What a dispatcher costs in 2026
The median dispatcher in the United States earned $50,340 a year, $24.20 an hour, in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2025 survey. With benefits at a small employer, a full-time dispatcher at the median costs about $68,000 a year, or about $5,700 a month.
The middle half of dispatchers earn $42,750 to $62,450. There are 202,810 of them across the country, and what one costs you depends most on where you are: District of Columbia has the highest median at $72,260, and South Dakota the lowest of the 50 states at $43,920.
Liaison does the routine half of a dispatcher’s job for 11% of that. See how.
What a dispatcher would cost you
Pick a state or a metro area and the hours you need. The cost is the median hourly wage there plus benefits at the rate you choose.
Dispatcher, the United States, 40 hours a week
$67,957 a year
$5,663 a month. Wages $50,336 at the median of $24.20 an hour, plus $17,621 in benefits. The middle half of dispatchers here earn $42,750 to $62,450 in wages.
Dispatcher wages and cost by state
Median wage, May 2025. The cost column adds benefits at the rate for employers with 1 to 49 workers (35% on top of wages).
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | Cost to a small employer | Middle half earns | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $48,790 | $23.46 | $65,870 | $39,140 to $58,530 | 1,780 |
| Alaska | $56,730 | $27.28 | $76,590 | $49,340 to $73,880 | 570 |
| Arizona | $47,880 | $23.02 | $64,641 | $42,340 to $58,000 | 5,690 |
| Arkansas | $47,130 | $22.66 | $63,629 | $37,240 to $59,010 | 1,780 |
| California | $52,350 | $25.17 | $70,676 | $46,120 to $63,160 | 23,970 |
| Colorado | $54,070 | $26.00 | $72,998 | $47,910 to $64,040 | 3,470 |
| Connecticut | $47,960 | $23.06 | $64,749 | $44,180 to $62,030 | 2,220 |
| Delaware | $57,170 | $27.49 | $77,184 | $47,840 to $62,990 | 670 |
| District of Columbia | $72,260 | $34.74 | $97,556 | $47,980 to $87,090 | 300 |
| Florida | $45,880 | $22.06 | $61,941 | $38,700 to $58,790 | 12,550 |
| Georgia | $49,180 | $23.65 | $66,397 | $39,830 to $61,140 | 6,190 |
| Guam | $39,630 | $19.05 | $53,503 | $30,920 to $54,950 | 130 |
| Hawaii | $52,570 | $25.27 | $70,973 | $44,980 to $66,560 | 950 |
| Idaho | $49,660 | $23.87 | $67,045 | $38,590 to $65,380 | 1,430 |
| Illinois | $57,240 | $27.52 | $77,278 | $46,750 to $71,410 | n/a |
| Indiana | $50,060 | $24.07 | $67,585 | $42,530 to $62,510 | 4,090 |
| Iowa | $47,000 | $22.60 | $63,453 | $43,200 to $60,340 | 1,460 |
| Kansas | $47,170 | $22.68 | $63,683 | $38,580 to $60,620 | 1,670 |
| Kentucky | $49,990 | $24.03 | $67,490 | $41,770 to $61,890 | 2,440 |
| Louisiana | $47,050 | $22.62 | $63,521 | $38,160 to $59,970 | 2,980 |
| Maine | $55,150 | $26.51 | $74,456 | $46,620 to $67,600 | 670 |
| Maryland | $51,350 | $24.69 | $69,326 | $43,980 to $64,360 | 3,310 |
| Massachusetts | $55,690 | $26.77 | $75,185 | $47,570 to $67,100 | 3,510 |
| Michigan | $49,490 | $23.79 | $66,815 | $42,390 to $62,040 | 5,390 |
| Minnesota | $59,220 | $28.47 | $79,951 | $46,960 to $72,210 | 2,760 |
| Mississippi | $45,660 | $21.95 | $61,644 | $36,150 to $59,400 | 2,000 |
| Missouri | $51,410 | $24.71 | $69,407 | $42,780 to $64,990 | 4,340 |
| Montana | $47,140 | $22.66 | $63,642 | $44,030 to $60,910 | 810 |
| Nebraska | $53,880 | $25.91 | $72,742 | $45,850 to $63,740 | 1,500 |
| Nevada | $47,920 | $23.04 | $64,695 | $40,630 to $58,630 | 2,840 |
| New Hampshire | $52,770 | $25.37 | $71,243 | $47,110 to $62,010 | 710 |
| New Jersey | $54,590 | $26.25 | $73,700 | $46,400 to $64,450 | 6,420 |
| New Mexico | $43,960 | $21.13 | $59,349 | $37,440 to $53,550 | 1,350 |
| New York | $55,810 | $26.83 | $75,348 | $44,410 to $74,840 | 11,160 |
| North Carolina | $48,230 | $23.19 | $65,114 | $41,390 to $59,110 | 5,740 |
| North Dakota | $57,580 | $27.68 | $77,737 | $46,800 to $68,640 | 600 |
| Ohio | $50,320 | $24.19 | $67,936 | $43,640 to $62,810 | 5,720 |
| Oklahoma | $44,950 | $21.61 | $60,686 | $36,940 to $56,620 | 2,180 |
| Oregon | $54,980 | $26.43 | $74,227 | $46,980 to $65,510 | 3,290 |
| Pennsylvania | $49,960 | $24.02 | $67,450 | $42,840 to $61,260 | 6,670 |
| Puerto Rico | $24,750 | $11.90 | $33,414 | $22,710 to $28,730 | 740 |
| Rhode Island | $49,320 | $23.71 | $66,586 | $46,170 to $60,380 | 530 |
| South Carolina | $47,550 | $22.86 | $64,196 | $39,110 to $61,120 | 2,440 |
| South Dakota | $43,920 | $21.12 | $59,295 | $31,200 to $49,490 | 860 |
| Tennessee | $49,660 | $23.87 | $67,045 | $41,350 to $59,040 | 4,190 |
| Texas | $47,320 | $22.75 | $63,885 | $37,630 to $59,980 | 23,920 |
| Utah | $51,010 | $24.52 | $68,867 | $42,740 to $61,780 | 2,040 |
| Vermont | $56,360 | $27.10 | $76,090 | $46,200 to $61,940 | 260 |
| Virgin Islands | $33,870 | $16.28 | $45,727 | $33,680 to $40,650 | 30 |
| Virginia | $50,710 | $24.38 | $68,462 | $43,830 to $62,100 | 5,830 |
| Washington | $59,330 | $28.53 | $80,100 | $49,920 to $72,240 | 4,920 |
| West Virginia | $46,620 | $22.41 | $62,940 | $35,780 to $59,080 | 880 |
| Wisconsin | $52,350 | $25.17 | $70,676 | $44,650 to $62,390 | 3,240 |
| Wyoming | $48,690 | $23.41 | $65,735 | $41,060 to $58,850 | 240 |
Highest and lowest paying metro areas
Out of the 379 metro areas where BLS publishes a median for dispatchers. The lowest list covers the 50 states and DC; the calculator above has every metro area, Puerto Rico’s included.
| Highest | Median annual |
|---|---|
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $64,890 |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $62,130 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $61,260 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $60,890 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $60,780 |
| Lowest | Median annual |
|---|---|
| Eagle Pass, TX | $34,520 |
| Beckley, WV | $36,320 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $37,440 |
| Laredo, TX | $38,140 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $38,490 |
The routine part of the dispatcher’s job
Much of what a dispatcher does every week is routine: the follow-ups, the reconciling, the scheduling, the reports pulled together from three systems. That routine part is what Liaison does, inside the tools the business already runs: $629 a month on Professional, set up with you, or $149 a month self-serve. The judgment stays with your people.
The routine half of a dispatcher’s job, for 11% of what one costs.
- Books, confirms and reschedules jobs from the calendar and the job system you already run.
- Texts the customer the arrival window and the follow-up in your voice.
- Keeps the schedule, the techs and the customer records in agreement.
Professional is $629 a month, $7,548 a year, against about $68,000 a year for a dispatcher at the median once benefits are added. On Professional we connect your tools, bring your data in and set up the first rules with you. Anything that moves money waits for your yes.
“Cut our month-end close from 4 days to 4 hours.” Marcus C., owner
$629 a month, or $500 a month on a 12-month term. Prefer to start on your own? Starter is $149 a month, self-serve, with a free trial first: 7 days, no card. More: AI for home services.
Questions
How much does a dispatcher cost a small business?
The median dispatcher earned $50,340 a year, or $24.20 an hour, in May 2025. Benefits at employers with fewer than 50 workers add 35% on top of wages (June 2026), so a full-time dispatcher at the median costs about $68,000 a year. The middle half earn $42,750 to $62,450.
Which states pay dispatchers the most?
District of Columbia ($72,260), Washington ($59,330) and Minnesota ($59,220) have the highest median wage for dispatchers. The lowest among the 50 states and DC are South Dakota ($43,920), New Mexico ($43,960) and Oklahoma ($44,950).
Which metro areas pay dispatchers the most?
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA ($64,890), Fairbanks-College, AK ($62,130) and Fargo, ND-MN ($61,260), out of the 379 metro areas where BLS publishes a median for dispatchers.
Where does this data come from?
Wages are the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for May 2025, occupation 43-5032. The benefit cost is from the BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation release for June 2026. Recruiting, training, equipment and turnover are not included.
See it on your own business.
Thirty minutes with us, on your own tools. Bring the thing that eats your evenings and watch it get handled from your own inbox, calendar and books.
Professional is $629 a month and we set it up with you. Starter is $149 a month, self-serve, with the free trial first: 7 days, no card. Every plan is on the pricing page.