Taxi Dispatcher Job Description, Career as a Taxi Dispatcher, Salary, Employment

Education and Training High school and on-the-job training

Salary Median—$30,920 per year

Employment Outlook Good

Definition and Nature of the Work

Taxi dispatchers, also called starters, send cabs off to customers and keep records of all road-service calls. They may stay in touch with the drivers while they are on the road, communicating by phone, computer, or two-way radio.

Dispatchers help drivers with problems and answer their questions. For example, they may tell drivers which routes to take to avoid traffic jams. When drivers are involved in accidents, dispatchers call for assistance and send other taxis to the customers.

Education and Training Requirements

Taxi dispatchers usually have high school diplomas or the equivalent. Applicants must be organized and have the ability to work well under pressure. Clerical or customer service experience can be valuable.

Some dispatchers start out as taxi drivers. Others first perform clerical work and then advance to dispatch positions. New workers get on-the-job training.

Getting the Job

Job seekers should apply directly to taxi companies. Newspaper classified ads and Internet job sites may list openings.

Advancement Possibilities and Employment Outlook

Advancement opportunities are limited. Some dispatchers move to supervisory or administrative positions or start their own taxi companies.

Employment of dispatchers is expected to grow as fast as the average for all occupations through 2014. Openings occur when experienced workers retire or leave the field.

Working Conditions

Dispatchers must work well under pressure and respond to emergencies quickly and efficiently. Some work in offices at taxi companies; others work in small booths at airports and other transport hubs. Dispatchers work in all kinds of weather.

Forty-hour workweeks are standard; however, when emergencies occur or the workload is particularly heavy, dispatchers may be required to put in extra hours. Night, weekend, and holiday work may be necessary.

Earnings and Benefits

Earnings vary, depending on experience and location. In 2004 the median salary of all taxi dispatchers was $30,920 per year. The most experienced workers earned more than $52,440 per year.

Benefits usually include paid vacations and holidays, life and health insurance, and retirement plans.