# How Much to Pay a Dispatcher at a Trades Company in 2026

Dispatchers (excluding police, fire and ambulance) earned a median $24.20 an hour, or $50,340 a year, in May 2025, according to BLS. At specialty trade contractors such as HVAC, plumbing and electrical shops, the median was $23.26. The bottom 10% earned under $17.32 nationally and the top 10% over $37.57.

## Key takeaways

- National median for SOC 43-5032: $24.20 an hour; the middle half earn $20.56–$30.02.
- Trades shops pay a little under the national figure: $23.26 at specialty trade contractors and $22.91 at building equipment contractors. Trucking ($27.41) pulls the national number up.
- State medians run from $21.12 (South Dakota) to $28.53 (Washington), a wider spread than the industry gap.
- With payroll taxes, workers' comp and illustrative benefits, a dispatcher at $23.26 costs about $65,429 a year.
- Dispatchers paid by the hour are generally owed overtime, and formula bonuses raise the overtime rate.

## How much do dispatchers make?

The national median wage for dispatchers outside emergency services was $24.20 an hour in May 2025. That comes from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for SOC 43-5032, which counts about 202,810 of them across trucking, utilities, delivery, transit, towing and the trades. The spread is wide: a dispatcher at the 90th percentile earns more than twice what one at the 10th percentile does.

**Dispatcher wages (except police, fire and ambulance), United States, May 2025**

| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 10th | $17.32 | $36,030 |
| 25th | $20.56 | $42,750 |
| Median | $24.20 | $50,340 |
| 75th | $30.02 | $62,450 |
| 90th | $37.57 | $78,140 |

_Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 43-5032, all industries. Annual figures assume 2,080 hours. Mean: $26.32 an hour._

## Do trades shops pay dispatchers less than trucking companies?

Yes, a little. BLS counts 17,050 dispatchers at specialty trade contractors, with a median of $23.26, about a dollar under the all-industry figure. Trucking companies employ twice as many dispatchers and pay a median of $27.41, which is why the national number runs higher than what most home service shops pay. If you're hiring someone with freight dispatch experience, expect them to ask for more.

**Dispatcher wages by industry, May 2025**

| Industry (NAICS) | Dispatchers | 10th pct. | Median | 90th pct. | Median annual |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All industries | 202,810 | $17.32 | $24.20 | $37.57 | $50,340 |
| Specialty trade contractors (238) | 17,050 | $17.78 | $23.26 | $34.72 | $48,390 |
| Building equipment contractors: HVAC, plumbing, electrical (2382) | 14,490 | $17.65 | $22.91 | $31.41 | $47,660 |
| Foundation, structure and exterior contractors (2381) | 680 | $19.22 | $28.63 | $47.69 | $59,550 |
| Services to buildings and dwellings: cleaning, pest, landscaping (5617) | 1,280 | $13.10 | $20.94 | $31.55 | $43,550 |
| Truck transportation (484) | 34,890 | $18.58 | $27.41 | $38.67 | $57,010 |

_Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, SOC 43-5032. Example trades in parentheses are ours._

## What do dispatchers earn in your state?

Location moves dispatcher pay more than industry does. Among states, medians range from $21.12 an hour in South Dakota to $28.53 in Washington, and Minnesota is close behind Washington. Use your state's median as the midpoint of your range and go higher in big metros, where you're competing with logistics companies for the same people.

**Dispatcher wages in selected states, May 2025**

| State | Dispatchers | 10th pct. | Median | 90th pct. | Median annual |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Washington | 4,920 | $21.18 | $28.53 | $42.31 | $59,330 |
| Minnesota | 2,760 | $18.95 | $28.47 | $39.59 | $59,220 |
| New York | 11,160 | $17.66 | $26.83 | $50.86 | $55,810 |
| Massachusetts | 3,510 | $20.41 | $26.77 | $40.46 | $55,690 |
| Colorado | 3,470 | $19.44 | $26.00 | $38.18 | $54,070 |
| California | 23,970 | $19.00 | $25.17 | $38.98 | $52,350 |
| Ohio | 5,720 | $17.09 | $24.19 | $36.74 | $50,320 |
| Pennsylvania | 6,670 | $17.35 | $24.02 | $36.63 | $49,960 |
| Georgia | 6,190 | $15.76 | $23.65 | $35.91 | $49,180 |
| North Carolina | 5,740 | $17.28 | $23.19 | $34.14 | $48,230 |
| Arizona | 5,690 | $18.01 | $23.02 | $33.12 | $47,880 |
| Texas | 23,920 | $15.45 | $22.75 | $35.94 | $47,320 |
| Florida | 12,550 | $17.00 | $22.06 | $33.41 | $45,880 |
| South Dakota | 860 | $14.67 | $21.12 | $26.88 | $43,920 |

_Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates, SOC 43-5032, all industries. Washington, D.C. (not shown) reported $34.74. State data isn't split by industry. Check state and local minimum wage rules as well._

## How should you structure dispatcher pay?

Pay an hourly wage and, if you add a bonus, tie it to what a dispatcher actually controls: how full and how efficient the technicians' days are. Paying on revenue rewards things the dispatcher can't influence, like a big replacement sale. Paying on completed jobs per tech-day or on a low rate of rescheduled jobs points them at good routing and tight communication.

**Dispatcher pay structures that trades shops use**

| Structure | What it rewards | Risk to watch |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Straight hourly | Steady coverage and calm under pressure | No link to how well the board runs |
| Hourly + jobs-per-tech-day bonus | Tight routing and fewer empty gaps | Dispatcher may cram the schedule and make techs late |
| Hourly + low-reschedule bonus | Clear customer communication and realistic windows | Needs a consistent definition of a reschedule |
| Hourly + on-call stipend | Covering after-hours emergency routing | Hours worked on call can count as hours worked; track them |
| Salary for a dispatch manager | Running a team of dispatchers and CSRs | Must meet both the salary and duties tests to be exempt |

> **Illustrative dispatcher bonus (not a benchmark)**
>
> A six-tech shop sets a target of 3.2 completed jobs per tech per day. In a 21-day month the board averages 3.5, which is about 38 extra completed jobs.
>
> At $1.50 per extra job, the dispatcher earns a $57 bonus on top of a $23 base.
>
> Because the bonus follows a formula, it's nondiscretionary under the Fair Labor Standards Act: it has to be folded into the regular rate when you work out overtime for the weeks it covers.

## Is a dispatcher exempt from overtime?

Usually not. An hourly dispatcher is generally non-exempt, so the FLSA requires time and a half for hours over 40 in a workweek. A salaried dispatch manager can be exempt only if they meet the salary level and the duties test, such as managing a department and regularly directing at least two full-time employees; the DOL fact sheet lists a $684-a-week salary level. On-call rules matter too: if a dispatcher has to stay near the phone and can't use the time freely, those hours may count as work. State law can be stricter. This is general information, not legal advice; check the DOL pages linked below and your state labor department.

## What does a dispatcher really cost?

On top of the wage, you'll pay employer payroll taxes, state unemployment, workers' comp, benefits and the tools: a second monitor, scheduling software seat, phone line and maybe a GPS fleet subscription. Busy-season overtime adds more. The example below runs the specialty-trade median through the [payroll cost calculator](https://www.brix.so/tools/payroll-cost-calculator) with 2 hours of overtime a week, averaged over the year.

> **Total cost of a dispatcher at the trade-contractor median (illustrative inputs)**
>
> Wages: $23.26 an hour, 40 regular hours plus 2 overtime hours a week = $52,009 a year.
>
> Employer payroll taxes, including 2.7% state unemployment on $9,000: $4,264.
>
> Workers' comp at an illustrative $0.30 per $100 of payroll: $156. Benefits at $500 a month: $6,000. Software, phone, monitors and training: $3,000.
>
> Total: **$65,429 a year**, about $5,452 a month, 26% above wages.

Interactive calculator: https://www.brix.so/tools/payroll-cost-calculator

What has to happen for that to pay off? With six technicians, even a small gain in [technician utilization](https://www.brix.so/learn/technician-utilization) covers a lot. One extra completed job per tech per week at a $350 average ticket is $2,100 a week, more than the dispatcher's cost of about $1,258 a week. The [technician utilization calculator](https://www.brix.so/tools/technician-utilization-calculator) shows where your board stands today.

## What should you automate before you hire a dispatcher?

Automate the parts of dispatch that follow rules, and hire a person for the parts that need judgment. Software is good at proposing which tech fits a job by skill and location, sending on-the-way texts, confirming tomorrow's appointments and answering the 7 p.m. call. A person is better at reading a tech's mood at 3 p.m., deciding which customer can wait when an emergency hits, and smoothing over a missed window.

**Dispatch tasks: software or person?**

| Task | Software first? | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Matching jobs to techs by skill, area and availability | Yes, with a person approving | A good suggestion saves most of the clicking |
| Appointment confirmations and on-the-way texts | Yes | Same message every time |
| After-hours call answering and emergency intake | Yes | Route true emergencies to the on-call tech |
| Re-shuffling the day when a job runs long | Person | Trade-offs between customers need judgment |
| Handling an upset customer about a missed window | Person | Needs authority to make it right |
| Parts runs, supply-house coordination | Person | Too many exceptions |

BRIX assigns jobs to the right tech based on skills, location and availability, and its AI receptionist answers and books calls around the clock. Owners with a handful of trucks often run the board themselves with that help and hire a dispatcher once the day's exceptions, not the routine, take up their time.

- [Scheduling and dispatch](https://www.brix.so/features/scheduling-dispatch): Assigns the right crew to the right job based on skills, location and availability.
- [AI receptionist](https://www.brix.so/features/ai-receptionist): Answers every call 24/7, qualifies the caller, books the job and texts back anyone it misses.

## Ready to hire?

Start with the [dispatcher job description](https://www.brix.so/hiring/dispatcher/job-description), read [when to hire a dispatcher](https://www.brix.so/hiring/dispatcher), and brush up on [how dispatching works](https://www.brix.so/learn/dispatching). If the role will also answer phones, compare with [CSR pay](https://www.brix.so/hiring/customer-service-representative/pay), since many small shops combine the two.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much should I pay a dispatcher at an HVAC or plumbing company?

Anchor to your state's median and adjust for experience. BLS puts the May 2025 median for dispatchers at building equipment contractors, the HVAC, plumbing and electrical industry group, at $22.91 an hour, and $24.20 across all industries. Pay toward the 75th percentile ($30.02) for someone who can run a large board alone.

### Why is the national dispatcher wage higher than what trades shops pay?

Because the national figure includes trucking, utilities and logistics. Trucking employs 34,890 dispatchers at a median of $27.41, and gas utilities pay far more. Specialty trade contractors employ 17,050 at $23.26, so compare against the trade figure and your state.

### Should a dispatcher get a bonus?

A modest bonus works if it's tied to what the dispatcher controls, such as completed jobs per tech-day or a low reschedule rate. Avoid revenue-based bonuses, which mostly reward sales the dispatcher didn't make. Under the FLSA, formula bonuses count toward the regular rate for overtime.

### Do dispatchers get paid overtime?

Hourly dispatchers are generally non-exempt and owed time and a half for hours over 40 in a workweek. A salaried dispatch manager can be exempt only if both the salary level and duties tests are met. Check DOL guidance and your state's rules, which can be stricter than federal law.

### What does a dispatcher cost per year in total?

In our illustrative example, a dispatcher paid $23.26 an hour with 2 hours of weekly overtime costs about $65,429 a year once payroll taxes, workers' comp, benefits and software are added. Put your own rates into the payroll cost calculator for a real number.

### When can software replace a dispatcher?

For a small shop, scheduling software and an AI receptionist can handle routine booking, tech matching and customer notices, leaving the owner to manage exceptions. As the team grows, exceptions multiply and a person earns their pay by keeping the day on track. Most shops use both.

## Related

- [Hiring a Dispatcher: When You Need One and How to Pick the Right Person](https://www.brix.so/hiring/dispatcher)
- [Dispatcher Job Description for HVAC, Plumbing and Electrical Companies](https://www.brix.so/hiring/dispatcher/job-description)
- [What Is Dispatching?](https://www.brix.so/learn/dispatching)
- [What Is Technician Utilization?](https://www.brix.so/learn/technician-utilization)
- [Technician Utilization Calculator](https://www.brix.so/tools/technician-utilization-calculator)
- [True Cost of an Employee Calculator for Trades Businesses](https://www.brix.so/tools/payroll-cost-calculator)
- [How Much to Pay a Customer Service Representative in 2026](https://www.brix.so/hiring/customer-service-representative/pay)
- [How Much to Pay an Office Manager at a Trades Company in 2026](https://www.brix.so/hiring/office-manager/pay)
- [Scheduling and Dispatch Software That Puts the Right Crew on Every Job](https://www.brix.so/features/scheduling-dispatch)
- [How to Hire Technicians and Build a Pay Plan That Works](https://www.brix.so/guides/hire-and-pay-technicians)

## Sources

- [BLS OEWS May 2025: Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance (43-5032), national estimates](https://data.bls.gov/oes/#/occupation/435032/2025) (checked 2026-10-24)
- [BLS OEWS May 2025: Specialty Trade Contractors (NAICS 238000) occupational estimates](https://data.bls.gov/oes/#/industry/238000/2025) (checked 2026-10-24)
- [BLS OEWS May 2025: National industry-specific occupational estimates](https://www.bls.gov/oes/2025/may/oessrci.htm) (checked 2026-10-24)
- [BLS OEWS May 2025: State occupational employment and wage estimates](https://www.bls.gov/oes/2025/may/oessrcst.htm) (checked 2026-10-24)
- [BLS OEWS data tables and downloads (national, industry and state files, May 2025)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm) (checked 2026-10-24)
- [U.S. Department of Labor: Overtime pay (FLSA)](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/overtime) (checked 2026-10-24)
- [U.S. Department of Labor: Fact Sheet #56C, Bonuses under the FLSA](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/56c-bonuses) (checked 2026-10-24)
- [U.S. Department of Labor: Fact Sheet #17A, Exemption for executive, administrative and professional employees](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/17a-overtime) (checked 2026-10-24)
- [U.S. Department of Labor: Fact Sheet #22, Hours worked under the FLSA (on-call time)](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/22-flsa-hours-worked) (checked 2026-10-24)
- [IRS Publication 15 (Circular E), Employer's Tax Guide, for use in 2026](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p15.pdf) (checked 2026-10-24)

Talk to BRIX: call or text (518) 588-1122, email eeharris2004@gmail.com, or book a 15-minute call at https://cal.com/ethanharris/15min.

---
Written by BRIX Editorial Team. Last updated 2026-10-24.
Canonical: https://www.brix.so/hiring/dispatcher/pay