911 Operator Jobs

Most 911 operator jobs will require you to work in night shifts and at times the work can be stressful. In spite of all this, people opt for this profile because it can be financially rewarding. One of the basic duties that you will be required to perform is answering emergency calls. 911 is a common emergency number which people dial when in need of medical, fire brigade or law enforcement assistance. The 911 operator job is of immense responsibility, as they are the first point of contact during any emergency.

Jobs in metropolitan areas pay comparatively high salaries than rural settings and states like California, Florida and Texas have good pay packets. The job requires good communication skills and qualities like patience and empathy. Since the job profile falls under the public service domain criminal background checks will be conducted on all applicants. People who are accomplished at operating computers and have good typing skills will be given preference.

Job Description and Education

Since 911 is a common number to dial during emergencies operators will have to deal with callers seeking various kinds of assistance. If a person calls in saying that he is having a stroke the operator is required to take down details about the persons medical history, current location and other mitigating circumstances and then relay the information to an emergency medical response unit. Understanding the situation and then sending the appropriate response unit is one of the most crucial aspect of the job profile.

Since emergencies do not announce that their arrival, operators will be required to work in different shifts. The job includes coordinating with police, medical and fire fighting units and giving them concise information, and is at the core of this job. Good typing skills are necessary as you will be required to note down vital information regarding the emergency calls and then relay it to the concerning authorities.

Most areas will require you to have at least a high school diploma or GED to be eligible for a job. Although some metropolitan areas will prefer candidates who have a college degree and some basic computer knowledge. Once your applications is accepted and you are selected you are required to undergo and successfully clear a 3-6 months paid training program to become an official 911 operator.

Salary and Job Outlook

These jobs fall under the telecommunication jobs category and have a comparable pay structure and benefits. Most of these are government jobs and the 911 operator salary range is between USD 27,000 to USD 43,000 annually. Metropolitan areas generally pay more and jobs in NYC will fetch you a salary ranging between USD 32,000 to USD 44,000 annually. In places like Los Angeles, the hourly wage is between USD 17 to USD 35 and Miami will pay an hourly wage ranging between USD 14 to USD 24.

People with good intercultural communication skills and those who have a medical or law enforcement background can get larger pay checks in comparison to other inexperienced candidates. People who can operate different computer software also have a good chance of making a higher pay grade. States like California, New York, Florida and Texas are pay masters in this job profile, meaning they pay more salaries than other states. According to the bureau of labor statistics the job outlook for 911 operators is good and they predict a growth of about 18 percent till the year 2018. The population growth is expected to contribute to the greater demand of emergency operator career opportunities.

The 911 operator jobs have a good future and if planning for a career change or looking to make your career in this profile, upgrading your computer knowledge and typing skills will benefit you. If possible try and learn an additional language and improve your communication skills.