# Public Safety Telecommunicators

> Operate telephone, radio, or other communication systems to receive and communicate requests for emergency assistance at 9-1-1 public safety answering points and emergency operations centers. Take information from the public and other sources regarding crimes, threats, disturbances, acts of terrorism, fires, medical emergencies, and other public safety matters. May coordinate and provide information to law enforcement and emergency response personnel. May access sensitive databases and other information sources as needed. May provide additional instructions to callers based on knowledge of and certification in law enforcement, fire, or emergency medical procedures.
- **Entity Type:** role
- **Schema Version:** role.v1
- **Soc Code:** 43-5031.00
- **Summary:** Operate telephone, radio, or other communication systems to receive and communicate requests for emergency assistance at 9-1-1 public safety answering points and emergency operations centers. Take information from the public and other sources regarding crimes, threats, disturbances, acts of terrorism, fires, medical emergencies, and other public safety matters. May coordinate and provide information to law enforcement and emergency response personnel. May access sensitive databases and other information sources as needed. May provide additional instructions to callers based on knowledge of and certification in law enforcement, fire, or emergency medical procedures.

## Aliases

- Communications Officer
- Communications Operator
- Public Safety Dispatcher
- Telecommunicator
- 911 Dispatcher
- Communications Specialist
- Emergency Communications Dispatcher
- Emergency Communications Operator (ECO)
- Police Dispatcher
- 911 Emergency Dispatcher
- 911 Emergency Services Dispatcher
- 911 Operator

## Tasks

| Text | Type | Iwa |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Provide emergency medical instructions to callers. | Core | 4.A.4.a.5.c |
| Question callers to determine their locations and the nature of their problems to determine type of response needed. | Core | 4.A.4.a.1.a |
| Determine response requirements and relative priorities of situations, and dispatch units in accordance with established procedures. | Core | 4.A.4.b.4.j |
| Receive incoming telephone or alarm system calls regarding emergency and non-emergency police and fire service, emergency ambulance service, information, and after-hours calls for departments within a city. | Core | 4.A.4.a.3.c |
| Relay information and messages to and from emergency sites, to law enforcement agencies, and to all other individuals or groups requiring notification. | Core | 4.A.4.a.2.c |
| Record details of calls, dispatches, and messages. | Core | 4.A.3.b.6.h |
| Monitor various radio frequencies, such as those used by public works departments, school security, and civil defense, to stay apprised of developing situations. | Core | 4.A.3.a.3.j |
| Read and effectively interpret small-scale maps and information from a computer screen to determine locations and provide directions. | Core | 4.A.1.a.1.b |
| Maintain access to, and security of, highly sensitive materials. | Core | 4.A.3.a.1.k |
| Operate and maintain mobile dispatch vehicles and equipment. | Supplemental | 4.A.3.a.4.a |
| Enter, update, and retrieve information from teletype networks and computerized data systems regarding such things as wanted persons, stolen property, vehicle registration, and stolen vehicles. | Core | 4.A.1.a.1.d |
| Scan status charts and computer screens, and contact emergency response field units to determine emergency units available for dispatch. | Core | 4.A.3.a.3.j |

## Emerging Tasks


## Activities

| Name | Iwa |
| --- | --- |
| Coordinate operational activities. | 4.A.4.b.4.j |
| Maintain call records. | 4.A.3.b.6.h |
| Discuss goods or services information with customers or patrons. | 4.A.4.a.1.a |
| Search files, databases or reference materials to obtain needed information. | 4.A.1.a.1.d |
| Enter information into databases or software programs. | 4.A.3.b.1.f |
| Operate communications equipment or systems. | 4.A.3.a.3.j |
| Confer with coworkers to coordinate work activities. | 4.A.4.a.2.c |
| Relay information between personnel. | 4.A.4.a.2.c |
| Answer telephones to direct calls or provide information. | 4.A.4.a.3.c |
| Maintain security. | 4.A.3.a.1.k |
| Monitor alarm systems. | 4.A.1.a.2.g |
| Maintain current knowledge related to work activities. | 4.A.2.b.3.a |
| Interpret blueprints, specifications, or diagrams to inform installation, development or operation activities. | 4.A.1.a.1.b |
| Refer customers to appropriate personnel. | 4.A.4.a.5.a |
| Provide basic health care services. | 4.A.4.a.5.c |
| Monitor equipment operation to ensure proper functioning. | 4.A.1.a.2.a |
| Adjust office equipment to ensure proper operation. | 4.A.3.a.2.i |
| Report maintenance or equipment problems to appropriate personnel. | 4.A.4.a.2.g |
| Operate vehicles or material-moving equipment. | 4.A.3.a.4.a |

## Capabilities

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Public Safety and Security | knowledge | 4.93 |
| Law and Government | knowledge | 4.55 |
| English Language | knowledge | 4.48 |
| Telecommunications | knowledge | 4.45 |
| Customer and Personal Service | knowledge | 4.4 |
| Active Listening | essential_skill | 4.38 |
| Oral Expression | ability | 4.38 |
| Geography | knowledge | 4.25 |
| Oral Comprehension | ability | 4.25 |
| Communications and Media | knowledge | 4.17 |
| Speaking | essential_skill | 4.12 |
| Speech Clarity | ability | 4.12 |
| Computers and Electronics | knowledge | 4.03 |
| Problem Sensitivity | ability | 4 |
| Social Perceptiveness | transferable_skill | 3.88 |
| Selective Attention | ability | 3.88 |
| Speech Recognition | ability | 3.88 |
| Administrative | knowledge | 3.85 |
| Critical Thinking | essential_skill | 3.75 |
| Coordination | transferable_skill | 3.75 |
| Service Orientation | transferable_skill | 3.75 |
| Written Comprehension | ability | 3.75 |
| Deductive Reasoning | ability | 3.75 |
| Information Ordering | ability | 3.75 |
| Reading Comprehension | essential_skill | 3.62 |
| Education and Training | knowledge | 3.52 |
| Inductive Reasoning | ability | 3.5 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | transferable_skill | 3.38 |
| Psychology | knowledge | 3.37 |
| Personnel and Human Resources | knowledge | 3.26 |
| Complex Problem Solving | transferable_skill | 3.25 |
| Written Expression | ability | 3.25 |
| Time Sharing | ability | 3.25 |
| Near Vision | ability | 3.25 |
| Therapy and Counseling | knowledge | 3.21 |
| Active Learning | essential_skill | 3.12 |
| Monitoring | essential_skill | 3.12 |
| Persuasion | transferable_skill | 3.12 |
| Administration and Management | knowledge | 3.12 |
| Auditory Attention | ability | 3.12 |

## Skills

| Name | Type |
| --- | --- |
| English Language | Common Skill |
| Telecommunications | Specialized Skill |
| Active Listening | Common Skill |
| Geography | Specialized Skill |
| Speech Recognition | Specialized Skill |
| Social Perceptiveness | Common Skill |
| Information Ordering | Specialized Skill |
| Deductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Critical Thinking | Common Skill |
| Reading Comprehension | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Excel | Common Skill |
| Inductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Psychology | Specialized Skill |
| Complex Problem Solving | Common Skill |
| Active Learning | Common Skill |
| Writing | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Word | Common Skill |
| Microsoft SharePoint | Specialized Skill |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Outlook | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Access | Specialized Skill |
| Instructing | Specialized Skill |
| Time Management | Common Skill |
| Negotiation | Common Skill |
| Learning Strategies | Specialized Skill |
| Systems Analysis | Specialized Skill |
| Finger Dexterity | Common Skill |
| Visualization | Specialized Skill |
| Foreign Language | Common Skill |
| Mathematics | Common Skill |
| Depth Perception | Common Skill |
| Chemistry | Specialized Skill |
| Equipment Selection | Specialized Skill |
| Equipment Maintenance | Specialized Skill |
| Physics | Specialized Skill |
| Biology | Specialized Skill |
| Installation | Specialized Skill |
| Presentation Software | Specialized Skill |

## Tools

| Example | Category | Hot | In Demand |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software | yes | yes |
| Microsoft Office software | Office suite software | yes | yes |
| Microsoft Access | Data base user interface and query software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Outlook | Electronic mail software | yes | no |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Presentation software | yes | no |
| Microsoft SharePoint | Document management software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Word | Word processing software | yes | no |
| SAP software | Enterprise resource planning ERP software | yes | no |
| 911 system information databases | Data base user interface and query software | no | no |
| Computer aided dispatch software | Helpdesk or call center software | no | no |
| Corel WordPerfect Office Suite | Office suite software | no | no |
| Geographic information system GIS systems | Geographic information system | no | no |
| Intrado SchoolMessenger | Mobile messaging service software | no | no |
| Law enforcement information databases | Data base user interface and query software | no | no |
| National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database | Data base user interface and query software | no | no |
| National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System NLETS | Data base user interface and query software | no | no |
| Spillman Technologies Spillman Computer-Aided Dispatch | Helpdesk or call center software | no | no |
| Web browser software | Internet browser software | no | no |

## Work Context

| Name | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Telephone Conversations | 5 |
| Indoors, Environmentally Controlled | 5 |
| Contact With Others | 4.99 |
| Deal With External Customers or the Public in General | 4.99 |
| Spend Time Sitting | 4.99 |
| Importance of Repeating Same Tasks | 4.87 |
| Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team | 4.82 |
| Importance of Being Exact or Accurate | 4.82 |
| Frequency of Decision Making | 4.78 |
| Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results | 4.73 |
| E-Mail | 4.71 |
| Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People | 4.71 |
| Conflict Situations | 4.68 |
| Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls | 4.61 |
| Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions | 4.38 |
| Freedom to Make Decisions | 4.33 |
| Time Pressure | 4.22 |
| Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams | 4.17 |
| Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities | 3.95 |
| Consequence of Error | 3.81 |
| Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals | 3.8 |
| Health and Safety of Other Workers | 3.72 |
| Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers | 3.66 |
| Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable | 3.59 |
| Written Letters and Memos | 3.5 |
| Dealing with Violent or Physically Aggressive People | 3.33 |
| Physical Proximity | 2.78 |
| Exposed to Contaminants | 2.7 |
| Level of Competition | 2.41 |
| Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions | 2.26 |
| Degree of Automation | 2.13 |
| Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment | 1.79 |
| Spend Time Standing | 1.74 |
| Spend Time Walking or Running | 1.41 |
| Exposed to Disease or Infections | 1.38 |
| Public Speaking | 1.18 |
| Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled | 1.16 |
| Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body | 1.14 |
| In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment | 1.06 |
| Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures | 1.04 |

## Preparation

- **Job Zone:** 2
- **Job Zone Name:** Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- **Education:** Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- **Experience:** Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- **Svp Range:** (Below 6.0)

### Education Distribution

| Label | Percentage |
| --- | --- |
| High School Diploma | 63.35 |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 10.64 |
| Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 10.27 |
| Bachelor's Degree | 4.74 |

## Person Fit

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Dependability | work_style | 7 |
| Attention to Detail | work_style | 6 |
| Conventional | career_interest_type | 5.52 |
| Protective Service | specific_interest_area | 5.02 |
| Integrity | work_style | 5 |
| Realistic | career_interest_type | 4.33 |
| Office Work | specific_interest_area | 4 |
| Cautiousness | work_style | 4 |
| Social | career_interest_type | 3.65 |
| Cooperation | work_style | 3 |
| Stress Tolerance | work_style | 3 |
| Self-Control | work_style | 3 |
| Information Technology | specific_interest_area | 2.94 |
| Investigative | career_interest_type | 2.91 |
| Enterprising | career_interest_type | 2.89 |
| Social Service | specific_interest_area | 2.62 |

## Related Roles

| Soc Code | Slug | Title | Tier |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 43-5032.00 | role-43-5032-00 | Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | Primary-Short |
| 29-2042.00 | role-29-2042-00 | Emergency Medical Technicians | Primary-Short |
| 43-2011.00 | role-43-2011-00 | Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service | Primary-Short |
| 29-2043.00 | role-29-2043-00 | Paramedics | Primary-Short |
| 33-1091.00 | role-33-1091-00 | First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | Primary-Short |
| 33-3051.00 | role-33-3051-00 | Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | Primary-Long |
| 33-3052.00 | role-33-3052-00 | Transit and Railroad Police | Primary-Long |
| 53-3011.00 | role-53-3011-00 | Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians | Primary-Long |
| 53-2022.00 | role-53-2022-00 | Airfield Operations Specialists | Primary-Long |
| 43-2021.00 | role-43-2021-00 | Telephone Operators | Primary-Long |
| 11-9161.00 | role-11-9161-00 | Emergency Management Directors | Supplemental |
| 33-9032.00 | role-33-9032-00 | Security Guards | Supplemental |

## Career Clusters

| Cluster | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Public Service & Safety | public-service-safety |

## Education Level

- **Category:** High school diploma or equivalent

## Study Programs


## Market

- **Median Wage:** 50730
- **Mean Wage:** 54800
- **Pct10Wage:** 35640
- **Pct25Wage:** 42140
- **Pct75Wage:** 62840
- **Pct90Wage:** 78110
- **Employment:** 101140
- **Area Title:** U.S.

## Industries


### Top

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Median Wage | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 62 | 62 | Health Care and Social Assistance | Sector | 8360 | 45370 | 0.55 |
| 621910 | 621910 | Ambulance Services | National industry | 5570 | 43740 | 51.67 |
| 61 | 61 | Educational Services | Sector | 3240 | 46620 | 0.36 |
| 54 | 54 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | Sector | 110 | 51300 | 0.02 |
| 561320 | 561320 | Temporary Help Services | National industry | 30 | 44710 |  |
| 55 | 55 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | Sector |  | 43700 |  |
| 56 | 56 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | Sector |  | 48250 |  |
| 81 | 81 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | Sector |  | 40150 |  |

### Concentrated

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 621910 | 621910 | Ambulance Services | National industry | 5570 | 51.67 |
| 62 | 62 | Health Care and Social Assistance | Sector | 8360 | 0.55 |
| 61 | 61 | Educational Services | Sector | 3240 | 0.36 |
| 54 | 54 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | Sector | 110 | 0.02 |
- **Count:** 8

## Ai Signals

| Source | Label | Score | Scale | Release |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| frey_osborne | Computerization probability | 0.49 | 0-1 probability | 2013-baseline-2016-employment-snapshot |
| felten_aioe | AI occupational exposure | 0.9074452 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_image_generation_aioe | Image generation occupational exposure | 0.5620914 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_language_modeling_aioe | Language modeling occupational exposure | 0.7743953 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |

## Ai Outlook


### Index

- **Value:** 82
- **Percentile:** 87
- **Band:** High
- **Version:** ai-exposure-index-v1

#### Components

| Percentile | Source |
| --- | --- |
| 70 | felten_aioe |
| 79 | openai_gpts_are_gpts |
| 97 | microsoft_working_with_ai |
- **Component Count:** 3

### Exposure

| Source | Label | Value | Percentile | Band | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| felten_aioe | Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.) | 0.9074452 | 70 | High | How much this job's abilities overlap with what AI systems can do, across many AI capabilities. A relative research score, not a forecast of job loss. |
| eloundou_gamma | LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) | 0.90625 | 79 | High | Share of this job's tasks where a large language model plus simple tools could cut the time to do them by at least half. γ is capped at 1.0 and many jobs reach that ceiling, so treat a top score as 'in the top group', not a precise rank. |
| microsoft_applicability | AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) | 0.3459271759254976 | 97 | High | How applicable today's AI assistants are to this job's activities, measured from real Microsoft Copilot conversations. Applicability is not the same as replacement. |

### Frey Historical

- **Source:** frey
- **Label:** Computerization probability (Frey & Osborne, 2013)
- **Value:** 0.49
- **Percentile:** 47
- **Band:** Moderate
- **Note:** A pre-LLM (2013) estimate of how automatable this job is by computerization and robotics. Shown for historical context only — it is not part of any current AI ranking.
- **Teleworkable:** no

### Eloundou

- **Alpha:** 0.40625
- **Beta:** 0.65625
- **Gamma:** 0.90625

### Usage Tasks

| Task | Usage Percent | Importance |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Read and effectively interpret small-scale maps and information from a computer screen to determine locations and provide directions. | 0.014379090337662123 | 4.63 |
| Maintain access to, and security of, highly sensitive materials. | 0.01037348660074196 | 4.6 |
| Provide emergency medical instructions to callers. | 0.0017460323981446867 | 4.94 |
- **Usage Release:** 2026-01-15-v4-plus-2025-03-27-v2

### Bls

- **Growth Percent:** 3.5
- **Growth Percentile:** 58
- **Direction:** About average
- **Annual Openings Thousands:** 10.7
- **Annual Openings Percentile:** 65
- **Employment2024Thousands:** 105.2
- **Employment2034Thousands:** 108.9

### Sources

| Source | Version |
| --- | --- |
| bls_employment_projections | 2024-2034 |
| dingel_neiman | dingel-neiman-workathome |
| felten_aioe | felten-raj-seamans-aioe |
| frey_osborne | frey-osborne-automation |
| microsoft_working_with_ai | working-with-ai |
| openai_gpts_are_gpts | gpts-are-gpts |

## Ai Playbook

- **Trusted Task Count:** 2
- **Task Count:** 2
- **Total Sample:** 144
- **Autonomy Median:** 3
- **Dominant Collaboration:** directive
- **Automation Share:** 33.33
- **Augmentation Share:** 31.94

### Collaboration

| Label | Percent |
| --- | --- |
| directive | 33.33 |
| learning | 17.36 |
| task iteration | 14.58 |

### Use Case

| Label | Percent |
| --- | --- |
| personal | 81.25 |

### Delegated Tasks

| Task | Usage Percent | Collaboration | Autonomy Median | Sample Count |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Read and effectively interpret small-scale maps and information from a computer screen to determine locations and provide directions. | 0.008901112639079885 | directive | 3 | 89 |
| Provide emergency medical instructions to callers. | 0.005500687585948244 | learning | 3 | 55 |

### Boundary Tasks

| Task | Human Needed Percent | Sample Count |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Read and effectively interpret small-scale maps and information from a computer screen to determine locations and provide directions. | 98.87640449438202 | 89 |
| Provide emergency medical instructions to callers. | 94.54545454545455 | 55 |

### Seed Prompts

| Prompt | Collaboration |
| --- | --- |
| Do this for me: read and effectively interpret small-scale maps and information from a computer screen to determine locations and provide directions. Give me a finished draft I can review and adjust. | directive |
| Teach me how to provide emergency medical instructions to callers, then check my work as I try it myself. | learning |
- **Release:** 2026-01-15-v4-plus-2025-03-27-v2

## Counts

- **Tasks:** 18
- **Skills:** 38
- **Capabilities:** 120
- **Tools:** 18
- **Related Roles:** 20

## Source

- **Dataset:** gold.onet_role_starter_surface
- **Version:** 30.3
- **Generated At:** 2026-06-02T21:00:32.945303+00:00
- **Content Hash:** 762daebedc31b059