Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance Salary in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
The median pay for a dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA is $49,320/year ($23.71/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $78K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.8), so that salary is closer to $45,331 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $3,124/month — about 91.7% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $49K get you in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Santa Maria-Santa Barbara’s Regional Price Parity (108.8). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
Entry-level dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulances (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $78K or more, a $38K spread from bottom to top.
Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $73K | +49% | 340 |
| Illinois | $62K | +27% | N/A |
| Washington | $58K | +19% | 5,360 |
| North Dakota | $58K | +19% | 670 |
| Alaska | $58K | +18% | 620 |
| Minnesota | $57K | +16% | 3,120 |
| Massachusetts | $55K | +12% | 2,830 |
| Vermont | $55K | +12% | 300 |
| New Jersey | $53K | +8% | 6,180 |
| New Hampshire | $52K | +7% | 630 |
| Connecticut | $52K | +6% | 2,010 |
| New York | $52K | +6% | 11,510 |
| Iowa | $51K | +4% | 1,540 |
| Maine | $51K | +4% | 720 |
| Maryland | $51K | +3% | 3,640 |
| California | $50K | +2% | 24,580 |
| Missouri | $50K | +2% | 3,560 |
| Wisconsin | $50K | +2% | 3,350 |
| Utah | $50K | +2% | 2,110 |
| Oregon | $49K | +1% | 3,430 |
| Hawaii | $49K | +1% | 860 |
| Nebraska | $49K | +1% | 1,520 |
| Ohio | $49K | +0% | 6,010 |
| Kentucky | $49K | -1% | 2,590 |
| Indiana | $48K | -1% | 4,590 |
| Georgia | $48K | -1% | 6,830 |
| Pennsylvania | $48K | -1% | 7,450 |
| Delaware | $48K | -2% | 530 |
| Tennessee | $48K | -2% | 4,370 |
| Michigan | $48K | -2% | 5,570 |
| Arkansas | $48K | -2% | 1,910 |
| North Carolina | $47K | -3% | 5,430 |
| Rhode Island | $47K | -4% | 640 |
| West Virginia | $47K | -4% | 650 |
| Virginia | $47K | -4% | 5,400 |
| Arizona | $47K | -4% | 5,340 |
| Montana | $46K | -5% | 800 |
| Mississippi | $46K | -5% | 2,070 |
| Alabama | $46K | -6% | 1,630 |
| Texas | $46K | -6% | 24,180 |
| Kansas | $46K | -6% | 1,810 |
| Nevada | $45K | -7% | 3,300 |
| Louisiana | $45K | -7% | 2,980 |
| Wyoming | $45K | -8% | 240 |
| South Carolina | $45K | -9% | 2,740 |
| Oklahoma | $44K | -9% | 2,670 |
| South Dakota | $44K | -10% | 640 |
| Idaho | $43K | -12% | 1,200 |
| Florida | $42K | -13% | 12,320 |
| New Mexico | $42K | -14% | 1,230 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Santa Maria-Santa Barbara numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulances make in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
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 $40,360, and experienced dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulances can clear $78,090. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,368/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,124/month, which eats 92.8% 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 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara?
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara has a Regional Price Parity of 108.8 (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 $45,331 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.