Salaries for 911 Operators in Kansas

The Kansas 911 Act was just revised in 2019, helping recalibrate state support for GIS system implementation and funding to bring next generation 911 service into play for dispatchers statewide.

Those  jobs will bump up about 5.2 percent between 2016 and 2026 according to the Kansas Department of Labor. That will result in around 110 openings per year through a combination of attrition and new job creation.

As of 2018, the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows dispatchers making a median annual salary of $34,380 ($16.53/hr). The top ten percent bring in about $46,620 ($22.42/hr).

Salaries at the Agencies Employing 911 Dispatchers in Kansas

As a general rule throughout largely rural Kansas, dispatch operations are typically handled for all emergency services by either the county sheriff or a combined county emergency communications department.

Wichita – Includes:

  • Sedgwick County Emergency Communications
  • Sumner County 9-1-1
  • Kingman County Sheriff’s Office
    • 10th percentile: $13.05/hr / $27,140
    • Median: $17.27/hr / $35,930
    • 90th percentile: $22.93/hr / $47,700

The consolidated Sedgwick County Emergency Communications center provides dispatch services for Wichita Fire and Police as well as county fire, sheriff, and EMS, plus 16 other municipalities in the area.

Kansas nonmetropolitan area – Includes:

  • Kansas Highway Patrol Central Communications
  • Kansas City Kansas Police Department
  • Ford County Communications Center
  • Douglas County Emergency Communication Center
    • 10th percentile: $12.44/hr / $25,870
    • Median: $15.35/hr / $31,940
    • 90th percentile: $19.02/hr / $39,560

The Kansas nonmetropolitan area is the largest statistical region in the state and is dominated by county-level dispatch centers which generally handle all emergency services under their jurisdiction. KHP’s M Troop out of Salina handles emergency communication and dispatch statewide, including some emergency medical services and critical weather notifications.

Topeka – Includes:

  • Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center
  • Jefferson County 9-1-1 Communications
  • Osage County Sheriff’s Office
    • 10th percentile: $12.19/hr / $25,340
    • Median: $15.22/hr / $31,660
    • 90th percentile: $21.47/hr / $44,600

Shawnee County’s SCECC handles all dispatch services for six law enforcement and eight fire service agencies throughout the county, including Topeka Fire, Police, and Animal Control.

A Full Breakdown of 911 Dispatcher Salaries Across Kansas

Wichita only barely edges out the two other statistical areas in median dispatcher salary, but the city definitely comes out ahead at the high end, with a $47,700 ($22.93/hr) annual wage for those in the top ten percent.

Area name
Employment
Annual mean wage
Kansas nonmetropolitan area
560
32460
Topeka
80
32570
Wichita
240
36170

Salary and employment data compiled by the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics in May of 2018. Figures represent accumulated data for all areas of employment for emergency services dispatchers https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ks.htm#43-5031. BLS salary data represents state and MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) average and median earnings for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. This data does not represent starting salaries. Employment conditions in your area may vary.

 Job growth projections sourced from the Kansas Department of Labor and published in the U.S. Department of Labor-funded Long Term Occupational Projections (2016-2026) database – https://projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm.

All salary and job growth data accessed in June 2019.

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