Highest 911 dispatcher salaries in California, by employer, 2025

Mountain View pays California's highest average total pay for 911 dispatchers: $217,978 for those who worked the full year in 2025, against a state average of $126,540. It also has the highest starting salary ($117,946).

Where do 911 dispatchers earn the most in California?

The 25 employers with the highest average total pay of full-year dispatchers, overtime included.

Highest average total pay

  1. Mountain ViewCity in Santa Clara County$217,978
  2. San Ramon Valley Fire ProtectionFire protection district in Contra Costa County$211,550
  3. RichmondCity in Contra Costa County$206,109
  4. Santa ClaraCity in Santa Clara County$205,667
  5. SunnyvaleCity in Santa Clara County$200,657
  6. Orange County Fire AuthorityJoint powers authority in Orange County$196,274
  7. Palo AltoCity in Santa Clara County$194,277
  8. San FranciscoCity in San Francisco County$192,456
  9. San MateoCity in San Mateo County$186,934
  10. BurlingameCity in San Mateo County$185,514
  11. Redondo BeachCity in Los Angeles County$184,545
  12. San Mateo CountyCounty government$183,454
  13. Los AltosCity in Santa Clara County$183,420
  14. Costa MesaCity in Orange County$182,580
  15. AthertonCity in San Mateo County$181,721
  16. San Diego Unified Port DistrictPort district in San Diego County$181,551
  17. Ventura CountyCounty government$179,292
  18. Santa Clara CountyCounty government$175,376
  19. Alameda CountyCounty government$172,808
  20. LivermoreCity in Alameda County$172,084
  21. HaywardCity in Alameda County$171,711
  22. Contra Costa CountyCounty government$167,731
  23. CampbellCity in Santa Clara County$167,477
  24. OaklandCity in Alameda County$165,752
  25. Beverly HillsCity in Los Angeles County$165,747

Highest 911 dispatcher base pay in California

Average base pay of full-year dispatchers, without overtime and other pay: closer to what the job pays for a regular schedule.

Highest average base pay

  1. Palo AltoCity in Santa Clara County$152,083
  2. Santa ClaraCity in Santa Clara County$146,105
  3. SunnyvaleCity in Santa Clara County$143,238
  4. Mountain ViewCity in Santa Clara County$141,646
  5. Santa Clara CountyCounty government$140,365
  6. CampbellCity in Santa Clara County$138,436
  7. Los AltosCity in Santa Clara County$136,151
  8. San Mateo CountyCounty government$135,812
  9. San FranciscoCity in San Francisco County$134,242
  10. MilpitasCity in Santa Clara County$133,199
  11. San Ramon Valley Fire ProtectionFire protection district in Contra Costa County$132,738
  12. Foster CityCity in San Mateo County$131,875
  13. San JoseCity in Santa Clara County$130,566
  14. AthertonCity in San Mateo County$129,787
  15. Los GatosCity in Santa Clara County$127,114
  16. San MateoCity in San Mateo County$125,389
  17. Morgan HillCity in Santa Clara County$124,984
  18. NewarkCity in Alameda County$122,451
  19. ConcordCity in Contra Costa County$120,308
  20. EmeryvilleCity in Alameda County$119,817
  21. South San FranciscoCity in San Mateo County$119,227
  22. HaywardCity in Alameda County$119,011
  23. San LeandroCity in Alameda County$117,878
  24. FremontCity in Alameda County$117,600
  25. San BrunoCity in San Mateo County$117,479

Which California employers pay new 911 dispatchers the most?

The bottom of the official pay range for each employer's entry-level dispatcher title, as reported.

Highest starting salary

  1. Mountain ViewCity in Santa Clara County$117,946
  2. ColmaCity in San Mateo County$116,750
  3. MilpitasCity in Santa Clara County$114,890
  4. Los AltosCity in Santa Clara County$114,763
  5. Palo AltoCity in Santa Clara County$109,441
  6. CampbellCity in Santa Clara County$108,514
  7. Santa ClaraCity in Santa Clara County$108,366
  8. Menlo ParkCity in San Mateo County$107,219
  9. Foster CityCity in San Mateo County$105,712
  10. SunnyvaleCity in Santa Clara County$105,472
  11. Los GatosCity in Santa Clara County$104,978
  12. San Ramon Valley Fire ProtectionFire protection district in Contra Costa County$104,716
  13. Santa Clara CountyCounty government$101,758
  14. AthertonCity in San Mateo County$101,633
  15. HillsboroughCity in San Mateo County$101,280
  16. Morgan HillCity in Santa Clara County$100,982
  17. FremontCity in Alameda County$100,956
  18. San JoseCity in Santa Clara County$98,564
  19. EmeryvilleCity in Alameda County$97,824
  20. South San FranciscoCity in San Mateo County$96,221
  21. San Mateo CountyCounty government$96,179
  22. MartinezCity in Contra Costa County$94,249
  23. OaklandCity in Alameda County$93,619
  24. San LeandroCity in Alameda County$92,100
  25. PleasantonCity in Alameda County$91,523

Where do California 911 dispatchers earn the most overtime?

Average overtime paid to full-year dispatchers in 2025. A few people with a lot of overtime can pull an employer's average up.

Highest average overtime

  1. Redondo BeachCity in Los Angeles County$88,429
  2. Orange County Fire AuthorityJoint powers authority in Orange County$86,750
  3. RichmondCity in Contra Costa County$78,827
  4. BurlingameCity in San Mateo County$68,985
  5. Marin CountyCounty government$64,833
  6. Mountain ViewCity in Santa Clara County$60,110
  7. Beverly HillsCity in Los Angeles County$54,419
  8. San Diego Unified Port DistrictPort district in San Diego County$54,348
  9. TorranceCity in Los Angeles County$53,347
  10. San MateoCity in San Mateo County$52,842
  11. San FranciscoCity in San Francisco County$50,964
  12. CovinaCity in Los Angeles County$49,085
  13. Santa MonicaCity in Los Angeles County$47,954
  14. Costa MesaCity in Orange County$47,651
  15. HaywardCity in Alameda County$47,526
  16. San Ramon Valley Fire ProtectionFire protection district in Contra Costa County$47,297
  17. Monterey CountyCounty government$45,976
  18. NapaCity in Napa County$45,853
  19. Alameda CountyCounty government$45,047
  20. Santa MariaCity in Santa Barbara County$44,766
  21. FremontCity in Alameda County$43,965
  22. SunnyvaleCity in Santa Clara County$43,316
  23. Laguna BeachCity in Orange County$43,000
  24. Contra Costa CountyCounty government$41,567
  25. South Bay Regional Public Communications AuthorityJoint powers authority in Los Angeles County$40,964

Do cities or counties pay 911 dispatchers more in California?

By the middle employer's average total pay: $124,933 for joint powers authorities (9 employers), $121,233 for cities (180 employers) and $103,837 for counties (44 employers). Of the 25 best-paying employers, 17 are cities, 5 counties and 1 a joint powers authority.

Joint powers authorities
$124,933
middle joint powers authority's average, of 9; 1 in the top 25
Cities
$121,233
middle city's average, of 180; 17 in the top 25
Counties
$103,837
middle county's average, of 44; 5 in the top 25

Which California counties pay 911 dispatchers the most?

Average total pay of full-year dispatchers across every employer in the county, for the 50 counties with at least 5 of them. The dashed line marks the California average of $126,540.

  1. San Francisco$192,456
  2. San Mateo$173,692
  3. Santa Clara$171,634
  4. Contra Costa$162,341
  5. Alameda$161,616
  6. Napa$158,688
  7. Marin$153,474
  8. Monterey$150,076
  9. Ventura$138,233
  10. Orange$137,560
  11. Solano$135,708
  12. Santa Barbara$134,413
  13. Sonoma$129,342
  14. Nevada$126,235
  15. San Joaquin$123,790
  16. Placer$122,567
  17. Los Angeles$120,924
  18. San Diego$119,104
  19. Riverside$116,888
  20. Shasta$116,505
  21. Sutter$115,536
  22. Stanislaus$113,705
  23. Amador$112,499
  24. Sacramento$111,499
  25. San Luis Obispo$111,414
  1. San Bernardino$111,413
  2. El Dorado$109,117
  3. Mendocino$104,096
  4. Yolo$102,437
  5. Butte$100,327
  6. Inyo$99,210
  7. Colusa$95,397
  8. Lake$93,005
  9. Yuba$92,458
  10. Kern$89,844
  11. Tulare$86,825
  12. Fresno$85,874
  13. Glenn$85,202
  14. Humboldt$82,921
  15. Tehama$82,498
  16. Madera$79,764
  17. Tuolumne$79,701
  18. Kings$79,515
  19. Merced$76,673
  20. Siskiyou$76,065
  21. Imperial$73,417
  22. Trinity$71,262
  23. Plumas$67,365
  24. Mariposa$59,360
  25. Modoc$57,616

The highest-paying employer for 911 dispatchers in each California county

By average total pay of full-year dispatchers, among the county's employers with at least 5 of them.

Questions about the highest 911 dispatcher salaries in California

Which California employer pays 911 dispatchers the most?

Mountain View, where full-year dispatchers earned an average of $217,978 in 2025, overtime included. San Ramon Valley Fire Protection ($211,550) and Richmond ($206,109) follow.

Where do new 911 dispatchers earn the most in California?

The highest starting salary, the bottom of the official range for the entry-level dispatcher title, is at Mountain View: $117,946. Colma ($116,750) and Milpitas ($114,890) follow.

Where do 911 dispatchers work the most overtime in California?

Full-year dispatchers at Redondo Beach were paid an average of $88,429 in overtime in 2025, the most of any California employer with at least 5 of them. The California average is $23,152.

Which California county pays 911 dispatchers the most?

San Francisco County, where full-year dispatchers across all employers earned an average of $192,456, followed by San Mateo County ($173,692) and Santa Clara County ($171,634).

Sources for the California 911 dispatcher rankings

Pay figures cover 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. Every figure covers at least 5 people. Starting salaries are the bottom of each employer's official range for its entry title, as reported. Rankings and medians are our own arithmetic on these figures.

  1. State Controller's Office, Government Compensation in California, 2025: positions, official pay ranges and wages as reported by each city, county and special district.

How we read the data