Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance Salary
The median pay for a dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance in Wisconsin is $52,350/year ($25.17/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $76K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $55,497 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,202/month, about 34.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $52K get you in Wisconsin?
About dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulances
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance pay in Wisconsin tracks closely to the national median, $52K locally vs. $50K nationwide, a 4% difference. Rent runs $1,202/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Wisconsin
Entry-level dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulances (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $52K. Top earners bring in $76K or more, a $40K spread from bottom to top.
Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance salary by metro in Wisconsin
13 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Racine-Mount Pleasant | $59K | +12% | 90 |
| Sheboygan | $59K | +12% | 30 |
| Janesville-Beloit | $57K | +9% | 100 |
| Fond du Lac | $57K | +9% | 70 |
| Wausau | $56K | +8% | 80 |
| Kenosha | $55K | +5% | 80 |
| Green Bay | $54K | +3% | 290 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah | $53K | +2% | 70 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $52K | -1% | 890 |
| Madison | $50K | -4% | 340 |
| Appleton | $49K | -6% | 130 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska | $49K | -7% | 140 |
| Eau Claire | $48K | -9% | 80 |
Showing 1–10 of 13 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $52K, rent takes 34% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/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 Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulances typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,165/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 56% 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 Wisconsin?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $52K locally vs. $50K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulances?
Wisconsin pays $52K median vs. the U.S. average of $50K — that’s +4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $55K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulances make in Wisconsin?
The median is $52,350 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,090, and experienced dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulances can clear $75,910. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $52K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,531/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 34% 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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance salary is worth about $55,497 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.