Emergency medical dispatcher
Also known as: dispatcher of emergency medical services, dispatcher of emergency medical vehicles, medical dispatcher, emergency call operator, emergency call handler, emergency medical services dispatcher
About this occupation
Emergency medical dispatchers respond to urgent calls made to the control center, take information about the emergency situation, the address and other details and dispatch the nearest ambulance or paramedic helicopter.
A specialisation of telephone switchboard operator.
Essential skills and knowledge
- provide advice to emergency callers
- medical dispatch
- operate an emergency communication system
- prioritise emergencies
- personnel planning in emergency response
- comply with quality standards related to healthcare practice
- support distressed emergency callers
- communicate verbal instructions
- local geography
- work in multidisciplinary teams related to emergency care
- comply with legislation related to health care
- answer emergency calls
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service (O*NET 43-2011.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Operate communication systems, such as telephone, switchboard, intercom, two-way radio, or public address.
- Answer incoming calls, greeting callers, providing information, transferring calls or taking messages as necessary.
- Greet visitors, log them in and out of the facility, assign them security badges, and contact employee escorts.
- Monitor emergency and code alarms, make emergency announcements, or route emergency calls to the appropriate location.
- Record messages, suggesting rewording for clarity or conciseness.
- Page individuals to inform them of telephone calls, using paging or interoffice communication equipment.
- Typical education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Preparation
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Interests
- Conventional, Realistic, Enterprising
Top skills: Active Listening, Speaking, Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Reading Comprehension, Coordination
US median pay: US$38,630 a year (2025), 34,280 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (3.9)
- Computer StudiesO*NET: Computers and ElectronicsImportant (3.5)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Receptionists and Information Clerks
- Office Clerks, General
- Telephone Operators
- Customer Service Representatives
- Public Safety Telecommunicators
- Telemarketers
- Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive
- Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
- Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.