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911 Communications Officer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The City of Suwanee Police Department is looking for a Full Time 911 / Communications Officer to join our team. This position is responsible for receiving messages via radio, telephone, and computer ...

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The City of Suwanee Police Department is looking for a Full Time 911 / Communications Officer to join our team. This position is responsible for receiving messages via radio, telephone, and computer ...

New

911 Communications Officer

Roswell, GA · On-site

$21.66 - $34.65/hr

... officers, animal control, firefighters, medical personnel, or emergency personnel by answering ... Answers emergency 911 and non-emergency voice and TDD calls for service; determines the nature of ...

911 Communications Dispatcher

Boise, ID · On-site

$24.88 - $25.93/hr

ECB- 911 Communications Opening Date: 07/27/2026 Closing Date: Continuous General Summary NOW ... Must be POST certified as an Emergency Communications Officer within one year of hire; * Ability to ...

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911 Communications Officer information

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$31K

$70.8K

$155K

How much do 911 communications officer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 31, 2026, the average yearly pay for 911 communications officer in the United States is $70,830.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $44,000.00 and $76,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are 911 Communications Officers?

911 Communications Officers, also known as emergency dispatchers, are professionals responsible for answering emergency calls and dispatching the appropriate emergency services, such as police, fire, or medical personnel. They gather critical information from callers, provide instructions or assistance over the phone, and coordinate with first responders to ensure a swift and effective response. Their role is vital in managing emergency situations, maintaining calm under pressure, and helping save lives by acting as the link between the public and emergency services.

Is it hard to be hired as a 911 dispatcher?

Becoming a 911 Communications Officer typically requires passing a written exam, background check, and training program. Competition can be high due to the job's importance and stress level, and candidates often need strong communication skills and the ability to handle emergency situations effectively.

What is the difference between 911 Communications Officer vs Emergency Dispatcher?

Aspect911 Communications OfficerEmergency Dispatcher
Required CredentialsCPR certification, dispatcher training, sometimes state certificationCPR certification, dispatcher training, often same certifications
Work EnvironmentEmergency call centers, police, fire, EMS agenciesEmergency call centers, police, fire, EMS agencies
Employer & IndustryPublic safety agencies, governmentPublic safety agencies, government
Search & Comparison IntentYesYes

Both 911 Communications Officers and Emergency Dispatchers work in emergency call centers, handling calls for police, fire, and EMS services. They often share similar certifications and work environments. The main difference is that '911 Communications Officer' is a broader term used by many agencies, while 'Emergency Dispatcher' is a more specific title. Both roles are essential for public safety and require similar skills and training.

How much is a 911 dispatcher paid?

The average salary for a 911 communications officer typically ranges from $40,000 to $60,000 per year, depending on experience, location, and shift differentials. Entry-level positions may start lower, while experienced dispatchers or those in high-cost areas can earn higher wages. Many roles also include benefits such as health insurance and retirement plans.

How to become a 911 dispatcher with no experience?

To become a 911 communications officer with no experience, applicants typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, complete a training program provided by the dispatch center, and pass a background check and skills assessment. Prior experience in customer service, communication, or emergency response can be helpful but is not always required for entry-level positions.

Where do 911 dispatchers get paid the most?

911 Communications Officers tend to earn higher salaries in regions with a higher cost of living and larger urban populations, such as major metropolitan areas. States or cities with higher demand for emergency services and specialized certifications often offer increased pay for experienced dispatchers. Salary can also vary based on experience, certifications, and the size of the agency.

What are some common challenges 911 Communications Officers face during high-stress emergency calls?

911 Communications Officers often encounter intense situations where they must remain calm and make quick, accurate decisions under pressure. Balancing multiple calls, prioritizing emergencies, and providing clear instructions to distressed callers can be challenging. Officers also coordinate with police, fire, and medical teams, requiring effective multitasking and communication skills. Ongoing training and support from supervisors help manage stress and improve job performance in this demanding yet rewarding role.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a 911 Communications Officer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a 911 Communications Officer, you need excellent multitasking abilities, strong verbal communication skills, and a high school diploma (with some agencies requiring additional certifications). Familiarity with computer-aided dispatch (CAD) systems, emergency protocols, and sometimes CPR or emergency medical dispatch certifications is typical. Exceptional composure under pressure, active listening, and teamwork make someone stand out in this vital role. These skills ensure rapid, accurate response to emergencies and effective coordination with first responders, directly impacting public safety.
More about 911 Communications Officer jobs
What cities are hiring for 911 Communications Officer jobs? Cities with the most 911 Communications Officer job openings:
What states have the most 911 Communications Officer jobs? States with the most job openings for 911 Communications Officer jobs include:
Infographic showing various 911 Communications Officer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $70,830 per year, or $34.1 per hour.

Sheriff's 911 Communications Officer II - Laterals Only

Riverside County, CA

Riverside, CA • On-site

$71K - $98K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision

Re-posted 19 days ago


Job description

Salary : $71,738.16 - $98,241.52 Annually
Location : Throughout Riverside County
Job Type: Regular
Job Number: 25-13797-01
Department: Sheriff
Opening Date: 01/01/2025
Closing Date: Continuous
For questions regarding this position, please contact the Recruiter listed in the Supplemental Information section.
ABOUT THE POSITION
The County of Riverside Sheriff's Office is seeking experienced 9-1-1 Dispatcher Sheriff's Communication Officer IIs to support the Palm Desert and Riverside locations. If you are currently employed by a California POST agency as a 911 Dispatcher, we encourage you to apply.
The Sheriff's 911 Communications Officer II is the full journey level class in the Sheriff's 911 Communications Officer series. Incumbents in this class provide emergency and routine services Countywide from one of the Sheriff's Communications Centers. Incumbents in this class are characterized by responsibilities, which require the execution of a high degree of discretion, initiative, and independent judgment as to a course of action where unprecedented situations routinely arise.
This class is distinguished from the class of Sheriff's 911 Communications Officer I in that the latter is a trainee level working under direct supervision. The Sheriff's 911 Communications Officer II is further distinguished from the Senior Sheriff's 911 Communications Officer in that the Senior level serves in a lead capacity over Sheriff's Communications Officers and is responsible for their initial and ongoing training.
Please note the Sheriff's 911 Communications Officer II position has opportunity for
POST pay incentives in addition to the hourly wage:
4% per hour worked for Basic POST Certificate
7% per hour worked for Intermediate POST Certificate
12% per hour worked for Advanced POST Certificate
Additional Incentives Include:
-Fully Paid Training
-Uniforms Provided
-Bilingual Pay
-Night Shift Differential Pay
-Training Officer Pay
-Department Wellness Resources
-Potential for Advancement and Special Assignments
Meet the Team!
The law enforcement professionals of the Riverside County Office, with a staff of over 3,600 dedicated men and women, cover the expanse of over 7,300 square miles in southern California. The Sheriff's Office is dedicated to serving the citizens of its communities with integrity, professionalism, leadership, and loyalty and believes in service above self.
EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES
• Operate a variety of communications equipment including radio systems, enhanced 9-1-1, various telephone systems, Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) equipment, recording equipment, and computer systems in accordance with Federal Communications Commission regulations, department policy, and standard operating procedures.
• Receive emergency calls and obtain essential information in order to determine priority, locale, and the appropriate emergency units to be dispatched.
• Determine jurisdiction and notify or transfer calls to other agencies when appropriate; dispatch emergency equipment and personnel units to various locations in response to calls for service to ensure necessary coverage.
• Transmit information and orders to, and receive messages from county, city, allied agency, and other emergency units; type all radio transmissions received and sent.
• Make inquiries to local, State, and federal national computer systems to obtain information required by deputies in the field or as requested by other law enforcement agencies.
• Read and interpret maps to locate emergency incidents and determine jurisdiction; may respond to an emergency in the field with communications equipment and set up and operate such equipment.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education: Possession of a high school diploma or equivalent (e.g., GED).
Experience: Completion of all phases of training, including the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) position, Back-up radio and two (2) primary radio channels as a Riverside County Sheriff's 911 Communications Officer or twelve (12) months in the operation of emergency radio dispatch equipment in a law enforcement agency.
Certification: A valid POST Dispatch Certification is required. **Must upload a copy of POST Dispatch Certificate with application.**
Competitive: Candidates who have recent/current dispatch experience within the last 12 months are considered highly desirable.
Sheriff's 911 Communications Officers are required to work rotating shifts, weekends, nights, holidays, irregular hours, and may be required to work overtime.
Must meet minimum requirements for Sheriff's Communications Officer I and possess California Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) Basic Dispatcher Certification.
Knowledge of: The functions, operations, rules, and regulations of the Sheriff's Department; modern office practices and procedures, and operation of standard office equipment; proper English language usage, spelling, and grammar.
Ability to: Learn the codes, techniques, and procedures in dispatching emergency units, operating radio, telephone, Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) equipment, multi-channel recorders, playback machines, alarm systems, Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) systems, and teleprocessing equipment; communicate effectively orally and in writing; hear telephone calls and radio transmissions despite background noise; analyze emergency situations quickly and adopt effective courses of action; accomplish multiple tasks simultaneously in a controlled and competent manner while working in a challenging environment; complete assigned tasks with accuracy and speed; follow oral and written directions quickly and accurately; communicate clearly, calmly, and tactfully with people from diverse backgrounds who may be emotionally upset; establish and maintain effective working relationships with supervisors, co-workers, law enforcement, fire, medical, other personnel, and the public.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Environmental Conditions: Incumbents wear headsets to answer emergency and non-emergency calls and view computer displays for prolonged periods of time. Work is done in a sedentary, confined, noisy, fast-paced, and challenging environment.
Candidates must be able to pass an extensive background check that may include a polygraph, psychological, and medical exam. Candidates with ongoing negative contacts with law enforcement will not be considered for hire.
For questions regarding this recruitment
Please contact Andrea Evans at 951-955-3572 or Please allow 1-2 business days for a response to general inquires.
APPLICATION INFORMATION
Veteran's Preference
The County has a Veterans Preference Policy applicable to new hires. To qualify, attach the required documents to your job application. Documents include a copy of your (or your spouse's) Member-4 Form DD-214 indicating dates of service. For spousal preference, and as applicable, the following documents: a copy of your marriage certificate, spouse's death certificate, a letter of spouse's disability and/or letter of service-related death (if available) from the U.S. Veteran's Administration. For privacy reasons, it is recommended that you remove your social security information from the document(s). A Human Resources Representative will review the materials and determine if you qualify for veterans' preference. For complete details and documentation requirements, please review the Veterans Preference Policy, C-3 here:
Reasonable Accommodations
The County of Riverside is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter for the position noted above. For additional information and/or to obtain the appropriate form for requesting a reasonable accommodation, please visit the Disability Access Office web page located at:
Proof of Education
If using education to qualify or when requested by the recruiter, upload a copy of any license(s), official/unofficial transcript(s), degrees, and/or related employment documents to your NeoGov account at the time of application and before the closing date. Official or unofficial transcripts will be accepted.
If your education was completed outside of the United States, you will need to provide a copy of your Foreign Education Equivalency evaluation from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services () or Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. ().
Work Authorization Requirement
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application. The County of Riverside does not participate in visa sponsorship programs, including H1-B visas, and will not provide sponsorship for any employment-based visas.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The County of Riverside is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the County of Riverside to provide equal employment opportunities for all qualified persons. All applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, or denial of medical and family care leave, or any other non-job-related factors.
Pre-Employment
All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of pre-employment requirements including a criminal background investigation, which involves fingerprinting. (A felony or misdemeanor conviction may disqualify the applicant from County employment). A pre-employment physical examination and background check may be required.
Probationary Period
As an Approved Local Merit System, all County of Riverside employees, except those serving "At Will," are subject to the probationary period provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding, County Resolution, or Salary Ordinance. Temporary and Per Diem employees serve at the pleasure of the agency/department head.
General Information
Current County of Riverside and/or current employees of the hiring department may receive priority consideration. Qualified candidates may be considered for future County vacancies.
Job postings may close without notice based on application volume. Submit your complete application by the recruitment close date; no late applications are accepted. Ensure all relevant experience/education is reflected on your application/resume, as a failure to demonstrate position requirements may disqualify applicants. A description of job duties directly copied from the job classification or job posting will not be considered.
Please read and follow any special application instructions on this posting. Click the 'Apply' link located on this page to submit your application. For additional instructions on the application process, examinations, Veteran's preference, pre-employment accommodation or other employment questions, please refer to our web site,
If you are experiencing technical problems, you may contact the governmentjobs.com applicant support desk Monday through Friday, 6 am to 5 pm Pacific Time at support@governmentjobs.com or toll-free 1-855-524-5627.
BENEFIT PROGRAM: UPE
MEDICAL/DENTAL/VISION INSURANCE: A choice of different medical, dental and visions plan are available to elect. The County provides a Flexible Benefit Credit contribution as governed by the applicable LIUNA Memorandum of Understanding to contribute towards the cost of these plans.
Note: Employees on assignment through the Temporary Assignment Program (TAP) receive different benefits. See the list
MISCELLANEOUS RETIREMENT: County of Riverside has three retirement Tiers through the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS).
  • Tier I (Classic Member - Formula 3% @ 60): Applicable to current and former County of Riverside local miscellaneous employees hired prior to 08/24/2012 and did not withdraw CalPERS contributions. The employee contribution is eight (8%) percent.
  • Tier II (Classic Member - Formula 2% @ 60): Applicable to local miscellaneous employees 1) hired after 08/23/2012 through 12/31/2012; 2) Previously employed with another CalPERS contracting public agency or a reciprocal retirement system, with a break in service of less than six months between the separation date with the previous employer and the appointment date with the County of Riverside. The employee contribution is seven (7%) percent.
  • Tier III (PEPRA New Member - Formula 2% @ 62): Applicable to CalPERS local miscellaneous new members hired on or after the implementation of the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) which took effect January 1, 2013. Effective July 1, 2023 employee contributions are 7.25% and will increase to 7.75% effective July 1, 2024.

A new member is defined as any of the following:
  1. A new hire who enters CalPERS membership for the first time on or after January 1, 2013, and who has no prior membership in any California Public Retirement System.
  2. A new hire who enters CalPERS membership for the first time on or after January 1, 2013, and who was a member with another California Public Retirement System prior to that date, but who is not subject to reciprocity upon joining CalPERS.
  3. A member who first established CalPERS membership prior to January 1, 2013, and who is rehired by a different CalPERS agency after a break in service of greater than six (6) months.

CalPERS refers to all members that do not fit within the definition of a new member as "classic members".
Contribution rates are subject to change based o