How to become a 911 dispatcher in South Carolina
In South Carolina, 911 dispatchers are hired by city, county and regional 911 centers. The South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy / Law Enforcement Training Council sets the statewide standards; the credential is Telecommunications Operator certification (Class IV - TCO). At the Charleston County Consolidated Emergency Communications Center (serves the City of Charleston), new hires start at $46,218 a year. You must be at least 18.
Pay at the Charleston County Consolidated Emergency Communications Center (serves the City of Charleston)
Each city and county sets its own pay. This is the official scale of the Charleston County Consolidated Emergency Communications Center (serves the City of Charleston), the largest city's agency.
| Starting salary | $46,218 |
|---|---|
| Top of scale | — |
| Scale effective | 2024-09-01 |
Start = the county's posted hiring rate ($22.22/hr × 2080); no top of range is published.
Source:[governmentjobs.com]
Pay for this work across South Carolina
Federal survey figures for public safety telecommunicators in South Carolina, counting every employer in the state, public and private, so they differ from any one agency's pay scale above.
| People in this work | 1,490 |
|---|---|
| Lower pay (10th percentile) | $34,520 |
| Median pay | $43,540 |
| Higher pay (90th percentile) | $56,930 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates (all employers)[bls.gov]
Requirements
- Minimum age: 18
- Education: High school diploma or equivalent recognized and accepted by the South Carolina Department of Education
- Class IV (TCO) certification covers a telecommunications operator or dispatcher employed in an E-911 system; certification is issued by the Law Enforcement Training Council (S.C. Code Title 23, Chapter 23)
- Basic Telecommunications Officer training applicants must be employed by a South Carolina public safety answering point
- Must pass an NCIC and SC criminal history check showing good character
- Proof of completing a NIMS ICS-100 level course
- A person with a pending misconduct allegation filed with the Academy may not be employed as a telecommunications operator until the Council decides (S.C. Code Title 23, Chapter 23)
Source:[sccja.sc.gov]
Hiring process
- Online application
- Typing test (35 wpm or 10,500 KPH) and other required applicant testing
- Background investigation (driving record, employment, education, illegal conduct, references)
- Pre-employment physical and psychological evaluation
- Classroom and on-the-job training; Level IV CJIS Security Awareness within 6 months; SCCJA Basic Telecommunications Officer course
Required training
36.75 hours minimum, 1 weeks. SCCJA: 'The Basic Telecommunications Officer training program is currently a 36.75-hour program, 1 week in duration.' Tuition $350 (the same page also calls it a ten-day course in the tuition note). Earlier versions of the course were two weeks / 80 hours.[sccja.sc.gov]
Pension and retirement
- Plan: South Carolina Retirement System (SCRS), administered by PEBA
- Benefit formula: 1.82% of average final compensation × years of service
- When you can retire: Class Three (membership on/after July 1, 2012): unreduced when age + service = 90, or at age 65 or older; reduced early retirement at age 60; at least eight years of earned service required
Members contribute 9% of gross pay; annual benefit adjustment of 1% up to $500 per year.
Source:[peba.sc.gov]