Often the first point of contact for someone in distress, 911 dispatchers frequently witness the worst of the tragedy over the phone. As a result, their stress and trauma exposure is just as great as any other first responder and can lead to the development of serious mental health issues, such as: Depression. Anxiety.
What are 3 cons to being a 911 dispatcher?
Cons: You often deal with people in their darkest hour. Some people are hard to deal with anyway even when it's not an emergency but you will also deal with people in extreme situations. The job isn't for everybody, especially on the medical side.
Do 911 operators make good money?
The salaries of 911 Dispatchers in the US range from $24,270 to $59,770 , with a median salary of $38,010 . The middle 60% of 911 Dispatchers makes $38,010, with the top 80% making $59,770.
Is 911 dispatcher a good career?
A career as a 911 dispatcher is fast-paced, hectic, and above all else, rewarding. As a part of a chain of emergency responders, dispatchers are the face—or the ear—of emergency calls to 911. It takes a remarkable person to do a dispatcher's work, and it is not suited to everyone.
Is a 911 operator a hard job?
The job isn't physically demanding, but it can be emotionally and mentally taxing. Some days are worse than others. These are the reasons why specific training deals with some of the more distressing aspects of the job.
It averages to three days one week, four days the next and so on. I work 12 hour shifts 6p-6a. In some places, you might work 8 or 10 hour shifts or have a more 'traditional' schedule depending on the number of employees.
As previously mentioned, Dispatchers are expected to be able to work 12 hours shifts with mandated overtime, any day of the week, holidays, birthdays, and important family events.
How do dispatcher shifts work?
During the day, the dispatchers will rotate they will go from the phones to the radio spots and then back to the phones. The rotation helps break up the monotony of a 12-hour day, and it helps keep your brain from melting out of your ears because if you are on that radio too long, it really does stress you out.Jan 2, 2013