Mid-Level

Dispatch Clerk

At a transportation or services dispatch operation, you handle the clerical work that supports dispatchers โ€” taking customer calls, logging requests, preparing dispatch tickets, supporting the dispatcher with documentation and post-job paperwork.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
C
R
E
S
I
A
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Realistichands-on, practical
Based on Holland Code framework
Job markets for Dispatch Clerks
Employment concentration ยท ~379 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
What it's like

What it's like to be a Dispatch Clerk

Phone calls, dispatch tickets, and the steady cadence of customer-service work shape the rhythm โ€” you'll often field inbound requests, capture details, enter the work into the dispatch system, and prepare the documentation that follows completed jobs. Calls handled, dispatch accuracy, and customer-service quality shape the visible measures.

What gets uncomfortable is the inbound-call pressure โ€” customers calling dispatch operations often need help urgently (broken-down vehicles, late deliveries, service outages), and the clerk absorbs the front-line emotional load. Variance across employers is wide: large transportation and field-service operations run with specialized dispatch-clerk roles; smaller operations blend the work with general dispatch.

This work tends to suit folks who carry calm phone presence, document discipline, and the patience for high-volume customer interaction. Dispatcher credentials and growing exposure to dispatch software anchor advancement. The trade-off is modest pay for high-emotional-load work and the shift-coverage expectations that 24/7 dispatch operations impose.

SupportModerate
IndependenceModerate
Working ConditionsModerate
AchievementLower
RelationshipsLower
RecognitionLower
O*NET Work Values survey
โœฆ Editorial โ€” written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape โ€” and where it can take you.

$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Dispatch Clerks (SOC 43-5032.00), not just this title ยท BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Exploring the Dispatch Clerk career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit โ€” and plan your path forward.
Explore career tools
โœฆ Editorial โ€” career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape โ€” helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$35Kโ€“$76K
Salary Range
10th โ€“ 90th percentile
211K
U.S. Employment
-0.9%
10yr Growth
19K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$64K$61K$59K$56K$53K201920202021202220232024$53K$64K
BLS OEWS May 2024 ยท BLS Employment Projections 2024โ€“2034

Skills & Requirements

SpeakingActive ListeningCoordinationMonitoringReading ComprehensionTime ManagementSocial PerceptivenessWritingComplex Problem SolvingCritical Thinking
O*NET OnLine ยท Bureau of Labor Statistics
43-5032.00

Navigate your career with clarity

Truest gives you tools to understand your strengths, explore roles that fit, and plan your next move.

Explore Truest career tools
Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) ยท BLS Employment Projections ยท O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.