Communication Dispatcher (Entry Level)
City of Milpitas Milpitas, California, United States
- Location: Milpitas, California, United States
- Categories: Dispatch and Telecommunications
- Job Type: Full Time
- Posted: Aug 20, 2025
Job Description:
Communication Dispatcher (Entry Level)
Description
Definition***THIS RECRUITMENT IS OPEN UNTIL FILLED, AND MAY CLOSE AT ANY TIME.
For First Consideration Apply by TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2025. ***
Base Salary: $111,543.64 - $135,579.86 Annually
Dispatchers receive 6% Holiday In-lieu pay
In addition, Dispatchers are eligible to receive the following additional pay:
- Up to 5% Night Differential
- 5% Tactical Dispatcher Pay
(Range includes holiday in-lieu pay only)
The Department
The Police Department is committed to protecting lives and property by working with our community and providing professional and responsive police services. Our Communications Center serves as the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for accessing police, fire, and medical services within the City of Milpitas and is staffed 24-hours a day, 365 days a year, providing the highest quality of service to a population of over 80,000. Working with us is an opportunity to join a tight-knit group of professionals dedicated to public safety.
The Position
The Milpitas Police Department seeks committed and compassionate candidates with strong multi-tasking skills to join an amazing team. You will be at the heart of our operations, orchestrating the movement of resources and working with a diverse team that includes dispatchers and dispatcher supervisors.
Why Milpitas?
Located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay, Milpitas is a progressive community that is an integral part of Silicon Valley. As a full-service city of 452 full-time employees with water utility, sewer utility, police and fire services, Milpitas serves a diverse population of nearly 80,000.
Milpitas is the eighth-fastest growing city in the United States according to the US Census, and the second fastest in California. The homeownership rate is close to 70%, and the Milpitas housing market remains relatively affordable in Santa Clara County. Milpitas is often called the "Crossroads of Silicon Valley" with most of its 13.63 square miles of land situated between two major freeways (I-880 and I-680), Route 237, and a County expressway.
The City Government
Incorporated in 1954, the City of Milpitas is a bustling general-law city supervised by a council-manager form of government. Milpitas is a full-service city that includes Police, Fire, and a water utility and sewer utility. The Council makes planning and policy decisions for residents, and oversees the City’s $253.2 million budget. Issues currently challenging the City include development, quality of life, and traffic.
We encourage you to check us out at: https://www.milpitas.gov/
Examples of Duties
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Receive emergency and non-emergency calls from the public requesting police, fire, or other emergency service. Determine the nature and location of the incident, determine priority, and dispatch units as necessary and in accordance with established procedures.
- Maintain contact with all units on assignment; maintain accurate status and location of police field units and fire units.
- Prioritize and coordinate emergency calls and relay information and assistance requests involving other law enforcement agencies.
- Enter, update, and retrieve information from various databases relating to wanted persons, stolen property, vehicle registration, stolen vehicles and other information.
- Quickly evaluate emergency situations and develop logical working solutions.
Typical Qualifications
EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION
Any combination of experience and/or education that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
Education: Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION
All of the following must be attached to your submission for consideration:
- Copy of typing certification with 35 wpm, completed with one year of application submission.
- Typing Certificates must be obtained from an employment center or adult education center. Online typing certificates will not be accepted.
- Copy of California POST Entry-Level Dispatcher Selection Test Battery with a T-Score of 50 or above OR copy of the successful completion of the Criticall test
For information regarding the California POST Entry-Level Dispatcher Selection Test Battery visit https://post.ca.gov/public-safety-dispatcher-entry-level-test-Battery-Applicant-FAQs
**Please note: Failure to submit all documents will result in disqualification from the application process.**
SELECTION PROCESS
Applicants whose qualifications best meet our current needs will be invited to participate in the selection process that will consist of an oral board interview, polygraph test, background investigation, psychological exam, and medical exam . Meeting the minimum requirements listed in this job description does not guarantee advancement in subsequent phases of the selection process.
Please note: This position requires shift work, depending on the operational needs of the department.
Supplemental Information
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Milpitas will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the Human Resources Department.
The City of Milpitas is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
City of Milpitas Benefits Page: Benefits | Milpitas, CA
*For Police Officer and Communications Dispatcher Benefits, visit: Join Our Team | Milpitas, CA
Closing Date/Time: Continuous