Emergency Services Dispatcher Trainee

FailSafe Communications; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Night shift premium

Job summary

The San Diego Sheriff’s Communications Center is seeking Emergency Services Dispatcher Trainees to answer 9-1-1 and non-emergency calls and dispatch deputies. The program, PRIORITY ONE, focuses on structured, mission-driven training to develop capable dispatchers who impact the community.

Starting pay is $39.32 per hour, with lateral eligibility for those with prior dispatcher experience. A night shift premium applies, and a future pay increase is planned for June 2027.

Qualifications

• Communicates calmly and confidently during life-changing moments.
• Leads callers with clarity, compassion, and professionalism.
• Takes accurate assessments and makes timely decisions.

Responsibilities

• Respond to 9-1-1 emergency and non-emergency calls.
• Dispatch deputies in the field and coordinate responders.
• Contribute to a structured training program and career growth within PRIORITY ONE.

Skills

Calm communication

Decision making

Public safety mindset

Customer service

Job description

The San Diego Sheriff’s Communications Center is dedicated to providing the highest standard of professional public safety service across more than 4,200 square miles of diverse communities—including 9 contract cities, 18 tribal reservations, and all unincorporated areas of San Diego County. We also support 7 detention facilities and all county court operations. When you join our team, you become a critical part of a mission that directly supports the safety of nearly every corner of the region.

Sheriff's Emergency Services Dispatcher Trainees, whose starting pay is $39.32 per hour, are trained to respond to 9-1-1 emergency and non-emergency calls and are responsible for dispatching deputies in the field. Our training program, known as PRIORITY ONE, is more than a series of academies; it is a structured, mission driven approach to training that develops confident, capable, and resilient Emergency Services Dispatchers. You won’t just learn the job; you’ll grow into a role where your voice, judgment, and composure make a real impact for the community.

The ideal candidate is able to

• Communicates calmly and confidently during lifechanging moments.
• Leads callers with clarity, compassion, and professionalism.
• Treats every member of the public with respect and care.
• Accurately assesses evolving situations.
• Makes sound, timely decisions.
• Prioritizes safety— both for the public and for deputies in the field.

If you’re already performing these duties at another agency, you’ll find a supportive, structured environment here that values your experience and helps you advance even further.

You can find additional information about us at joinsdsheriff.net/dispatcher

Candidates with one full year of dispatching experience at a Public Safety Answering Point within the last three years may be eligible to lateral as an Emergency Services Dispatcher.

Future Salary Increase

June 2027 – 5.53% increase to base pay (3% Across-the- Board + 2.53% Market Adj)

To Qualify You Must:

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Possess effective oral and written communication skills in English.
• Have no felony convictions (Misdemeanor convictions may be disqualifying depending on the number, recency, and severity).
• Be willing to work night shifts, holidays, and weekends (24-hour facility - Premium of $.80 per hour for night shift work).
• Must pass the CommsCoachHIRE assessment