Prevailing Wage for Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance

The prevailing wage for Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance covers roles from Aircraft Dispatcher to Charter Coordinator and City Dispatcher. DOL sets four experience-based wage levels for this occupation, and the floor varies significantly by worksite city, making location a key variable for any sponsored position.

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Level 1Entry
National median
$35K
$16.87/hr

Entry-level dispatchers with limited experience, typically in routine scheduling or single-mode transport coordination. Workers at this level follow established procedures with close supervision and have not yet developed independent judgment across complex dispatch scenarios.

Level 2Qualified
National median
$43K
$20.48/hr

Qualified dispatchers with one to three years of experience handling standard scheduling, routing, or crew coordination duties. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance, reflecting typical journey-level competency in the occupation.

Level 3Experienced
National median
$50K
$24.08/hr

Experienced dispatchers who independently manage complex operations, multi-location coordination, or specialized equipment scheduling. Workers at this level exercise independent judgment and may informally guide less experienced staff without holding a formal supervisory title.

Level 4Fully Competent
National median
$58K
$27.64/hr

Fully competent dispatchers in lead or senior roles, overseeing dispatch teams, setting operational procedures, or managing large-scale fleet and crew coordination. These workers typically set standards, handle escalations, and may have formal supervisory or training responsibilities.

Prevailing Wage for Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance by OES area

Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.

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$20K/yr$49K/yr

What’s an OES area?

The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.

Top 10 cities · Level 1

1
Longview, WA
Longview-Kelso, WA metro
$49K$23.46/hr
2
Mount Vernon, WA
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA metro
$48K$22.89/hr
3
Seattle, WA
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro
$47K$22.67/hr
4
San Jose, CA
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro
$46K$22.31/hr
5
Chicago, IL
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro
$46K$22.15/hr
6
Burlington, VT
Burlington-South Burlington, VT metro
$46K$22.10/hr
7
Minot, ND
Minot, ND metro
$46K$22.00/hr
8
Napa, CA
Napa, CA metro
$46K$21.88/hr
9
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro
$45K$21.54/hr
10
Portland, ME
Portland-South Portland, ME metro
$44K$21.27/hr

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Prevailing Wage Guide for Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance

Verify your worksite city before comparing wages

Dispatcher wages span a wide range across metro areas. Seattle, San Jose, and Chicago post significantly higher floors than Puerto Rico metros. The LCA must list your actual worksite, so comparing your offer against a distant city's floor can give a misleading picture of compliance.

Watch for title aliasing under logistics or trucking SOCs

Employers in freight, trucking, and paratransit sometimes file LCAs using logistics coordinator or transportation planner SOC codes instead of SOC 43-5032. If your actual duties match dispatch scheduling, a different SOC filing may set a floor that does not reflect your occupation's wage data.

Understand which pay components count toward the floor

Signing bonuses paid upfront and non-cash benefits do not count toward prevailing wage compliance for dispatchers. Only guaranteed, recurring wages in the LCA period count. Confirm your base salary alone clears the floor before factoring in any variable or one-time compensation.

Find employers with dispatch sponsorship history on Migrate Mate

Migrate Mate lists dispatcher roles from employers with verified visa sponsorship history, including H-1B and green card filings. Filtering by this occupation lets you see which companies have actually sponsored dispatch and scheduling roles before, narrowing your search to realistic targets.

Jobs for Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance are hiring across the US. Find yours.

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Prevailing Wage by Reported Job Title

DOL classifies these titles under SOC 43-5032.00 alongside Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.

Aircraft Dispatcher Prevailing Wage

Aircraft Dispatcher positions fall under SOC 43-5032.00 (Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.

Level 1
Entry
$35K
$16.87/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$43K
$20.48/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$50K
$24.08/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$58K
$27.64/hr

Charter Coordinator Prevailing Wage

When a U.S. employer sponsors a Charter Coordinator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 43-5032.00 (Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.

Level 1
Entry
$35K
$16.87/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$43K
$20.48/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$50K
$24.08/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$58K
$27.64/hr

City Dispatcher Prevailing Wage

City Dispatcher is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 43-5032.00 (Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.

Level 1
Entry
$35K
$16.87/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$43K
$20.48/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$50K
$24.08/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$58K
$27.64/hr

Dispatcher (Dispatch) Prevailing Wage

Dispatcher (Dispatch) positions fall under SOC 43-5032.00 (Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.

Level 1
Entry
$35K
$16.87/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$43K
$20.48/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$50K
$24.08/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$58K
$27.64/hr

Mine Dispatcher Prevailing Wage

When a U.S. employer sponsors a Mine Dispatcher for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 43-5032.00 (Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.

Level 1
Entry
$35K
$16.87/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$43K
$20.48/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$50K
$24.08/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$58K
$27.64/hr

Paratransit Dispatcher Prevailing Wage

Paratransit Dispatcher is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 43-5032.00 (Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.

Level 1
Entry
$35K
$16.87/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$43K
$20.48/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$50K
$24.08/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$58K
$27.64/hr

School Bus Dispatcher Prevailing Wage

School Bus Dispatcher positions fall under SOC 43-5032.00 (Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.

Level 1
Entry
$35K
$16.87/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$43K
$20.48/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$50K
$24.08/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$58K
$27.64/hr

Taxi Dispatcher Prevailing Wage

When a U.S. employer sponsors a Taxi Dispatcher for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 43-5032.00 (Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.

Level 1
Entry
$35K
$16.87/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$43K
$20.48/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$50K
$24.08/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$58K
$27.64/hr

Train Dispatcher Prevailing Wage

Train Dispatcher is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 43-5032.00 (Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.

Level 1
Entry
$35K
$16.87/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$43K
$20.48/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$50K
$24.08/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$58K
$27.64/hr

Truck Dispatcher Prevailing Wage

Truck Dispatcher positions fall under SOC 43-5032.00 (Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.

Level 1
Entry
$35K
$16.87/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$43K
$20.48/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$50K
$24.08/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$58K
$27.64/hr

Frequently Asked Questions

How does DOL set the prevailing wage for dispatchers?

DOL derives prevailing wages for this occupation from Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. OFLC publishes these figures by metropolitan area and assigns them to four wage levels based on experience and complexity. Employers sponsoring a dispatcher on an H-1B or similar visa must pay at least the level that matches the position's actual duties.

What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?

The four levels range from entry-level with close supervision (Level 1) to fully competent senior or lead roles (Level 4). Your level is determined by the position's actual duties, not your personal experience. Review the job description for indicators like independent judgment, multi-site coordination, or supervisory responsibilities, and compare those against DOL's level definitions. USCIS and OFLC both scrutinize whether the filed level matches the position's real scope.

Why does the prevailing wage for the same dispatcher role vary so much from city to city?

OFLC sets wages by metropolitan statistical area using regional Bureau of Labor Statistics survey data, so local labor market conditions drive the floor. A dispatcher in Seattle or San Jose is measured against a much higher local wage distribution than one in a Puerto Rico metro. The LCA rule requires the wage to reflect the actual worksite location, not the employer's headquarters, so a company based in a low-wage city cannot apply that area's floor to a role performed elsewhere.

What happens if an employer offers a salary below the prevailing wage for a sponsored dispatcher position?

OFLC will not certify an LCA where the offered wage falls below the prevailing wage floor for the worksite and level. Without a certified LCA, USCIS cannot approve the underlying H-1B or similar petition. If the shortfall is discovered after approval, DOL can pursue back-wage liability and employer sanctions. For the candidate, underpayment relative to the certified wage can jeopardize status maintenance and future petitions.

How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a dispatcher role in a specific U.S. city?

Use the OFLC Wage Search tool, which lets you enter a job title, SOC code (43-5032), and a metropolitan area to retrieve the current four-level wage table for that location. Cross-check the employer's LCA filing against the figure for the correct worksite city and wage level. You can also review the O*NET occupation profile for SOC 43-5032 to confirm the duties description matches how the position is classified.

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