Dispatcher I

Dispatcher I

City of San Diego

$59,196.80 - $71,364.80 Annually

City of San Diego, CA

Varies by Position

AG-T11936-202506

N / A - Multiple Departments

06 / 20 / 2025

Continuous

Dispatcher I positions, under general supervision, receive incoming telephone calls and evaluate requests for Police services, Fire-Rescue services, Environmental services, and Transportation services.

Dispatcher I positions in the Police and Fire-Rescue Departments work on a Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) system and are the primary answering point for all 911 and non-emergency phone calls from within the City of San Diego (Fire-Rescue Department has dispatch contracts with Chula Vista, Coronado, Imperial Beach, National City, and Poway); elicit essential incident information from callers; determine the nature and extent of the request, the priority of the problem and the need for dispatching police, fire or medical field units; enter appropriate information by typing on a computer keyboard into a dispatch format; answer routine inquiries and refer calls not requiring dispatch to the appropriate department or agency.

Dispatcher I positions in the Environmental Services Department and Transportation Department receive incoming phone calls and operate radio communications equipment to dispatch and coordinate various City units involved in servicing, maintaining or repairing City property, assets, services or facilities. Positions in these departments do NOT respond to 911 emergency calls.

Minimum Requirements

You must meet the following requirements on the date you apply, unless otherwise indicated.

CITIZENSHIP : You must be a United States citizen or have the current legal right to work in the United States. AGE : 18 years of age or older; except for high school graduates (or persons with GED equivalency) who are 17.

EDUCATION : You must meet ONE of the following options :

• Graduation from high school.
• Passage of the General Education Development (G.E.D.) test.
• Passage of the California High School Proficiency Examination (C.H.S.P.E.).
• Possession of a two-year, four-year, or advanced degree from a college or university.

Screening Process

The screening process will consist of the following components :

APPLICATION REVIEW : Please ensure all information is complete and accurate as the responses you provide on the supplemental questions will be reviewed using an automated evaluation system. If you are successful in this initial screening process, your application will be reviewed for applicable education, experience, and / or training to ensure all minimum requirements have been met.

PERFORMANCE TEST : The performance test is a computer-based work simulation test that measures the general aptitudes needed to be a Dispatcher. No prior dispatch experience is necessary to pass the test. The test includes the following fourteen (14) test modules and ten (10) decision-making scenario prompts that activate during the administration of the test modules.

Supplemental Information

A career as a Dispatcher offers many satisfying and rewarding opportunities to help others and make a sufficient contribution to public safety. This challenging, fast-paced work requires quick thinking and problem-solving abilities, and excellent public relations skills. The job, however, also has some demands that you may find less appealing. The factors listed below describe aspects of the job of which you may not be aware. It is important that you consider these conditions before you accept employment in this job classification.