Public Safety Telecommunicators

AUTOMATION RISK
CALCULATED
47%
risk level
POLLING
35%
Based on 291 votes
LABOR DEMAND
GROWTH
3.6%
by year 2032
WAGES
$46,900
or $22.55 per hour
Volume
95,730
as of 2022
SUMMARY
JOB SCORE
4.9/10

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Automation risk

47% (Moderate Risk)

Moderate Risk (41-60%): Occupations with a moderate risk of automation usually involve routine tasks but still require some human judgment and interaction.

More information on what this score is, and how it is calculated is available here.

Some quite important qualities of the job are difficult to automate:

  • Social Perceptiveness

  • Assisting and Caring for Others

  • Persuasion

  • Negotiation

User poll

35% chance of full automation within the next two decades

Our visitors have voted there's a low chance this occupation will be automated. This assessment is further supported by the calculated automation risk level, which estimates 47% chance of automation.

What do you think the risk of automation is?

What is the likelihood that Public Safety Telecommunicators will be replaced by robots or artificial intelligence within the next 20 years?






Growth

Moderate growth relative to other professions

The number of 'Public Safety Telecommunicators' job openings is expected to rise 3.6% by 2032

Total employment, and estimated job openings

* Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the period between 2021 and 2031
Updated projections are due 09-2023.

Wages

Low paid relative to other professions

In 2022, the median annual wage for 'Public Safety Telecommunicators' was $46,900, or $22 per hour

'Public Safety Telecommunicators' were paid 1.3% higher than the national median wage, which stood at $46,310

Wages over time

* Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Volume

Greater range of job opportunities compared to other professions

As of 2022 there were 95,730 people employed as 'Public Safety Telecommunicators' within the United States.

This represents around 0.06% of the employed workforce across the country

Put another way, around 1 in 1 thousand people are employed as 'Public Safety Telecommunicators'.

Job description

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.

SOC Code: 43-5031.00

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Comments

Leave a comment

Dan/911 Dispatcher (Highly likely) says
Protocol based yes/no programs are becoming the norm in this industry. An AI program that can have a conversation with a 911 caller and interpret the results will replace 911 calltakers. Field units can input requests into an AI interface in their vehicle resulting in very little need for radio operators.
Jun 10, 2023 at 07:49 AM
Maria (Low) says
As a police Dispatcher, no matter how intelligent AI may become, in my opinion, there will always be a need for the human factor to communicate with people in distress.
Apr 20, 2023 at 02:32 PM
Alex (Low) says
Robots might not be able to filter out prank calls and if there are too many calls the system might break down.
Aug 01, 2021 at 05:24 PM
Noname says
Some people die being police so robots will take over the job for safety reasons
Mar 01, 2021 at 05:11 AM
주연재 says
My future job is a police officer and I don't think this job can be handled by artificial earthworks in the future. The reason is that errors occur in the process of reasoning, or that they are not accurate and specific, and that the actual criminal cannot be caught.
Nov 06, 2020 at 08:43 AM
Hyewon says
Because it is only human beings who can help and soothe someone who is in danger without having feelings.
Sep 02, 2020 at 03:37 AM
feeeek (Low) says
Maybe in 2050 they'd have robot dispatchers but no robot is climbing a tree or going into a active bank robbery with hostages.
Aug 11, 2020 at 11:30 AM
no, no name for me (No chance) says
i don't personally believe so, because i don't think that a robot would be able to adapt to a situation as possibly complicated as that. "911, press 1 for kidnapping, press 2 for..." sure it would be better than that but you get the idea. I also believe that if someone is in crisis who can relate more and help calm someone down? The human can that's who.
May 15, 2020 at 01:57 AM
Keji Alex (No chance) says
Robots can't do what humans do.
Feb 19, 2020 at 08:18 PM
Warwick says
I don't think the people who work as dispatchers are going to be easily replaced. They perform a complex job, integrating a heap of different inputs, often working with incomplete information (for example a phone call that's initially just silent, or someone who can't talk freely due to injury or duress). They have to highly developed interpersonal skills both in working with the public and working with the front-line staff (e.g. the police on the beat). I can't see something like Siri replacing them.
Feb 04, 2020 at 06:44 AM
Olivia (Moderate) says
Because robots can't die in which cases humans can
Dec 17, 2019 at 05:23 PM
Shaneika (No chance) says
Because then what is the point of being around or some people won’t like robots and they could be scared of them because they have no feelings and they are just programmed
Nov 11, 2019 at 05:26 PM
hannie (Low) says
because robots don't see everything and robots don't compare to humans. also robots can get broken and cant do things humans can.
Oct 25, 2019 at 09:04 AM
Bob (Low) says
I can't see the average citizen being perfectly fine being subvert to robot overlords.
Aug 16, 2019 at 08:51 PM
Hope Pringle (Uncertain) says
It could go either way we might have robots that take this job which I don't want because robots have no emotion for the community like the men in blue do who everyday care for us. And I want to serve the community I care about every day and protect them when the robots can't and can't feel emotion for the people who are victims every day.
Aug 14, 2019 at 11:31 PM
Somebody (Highly likely) says
With AI and machine learning, the need for cops will be minimal as a lot of what could happen can be predicted and prevented. Look at minority report.
Jul 09, 2019 at 07:10 PM
connor cathcart (No chance) says
robots cant do what people do
Jul 04, 2019 at 03:05 AM
not gonna say (No chance) says
They are not likely to take jobs from police, they can't run or tackle
Apr 28, 2019 at 10:10 PM
Khan says
This is about call dispatchers for police, NOT cops.
Apr 06, 2020 at 03:03 PM
Khan says
call dispatchers are not police officers they hear the calls and send them to the police.
They are already automated in Chicago.
Apr 07, 2020 at 06:01 PM

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