SOC 43-5032 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance — Chicago
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN · 7 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Chicago, IL comes to $58,900 a year, ahead of the national median of $50,340 by 17.0%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Chicago, IL comes to $58,900 a year, ahead of the national median of $50,340 by 17.0%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $47,620 and $73,160. The lowest tenth earn under $38,260, while the highest tenth earn more than $82,590.
Decatur leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $56,740. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 425th of 716 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,260 | −24.0% |
| 25th | $47,620 | −5.4% |
| Median (50th) | $58,900 | +17.0% |
| 75th | $73,160 | +45.3% |
| 90th | $82,590 | +64.1% |
| Mean | $60,100 | +19.4% |
Other metro areas in Illinois
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Decatur | $56,740 | 50 | |
| 2 | Champaign | $56,360 | 100 | |
| 3 | Springfield | $54,900 | 80 | |
| 4 | Rockford | $50,710 | 140 | |
| 5 | Bloomington | $50,360 | 50 | |
| 6 | Kankakee | $48,730 | 40 | |
| 7 | Peoria | $48,010 | 140 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Chicago sit close to the national average, so $58,900 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$58,900as reported by BLSLocal price level
100.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$58,900US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $58,900 a year, 17.0% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $38,260 to $82,590 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Decatur, at $56,740.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance in Chicago, IL?
The median annual wage is $58,900, or $28.32 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $50,340, so pay in Chicago, IL is 17.0% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Chicago, IL earns more than $82,590 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $38,260 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Decatur, at $56,740 per year.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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