance the most?

District of Columbia has the highest median wage at $72,260 per year, followed by Washington ($59,330) and Minnesota ($59,220).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes