How to become a 911 dispatcher in Mississippi

Pay at the City of Jackson Police Department 911 Communications (Jackson, MS)

Each city and county sets its own pay.

No City of Jackson pay plan, job posting or union contract for 911 communications staff could be retrieved from jacksonms.gov.

Pay for this work across Mississippi

Federal survey figures for public safety telecommunicators in Mississippi, counting every employer in the state, public and private, so they differ from any one agency's pay scale above.

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates (all employers)[bls.gov]

Requirements

• Minimum age: 18
• Education: High school graduate or GED (HiSET or another accepted equivalency also allowed)
• Citizenship: U.S. citizen
• BETST Policy Manual (Title 31, Part 601) Rule 2.2, under Miss. Code Ann. 19-5-351 to 19-5-361: must be capable of performing the duties of the position; no disqualifying criminal record, verified by a background investigation (fingerprints to DPS Criminal Information Center when available); honorable discharge if a veteran (others may appeal to the Board)
• Must complete the minimum training and obtain certification within 12 months of the initial date of employment; the timeframe is cumulative across employers and the Board may not extend it; an employer may not pay a telecommunicator beyond that timeframe without certification
• All disciplines: Board-approved Basic Emergency Telecommunicator Training (in person only) plus current Telecommunicator CPR (TCPR) certification (IAED DD-CPR accepted at EMD agencies); fire dispatchers add fire-service/EFD training; EMS dispatchers add Board-approved Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) training and CPR certification
• Recertification: at least 48 hours of Board-approved continuing education every three-year certification period (no more than 16 hours online), including TCPR or DD-CPR renewal
• Employer must notify the Board within 30 days of hiring

Source:[dps.ms.gov]

Hiring process

1. Employer evaluates applicant against BETST minimum standards
2. Background investigation (fingerprints submitted to DPS Criminal Information Center when available)
3. Review of age and U.S. citizenship documents (and DD-214 for veterans)
4. Employer notifies the Board within 30 days of employment
5. Complete Board-approved training and obtain certification within 12 months

Source:[dps.ms.gov]

Required training

40 hours minimum. BETST course calendar lists the 'IAED 40-Hour Basic ETC' as 'Mandatory within 12 months from date of hire' (e.g. July 6-10, 2026, 8 AM-5 PM, cost $495). The policy manual itself does not state an hour count; EMD/EFD and TCPR are added by discipline. Basic training must be in person.[dps.ms.gov]

Pension and retirement

• Plan: Public Employees' Retirement System of Mississippi (PERS) - Hybrid Retirement Plan (Tier 5)
• Benefit formula: Defined benefit component: pension multiplier 1.00% × years of creditable service × average compensation (highest four fiscal or calendar years, or final 48 months), plus a defined contribution 401(a) account (member contributes 5%; employer may contribute)
• When you can retire: 30 years of service credit at any age, or age 62 with 8 years of membership service credit; benefits reduced for each year of service below 30 or each year of age below 65, whichever is less

Mandatory for all eligible employees who become PERS members on or after March 1, 2026 (municipalities participate in PERS). Members contribute 4% to the DB component and 5% to the DC component; immediately vested in the DC account. Fact sheet as of May 19, 2026.

Source:[pers.ms.gov]