How to become a 911 dispatcher in New York
In New York, 911 dispatchers are hired by city, county and regional 911 centers. The New York State 911 Board (NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services) sets the statewide standards; the credential is Public Safety Telecommunicator (911 call-taker/dispatcher). At the NYPD Communications Section (City of New York), new hires start at $51,790 a year.
Pay at the NYPD Communications Section (City of New York)
Each city and county sets its own pay. This is the official scale of the NYPD Communications Section (City of New York), the largest city's agency.
| Starting salary | $51,790 |
|---|---|
| Top of scale | — |
| Scale effective | 2026-09-02 |
NYC DCAS Notice of Examination No. 7307, Police Communications Technician (title code 71012): 'The current minimum salary is $51,790 per annum. This rate is subject to change.' Top of scale not stated in the notice.
Source:[nyc.gov]
Pay for this work across New York
Federal survey figures for public safety telecommunicators in New York, counting every employer in the state, public and private, so they differ from any one agency's pay scale above.
| People in this work | 5,470 |
|---|---|
| Lower pay (10th percentile) | $45,950 |
| Median pay | $61,450 |
| Higher pay (90th percentile) | $79,630 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates (all employers)[bls.gov]
Requirements
- Education: High school diploma, Regents diploma or GED (21 NYCRR 5201.2)
- Initial training (21 NYCRR 5201.3): a minimum 40-hour classroom course within 12 months of initial appointment, plus IS-700 and ICS-100
- Each PSAP must run an Emergency Services Dispatch Training/Evaluation Program (ESDTEP) of at least 200 hours, completed within 18 months of appointment (24 months if working 20 hours/week or less); no unsupervised duty until training is satisfactorily completed; at most a single 12-month extension
- Annual in-service: at least 21 hours each calendar year, plus all applicable mandatory recertifications such as emergency medical dispatching and the NY statewide police information network (21 NYCRR 5201.4)
- Staff in a PSAP's emergency medical dispatch program must complete EMD training within 12 months of appointment (21 NYCRR 5201.5)
- NYC Police Communications Technician (largest-city title): high school diploma or equivalent plus one year of clerical/typing or public-contact experience, or 30 college credits, or two years of active U.S. military duty with honorable discharge; must understand and be understood in English; medical and psychological assessment, drug screening and investigation (fingerprint fee $75); 18-month probation during which 911 call-taker and radio dispatcher training courses must be passed
Source:[law.cornell.edu]
Hiring process
- Apply for the civil service exam through NYC DCAS OASys (fee $68, waivable)
- Computer-based multiple-choice test (70% to pass); ranked on an eligible list
- Investigation including fingerprint screening and document verification
- Medical and psychological assessment
- Drug screening
- 18-month probation with 911 call-taker and radio dispatcher training courses
Source:[nyc.gov]
Entrance exam
NYC Police Communications Technician civil service exam (DCAS Exam No. 7307). No state certification exam. NYC's computer-based multiple-choice test requires at least 70% to pass and tests abilities such as deductive reasoning, inductive reasoning and information ordering; score sets the eligible-list rank. Exam 7307 applications ran Sept 2-Oct 13, 2026, with testing expected to begin Nov 16, 2026.[nyc.gov]
Required training
240 hours minimum. 21 NYCRR 5201.3 requires two separate pieces of initial training: a minimum 40-hour classroom course (within 12 months of appointment) and a minimum 200-hour Emergency Services Dispatch Training/Evaluation Program run by the PSAP under a competent trainer (within 18 months; 24 months part-time). hours = 40 + 200. Rules effective January 1, 2004.[law.cornell.edu]
Pension and retirement
- Plan: New York State and Local Employees' Retirement System (NYSLRS ERS), Tier 6
- Benefit formula: 1.66% of final average salary per year if under 20 years; 1.75% per year (35%) at 20 years; plus 2% of FAS for each year over 20. FAS = highest 3 consecutive years for members retiring on/after April 20, 2024
- When you can retire: Full benefit at age 63; reduced benefit as early as age 55; vested with 5 years of service credit
NYSLRS ERS is the statewide plan for local government employees outside New York City; City of New York employees such as NYPD Police Communications Technicians join the New York City Employees' Retirement System (NYCERS) instead.
Source:[osc.ny.gov]