Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance Salary in California
The median pay for a dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance in California is $50,040/year ($24.06/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $78K for experienced workers.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $50K get you in California?
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulances (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $50K. Top earners bring in $78K or more, a $40K spread from bottom to top.
Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance salary by metro in California
25 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $59K | +18% | 740 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $58K | +15% | 2,910 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $57K | +15% | 220 |
| Napa | $56K | +13% | 80 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $55K | +10% | 460 |
| Vallejo | $55K | +9% | 200 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $55K | +9% | 650 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $54K | +8% | 120 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $53K | +6% | 120 |
| Yuba City | $52K | +4% | 100 |
| Chico | $52K | +3% | 80 |
| Visalia | $52K | +3% | 240 |
| Modesto | $51K | +3% | 340 |
| Merced | $51K | +2% | 100 |
| Salinas | $51K | +2% | 280 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $50K | -0% | 1,370 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $50K | -1% | 620 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $49K | -1% | 170 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $49K | -2% | 2,570 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $48K | -3% | 1,940 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $48K | -3% | 70 |
| Fresno | $48K | -4% | 870 |
| Redding | $47K | -5% | 120 |
| El Centro | $47K | -5% | 140 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $47K | -6% | 9,160 |
Showing 1–10 of 25 metros
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulances make in California?
The median is $50,040 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,480, and experienced dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulances can clear $78,160. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $50K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,413/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 72.4% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance salary is worth about $47,145 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulances get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.