The median annual wage of police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers was $35,370 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount, and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned $22,310, and the top 10 percent earned more than $54,350.
Most dispatchers work 8- to 12-hour shifts, but some agencies choose to use
24-hour shifts.
Dispatchers often have to work weekends, holidays, and overtime, as emergency calls can come in at any time.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition