911 - Telecommunicator (Dispatcher)

911 Telecommunicator

Salary Range: $30.32 - $42.11

Are you ready to be the calm voice that guides and reassures during times of crisis? If you possess empathy, resilience and the ability to stay calm under pressure, we invite you to apply for our opportunity as a 911 Telecommunicator. Starting pay is $30.32 per hour with the potential to earn $34.79 within the first year! We offer four competency-based merit increases during the training period. After you have achieved your first competency which typically takes 3 to 4 months, you will earn $31.38 per hour. Three additional 3.5% increases are then available throughout the training process. Training time varies, however once the training program is complete, you'll be making at least $34.79 per hour! No previous experience or college degree required! The start date for this position will be Wednesday, August 19, 2026. Please see the Job Description section to review the steps and schedule for this recruitment.

Lateral Transfer Benefits: Newly hired Telecommunicators who have at least three (3) years of full-time experience in a similar position and within the last twelve (12) month period are afforded a higher starting wage and accelerated vacation and sick time.

Employee well-being is promoted through a balanced work-life culture and a schedule allowing for three or four days off per week. Waukesha County also has exceptional employee wellness programs that offer a variety of programs and tools to help promote an employee's wellness and health, including contracted public safety focused mental health support, and a health & wellness clinic located on the County campus.

911 Telecommunicators receive and prioritize 9-1-1, 10-digit emergency and non-emergency telephone calls for service from the public and the agencies we serve. They process the information using a computer-aided-dispatch (CAD) system and dispatch appropriate emergency service agencies such as police, fire, and emergency medical units. We are more than a dispatch center; we are a lifeline to our community.

Telecommunicators are called upon to continuously update and monitor public safety responders in the field, and they also deliver quality, protocol-based instruction (medical/police/fire) when it is appropriate and possible. They are truly the "first" first responders to any reported emergency.

Working as a 911 Telecommunicator is both challenging and rewarding. Your work will have a profound impact on the lives of individuals in need, helping them navigate through the most difficult moments they may ever face. We are looking for gifted, caring people who, if selected, are provided the unique opportunity to go through our outstanding training program. Successful candidates should possess the desire to embrace this position as a career and should also have the willingness to grow as a professional in the public safety communications field.

Minimum Training & Experience Requirements 1. High School Diploma or GED.

In addition to the above, candidates must possess the physical and mental abilities to perform the essential job functions as listed in the Telecommunicator ADA Essential Functions Worksheet. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Special Requirements:

1. Subject to background investigation conducted by the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department which includes fingerprinting.

2. Must be able to pass pre-employment drug screen and hearing test.

3. Must be able to remain at a workstation for long periods of time.

4. Must be available to work any shift, including nights, weekends, holidays, during severe weather conditions and mandatory overtime to maintain minimum staffing levels.

5. All applicants, including those with felony convictions, must receive clearance to access the Federal and State Criminal Justice Information Systems and other required law enforcement systems and records.

6. Applicants must have access to reliable transportation to ensure punctuality and availability for scheduled and unscheduled shifts. This includes the ability to commute to our location promptly if called in to work.

7. Applicants must be able to type 40 words per minute.

Recruitment Process Information

All communication will be sent via email, please be sure to check your email or your Workday Candidate Home account regularly for updates and instructions for next steps.

If you meet the minimum requirements for this position, the following will be the schedule for this recruitment:

• If you are selected to continue in the recruitment process, you will be invited in to shadow a Telecommunicator (sit in) for 2 hours to experience the job first-hand. Sit in appointments will be first come, first served from May 28th - June 7th. Applicants who are not selected to continue will also be notified.

2. Those selected after the sit in will be invited for a 15-minute virtual interview on June 17, 2026.

3. Those selected after the virtual interview will be invited for a 30-45 minute in-person interview which will take place on June 24, 2026.

4. Final candidates will be subject to a background check conducted by the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department, as well as a physical and drug screen.

5. Those that are offered the positions will start employment on Wednesday August 19, 2026.

Waukesha County provides a comprehensive compensation and benefits package including excellent health/dental/vision, life insurance, generous paid time off (vacation, 10 holidays, 3 floating holidays, ample accrued sick time that rolls over each year), an exceptional pension plan with employer match and lifetime retirement payment plus an optional tax advantaged 457 retirement savings plan. Amongst many other benefits, employees are recognized and valued through a pay for performance system. Successful candidates will be eligible for performance-based merit increases and non-base performance awards. Employee well-being is promoted through a balanced work-life culture and through an exceptional employee wellness program that offers a variety of programs and tools to help promote an employee's wellness and health, including an on-site health & wellness clinic.

About Us: Waukesha County prides itself on operating in a business-like manner and is recognized as a leader delivering high quality services with competence and skill. With our vision of "Leading the Way", we value teamwork and collaboration, ethics and diversity, communication, efficiency and cost savings, innovation, and the wellbeing of our staff and the citizens we serve. Employees are provided professional development opportunities and encouragement to learn and practice continuous improvement and LEAN principles as we regularly ask ourselves "Is there a better way?"

Location: Located in the City of Waukesha, our campus offers an on-site fitness center, free parking, and easy access to interstate highway systems. Waukesha County offers a perfect blend of urban and rural living where one can enjoy the benefits of quiet rural lake communities or opt for nearby attractions that the greater Milwaukee area offers including vast beach and park systems, public markets, performing arts, music festivals, and sports including the Milwaukee Admirals, Brewers, Bucks, Wave, Marquette University Golden Eagles and the UW-Milwaukee Panthers Basketball programs.

EEO: Waukesha County is committed to equal opportunity and nondiscrimination in employment and adheres to all Federal, State and County Equal Employment Opportunity laws, policies, plans, rules, regulations and ordinances. The County recognizes and accepts its important leadership role in providing for equal employment/service opportunities. It is the express policy of Waukesha County to promote equal employment opportunity among all who are employed by Waukesha County and who seek employment with Waukesha County.

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The County does not sponsor applicants for work visas. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.