How to become a 911 dispatcher in Utah
In Utah, 911 dispatchers are hired by city, county and regional 911 centers. The Utah Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) sets the statewide standards; the credential is POST Basic Public Safety Dispatcher Certification. At the Salt Lake City 911 Communications Bureau, new hires start at $55,370 a year, rising to $83,262 after about 8 years. You must be at least 18.
Pay at the Salt Lake City 911 Communications Bureau
Each city and county sets its own pay. This is the official scale of the Salt Lake City 911 Communications Bureau, the largest city's agency.
| Starting salary | $55,370 |
|---|---|
| Top of scale | $83,262 |
| Years to top | 8 |
| Scale effective | 2026-06-21 |
AFSCME Local 1004 MOU, FY2027 wage information effective 06/21/26: Public Safety Dispatcher, comp grade 226: Entry $26.62/hr, Year 1 $28.51, Year 4 $32.33, Year 6 $34.21, Year 8 $40.03 (x 2080 = $55,370 to $83,262). Steps follow completed years in the classification; a further 2.75% increase on all steps is scheduled June 20, 2027. 911 Bureau employees get a 7.5% differential for hours worked 7 p.m.-7 a.m.
Source:[slc.gov]
Pay for this work across Utah
Federal survey figures for public safety telecommunicators in Utah, counting every employer in the state, public and private, so they differ from any one agency's pay scale above.
| People in this work | 880 |
|---|---|
| Lower pay (10th percentile) | $47,070 |
| Median pay | $54,120 |
| Higher pay (90th percentile) | $75,890 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates (all employers)[bls.gov]
Requirements
- Minimum age: 18
- Education: High school graduate or G.E.D. equivalent
- Citizenship: U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or lawful permanent resident in the U.S. legally for the five years before applying and authorized to work
- Participation in state dispatcher training and certification is at the option of each county or municipality that employs dispatchers; local standards may be higher (Utah Code 53-6-305)
- No conviction for a crime punishable by imprisonment in a federal or state penitentiary
- Good moral character as determined by a background investigation; criminal history check of local, state and national files
- Free of any physical, emotional or mental condition that might adversely affect performance as a dispatcher
- Utah Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD) certification is required before POST certification
- Certified dispatchers must complete 20 or more hours of director-approved training each year (Utah Code 53-6-306)
Source:[le.utah.gov]
Entrance exam
Utah POST dispatcher certification examination. Required after the basic dispatcher training course (Utah Code 53-6-303). The director may waive the course for equivalent prior training, but the applicant must still pass the exam; failing it means taking the course. A certificate inactive for 18 consecutive months requires re-passing the exam.[le.utah.gov]
Required training
40 hours minimum. POST Basic Public Safety Dispatcher Training Course: 40 hours (0700-1800 Monday-Thursday) at POST in Sandy; limited to employees of a recognized public safety dispatch center; application due four weeks before day one.[post.utah.gov]
Pension and retirement
- Plan: Utah Retirement Systems (URS), Tier 2 Public Employees Contributory Retirement System
- Benefit formula: Tier 2 Hybrid: years of service credit x 1.5% x highest five years' earnings converted to a monthly average (new hires may instead elect the Tier 2 Defined Contribution Plan)
- When you can retire: 65 with 4 years of service; 62 with 10; 60 with 20; any age with 35. With fewer than 35 years, the allowance is reduced about 7% per year between ages 60 and 63 and about 9% per year between 64 and 65
Applies to members who first entered full-time employment on or after July 1, 2011; the hybrid/DC election must be made within one year and is irrevocable (default is the Hybrid). Highlights effective July 1, 2026.
Source:[urs.org]