Tampa Emergency Dispatchers To Get 4 Percent Pay Increase

TAMPA, FL — City of Tampa leaders announced a surprise holiday weekend gift for their 911 dispatchers: A pay raise of at least 4 percent.

“Public safety emergencies begin with calls for service, and our dispatchers do an amazing job for our community. They are like conductors of an orchestra, directing and coordinating so much when lives are at stake,” said Tampa Mayor Jane Castor. “This is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, so we wanted to show our outstanding dispatchers and other public safety support staff our gratitude and to ensure that Tampa’s compensation is competitive.”

The mayor, Police Chief Mary O’Connor, Fire Chief Barbara Tripp, Chief of Staff John Bennett and other leaders surprised dispatchers Thursday afternoon with the announcement.

The raises apply to about 130 city employees, and will cost about $500,000. Every dispatcher will see a pay increase of at least 4 percent and advance two pay grades.

“The fine women and men answering Tampa’s 911 calls literally save lives, and this well-deserved raise reflects how much we value them, because they are our first point of contact during a crisis,” said Tampa City Council member Joseph Citro, chairman of the council’s Public Safety Committee.

“Our telecommunicators are the first line of communication from the community to our first responders," said Tripp. "We want to thank these men and women for doing an outstanding job protecting and communicating with the citizens as well as our first responders.”

O’Connor said the higher pay is well-deserved, and she hopes it will spur more people to consider working with Tampa’s 911 team.

“It’s a rewarding and crucial job,” she said. “The Tampa Police Department could not excel the way it does without our outstanding dispatchers.”

Those interested in becoming a dispatch can click here.