Salaries › Dispatcher › California
Dispatcher Salary in California (2026)
$25.17 per hour · take-home ≈ $42,900/year ($3,575/month) for a single filer
California ranks 18th of 51 states for Dispatcher pay, with a median about 4% above the national average. Of the 23,970 Dispatcher jobs BLS counts in California, the typical worker earns $52,350 a year — though pay ranges from $39,520 for newcomers to $81,070 at the top.
Dispatcher pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $39,520 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $46,120 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $52,350 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $63,160 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $81,070 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 23,970 Dispatcher jobs in California (occupation code 43-5032, “Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median Dispatcher salary of $52,350 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus California state income tax, a single filer keeps about $42,900 — an effective tax rate of 18.1%.
| Gross (median) | $52,350 |
| Federal income tax | −$4,102 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$4,005 |
| California state income tax | −$1,343 |
| Take-home (annual) | $42,900 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,575 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Dispatcher make in California?
- The median Dispatcher salary in California is $52,350 per year ($25.17 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $46,120 and $63,160.
- What is the take-home pay for a Dispatcher in California?
- On the median salary of $52,350, a single filer in California takes home about $42,900 per year ($3,575 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 18.1%.
- How many Dispatcher jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 23,970 Dispatcher jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Dispatchers
Other salaries in California
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified California state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for California.