Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance Salary
The median pay for a dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance in Rhode Island is $49,320/year ($23.71/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $83K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 101.77), that's roughly $48,462 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,544/month, about 45.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Rhode Island. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $49K get you in Rhode Island?
About dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulances
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What this looks like in Rhode Island
Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance pay in Rhode Island tracks closely to the national median, $49K locally vs. $50K nationwide, a 2% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,544/month, which is 46.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 101.77) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Rhode Island
Entry-level dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulances (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $83K or more, a $46K spread from bottom to top.
Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance salary by metro in Rhode Island
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick | $50K | +1% | 750 |
Compare to other states
Track dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Rhode Island numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance afford a 2BR apartment alone in Rhode Island?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $49K, rent takes 46.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,544/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulances in Rhode Island?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulances typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,224/month. At HUD’s $1,544/month FMR, rent would take 69% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance a high-paying job in Rhode Island?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $49K locally vs. $50K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Rhode Island compare to the national average for dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulances?
Rhode Island pays $49K median vs. the U.S. average of $50K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 101.77), the purchasing-power equivalent is $48K — below the national median.
How much do dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulances make in Rhode Island?
The median is $49,320 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,070, and experienced dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulances can clear $83,390. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in Rhode Island?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,350/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,544/month, which eats 46.1% 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 Rhode Island?
Rhode Island has a Regional Price Parity of 101.77 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance salary is worth about $48,462 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.