Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance Salary in Washington, DC
Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $57,160 a year — 14% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $45,839 take-home, or $3,820 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,679
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,544
- Medicare (1.45%)$829
- District of Columbia income tax$2,269
- Take-home pay$45,839
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.50% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance pay by experience in Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,260 | $20.32 | $34,766 | $2,897 |
| 25th percentile | $47,950 | $23.05 | $38,997 | $3,250 |
| Median (50th) | $57,160 | $27.48 | $45,839 | $3,820 |
| 75th percentile | $69,160 | $33.25 | $54,435 | $4,536 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $83,050 | $39.93 | $63,165 | $5,264 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $57,160 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance's $45,839 take-home pay has the buying power of $42,099 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance jobs are about as common in Washington, DC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.87).
Best-paying cities for dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #2 of 13 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $59,340 | $49,860 | $44,865 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $57,160 | $45,839 | $42,099 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $48,550 | $41,190 | $41,762 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $56,560 | $45,018 | $41,581 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $58,180 | $46,383 | $41,206 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $51,170 | $41,724 | $40,685 |
| 7 | San Francisco, CA | $58,610 | $46,945 | $40,605 |
| 8 | Riverside, CA | $52,000 | $42,117 | $39,568 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 13 metros →
About the job: dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance
Schedule and dispatch workers, work crews, equipment, or service vehicles for conveyance of materials, freight, or passengers, or for normal installation, service, or emergency repairs rendered outside the place of business. Duties may include using radio, telephone, or computer to transmit assignments and compiling statistics and reports on work progress.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -0.7% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance make in Washington, DC?
The median dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $57,160 a year, or about $27.48 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,950 and $69,160.
What is a dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $57,160 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $45,839 a year ($3,820 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,269 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance?
Pay here is 14% above the national median of $50,340. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $42,099 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #2 of 13 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance afford rent in Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 52% of a median dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Washington, DC
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- Postal Service Mail Carrier — $64,250
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- Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks — $60,990
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- Billing and Posting Clerk — $55,920
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