San Diego 911 dispatcher salary, 2025
San Diego is a city in San Diego County. 250 people worked as 911 dispatchers for San Diego in 2025. Those who worked the full year earned an average of $124,987, overtime included.
What is the average 911 dispatcher salary at San Diego?
Official pay range1
$59,197 to $114,858
from the lowest entry salary to the top of the highest 911 dispatcher title
Based on the 192 of 250 911 dispatchers who worked the full year.
The largest group of San Diego's 911 dispatchers (87 of 250) hold the title Police 911 Dispatcher, with an official range of $65,104 to $78,603. Those who worked the full year earned an average of $106,502, $27,899 above the top of the range.
- Median total pay
- $121,799
- the middle 911 dispatcher: half earned more, half less
- Overtime
- $19,822
- average per full-year 911 dispatcher
- Starting salary
- $59,197
- bottom of the Dispatcher I range
- Average pay rank
- 91st
- of 236 California employers
What does each 911 dispatcher title at San Diego pay?
Each bar is the official range for one title, lowest first. The dot marks the average total pay of full-year staff in that title, where at least 5 people stand behind it.1
- Dispatcher IFewer than 5
- Dispatcher II$134,675
- Police 911 Dispatcher$106,502
- Fire Dispatcher$131,692
- Police Dispatcher$125,578
- Fire Lead DispatcherFewer than 5
- Police Lead Dispatcher$137,795
- Fire Dispatch Supervisor$157,110
- Police Dispatch Supervisor$163,349
official range average total pay, full year. "Fewer than 5" means too few full-year people in that title to show.
Does San Diego pay 911 dispatchers more than other employers in San Diego County?
Average total pay of full-year 911 dispatchers: San Diego next to every employer in the county together, and the whole state.1
- San Diego$124,987
- All employers in San Diego County$119,104
- All employers in California$126,606
Full-year 911 dispatchers at San Diego earned $5,883 more than the San Diego County average and $1,619 less than the California average.
Average 911 dispatcher pay in San Diego County compared to nearby counties
Average total pay of full-year 911 dispatchers across all employers in each county that borders San Diego County, and how much more or less it pays.1
Where does San Diego rank among California employers?
Every employer with at least 5 full-year 911 dispatchers, by average total pay.1
All 236 California employers
San Diego ranks 91st of 236, above the middle employer.
Middle employer: $117,931
The 12 employers in San Diego County
San Diego ranks 4th of 12, above the middle employer.
Middle employer: $121,840
Each bar counts the employers whose average total pay falls in a $5,000 band. The dashed line marks the middle employer.
Pension and health cover at San Diego
As reported by the city. Contributions are what the employer paid per full-year 911 dispatcher, on top of wages.1
- Pension formula
- 1% at 55
- the most common formula among San Diego's 911 dispatchers
- Employer pension contribution
- $10,936
- average per year
- Health, dental and vision
- $10,742
- average paid by the employer per year
Questions about 911 dispatcher pay at San Diego
What is the average 911 dispatcher salary at San Diego?
911 dispatchers at San Diego who worked the full year earned an average of $124,987 in 2025, overtime included. The middle 911 dispatcher earned $121,799: half earned more, half less. The official pay range across its 911 dispatcher titles runs from $59,197 to $114,858.
How much overtime do 911 dispatchers at San Diego earn?
Full-year 911 dispatchers were paid an average of $19,822 in overtime in 2025. The middle one was paid $10,742: a few people with a lot of overtime pull the average up.
What pension do 911 dispatchers at San Diego get?
The most common pension formula among San Diego's 911 dispatchers is 1% at 55, as reported by the city. The employer paid an average of $10,936 a year into the pension plan.
More salaries in San Diego County
- El Cajon$129,213 average total pay
- North County Dispatch Joint Powers Authority$126,662 average total pay
- Coronado$123,365 average total pay
- National City$122,246 average total pay
- Chula Vista$121,433 average total pay
- Carlsbad$121,254 average total pay
- Highest 911 dispatcher salaries in CaliforniaThe best-paying employers, ranked
- Police officer salaries at San Diego$152,844 average total pay
- Water operator salaries at San Diego$121,070 average total pay
- Firefighter salaries at San Diego$118,424 average total pay
- Librarian salaries at San Diego$105,421 average total pay
- Teacher salaries in San Diego CountyEvery school district's salary schedule
Sources for the San Diego figures
Every person who held a 911 dispatcher position at San Diego at any point in 2025 counts toward the headcount. Pay figures use only people who worked roughly the full year: those whose regular pay reached at least 90% of the bottom of their official range. Total pay is gross wages before tax, including overtime, lump sums and other pay. Averages lead; the median total pay is the middle person's, with half above and half below, and is less pulled by a few people with very high pay. Every figure covers at least 5 people.
- State Controller's Office, Government Compensation in California, 2025: positions, official pay ranges, wages, pension formula and employer contributions as reported by San Diego.