The posting
Hiring Range: $27.09 - $39.36/hr. - depending on public safety communications experience and qualifications
Job Posting Closing on: Friday, November 13, 2026 📅
$2,000 Sign-On Incentive
50% paid after the completion of first pay period, 50% paid after the completion of 6 months of employment.
Competitive Lateral Compensation opportunities are available for
experienced public safety communicators
Workdays & Hours: This position supports a 24/7 public safety operation, which will require working irregular business hours, including overnights, weekends, holidays and mandatory overtime. Workday and hours will be assigned based on the needs of the department. Must be able to activate for 24/7 emergency response as needed.
Benefits for this position include: 11 Paid Holidays, Medical, Dental, Vision, Paid Time Off, Pension Plan, Professional Development Opportunities. Find Out More!
Shift Differential Pay: $0.75/hour for second shift; $1.50/hour for third shifts
Language Pay: $100/month; requires proficiency verification and job-related use.
TCOLE Certification Pay: $60/month for Advanced & $120/month for Masters
The City of Fort Worth is one of the fastest growing large cities in the U.S. Our employees serve the needs of over 1,000,000 residents, promoting our values of exceptional customer experience, mutual respect, embracing our diversity, continuous improvement, ethical behavior, and accountability. 🌆
The City of Fort Worth’s Emergency Management & Communications Department is seeking individuals who want to make a difference in their community through a career in 9-1-1. Whether you’re ready to begin a new career or are an experienced Public Safety Communicator looking for your next opportunity, there’s a place for you on the Fort Worth Emergency Communications Center (ECC) team.
Public Safety Communicators are the vital link between the community and emergency field responders. Working in a fast-paced, 24/7 Emergency Communications Center, they answer the call for help, assess and prioritize emergency and non-emergency requests, and coordinate the appropriate public safety response. Their work requires sound judgment, adaptability, teamwork, and a commitment to serving others when it matters most.
Our career progression offers opportunities for candidates at different stages of their careers. New to 9-1-1? Start as a Public Safety Communicator I and receive the training and support needed to develop the skills and confidence to succeed. Already have experience? Bring your knowledge and expertise to Fort Worth, with opportunities for placement at a higher level based on applicable licenses, certifications, training, demonstrated competencies, and relevant public safety communications experience.
Why Fort Worth? Build a career with purpose in one of the nation’s fastest-growing cities. Join a team committed to strengthening emergency communications, supporting first responders, and delivering critical services to the community. As Fort Worth continues to grow, you’ll have the opportunity to grow with us, contribute your strengths, and help shape a forward-thinking emergency communications program built for the future.
Whether you’re taking your first step into 9-1-1 or bringing years of experience, your next chapter can start in Fort Worth.
Minimum Qualifications for Public Safety Communicator I:
- Possess a high school diploma or high school equivalency certificate (GED)
- Pass a drug screening
- Pass an examination by a psychologist, licensed by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists or by a psychiatrist licensed by the Texas Medical Board
- Must meet TCOLE & CJIS requirements
Public Safety Communicator I job responsibilities:
- Responds to, prioritizes and facilitates emergency and non-emergency requests for public safety assistance; utilizing established procedures and guidelines
- Utilizes E911/NG911 telephony, texting, video, alerting and TDD/TTY/RTT systems to communicate with the community, to include deaf and hearing-impaired individuals
- Utilizes computers, computer-aided dispatch systems (CAD), and other public safety technologies to process public safety requests and maintain situational awareness for public safety responders
- Asks questions to interpret, analyze and resolve problems, provide information and make quick and/or emergent decisions, in the best interest of the public, fellow first responders, and the City, using limited, incomplete, or rapidly changing information
- Conducts structured interviews to obtain, verify, and assess critical information regarding the nature, location, and circumstances of an incident to determine appropriate response and resource needs
- Determines, verifies, and documents caller and incident location information using available location technologies, mapping systems, and caller-provided information
- Provides pre-arrival, lifesaving, and emergency instruction to the community and fellow first responders, during crisis or emergency
- Maintains situational awareness and continuously updates incident information while simultaneously communicating with callers, providing instructions, documenting information, and utilizing multiple public safety systems
- Maintains public safety communications operations during high-volume events, emergencies, disasters, and other critical incidents
Minimum Qualifications for Public Safety Communicator II:
- High school diploma/GED
- Public Safety Communicator I qualifications, plus:
- One (1) year of public safety call taking/dispatch experience
- Must have successfully completed Police Dispatch training at time of job offer
Public Safety Communicator II job responsibilities:
- Performs the duties of a Public Safety Communicator I or II, as assigned, based on operational needs, demonstrated skill, training, and Department requirements
- Evaluates incident information to determine appropriate priorities, responses, and resource needs; dispatches, assigns, and coordinates police personnel and resources using CAD, radio, mapping, and other public safety technologies
- Maintains continuous communications with field personnel; monitors the status, location, and activity of assigned resources; and communicates critical information, changing conditions, emerging threats, and requests for additional assistance to support effective incident response and officer safety
- Maintains situational awareness of multiple active incidents and public safety operations while monitoring radio traffic, CAD activity, telephone communications, and other information sources
- Accesses and disseminates authorized criminal justice, public safety, geographic, and incident-related information, including information obtained through TLETS, TCIC, NCIC, and other authorized systems, in accordance with applicable policies and security requirements
- Coordinates communications and resources during critical incidents, high-risk events, emergencies, disasters, and other situations requiring an elevated public safety response
- Maintains accurate, timely, and complete incident documentation and communicates clearly, calmly, and professionally with police personnel, public safety partners, other agencies, and members of the community.
Minimum Qualifications for Public Safety Communicator III:
- High school diploma/GED
- Public Safety Communicator I + II qualifications, plus:
- Two (2) years of public safety dispatch experience
- Active Texas Crime Information Center (TCIC) full access certification
- Communications Training Officer (CTO) certification
Public Safety Communicator III job responsibilities:
- Perform Public Safety Communicator I, II, or III duties as assigned based on operational needs, training, qualifications, and Department requirements
- Performs TCIC, NCIC, and CJIS functions to obtain, verify, document, disseminate, and validate authorized criminal justice and public safety information
- Processes and maintains criminal justice and public safety records in compliance with applicable laws, policies, procedures, and security requirements, ensuring confidentiality, accuracy, and authorized access
- Coordinates information, resources, notifications, and operational support during routine operations, critical incidents, emergencies, disasters, and major events.
Preferred Qualifications for all Public Safety Communicator positions:
- Recently employed and working within an Emergency Communications Center (ECC)
- Three (3) years of ECC-centric experience
- Active Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) Telecommunicator License
Working Conditions and Physical Demands
Depending on assignment, positions in this class typically require touching, talking, hearing, seeing, grasping, standing, walking and repetitive motions.
Sedentary Work – Depending on assignment, positions in this class typically exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, a negligible amount of force frequently, and/or or constantly having to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.
Work requires prolonged sitting, repetitive keyboard use, viewing multiple monitors and operating various public safety technology systems. The position requires sustained decision-making multitasking and effective performance under significant time pressure.
Must be available to work regular and irregular shift rotations, which may include weekends and holidays, as well as extended hours in emergencies, disaster or other situations influenced by workload or staffing difficulties.
Public Safety Communicators are routinely exposed to traumatic, distressing and emotionally intense situations and must maintain composure, empathy, accuracy and professionalism in the performance of their duties.
Criminal Justice Information Systems (CJIS) Background Check
Final candidates selected for hire in the Emergency Management & Communications Department will be subject to a fingerprint/criminal history background check. Applicants must not have used marijuana within the last twelve (12) months, nor illegally used any controlled substances within the last five (5) years.
Applicants for this position must pass a Criminal Justice Information Systems (CJIS) fingerprint-based background check and maintain CJIS eligibility. Due to CJIS requirements related to system access, the following will result in being disqualified for this position: Felony Convictions, Felony Deferred Adjudication, Class A Misdemeanor Conviction, Class B Misdemeanor Convictions in the last 10 years, Class A Misdemeanor Deferred Adjudication, Class B Misdemeanor Deferred Adjudication in the last 10 years, an Open Arrest for Any Criminal Offense (Felony or Misdemeanor), and ALL Family Violence Convictions regardless of class.
Apply Now! Come be part of something special in Fort Worth. 🌟
Conditions of Employment
The City of Fort Worth is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. It is the policy and practice of the City to recruit, hire, train and promote a diverse workforce without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, parental status, military service, or another non-merit factor.
The City of Fort Worth is committed to full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to participate in the job application or interview process and to perform essential job functions.
Candidates who do not meet the Education requirement, may be considered if they have more relevant work experience than the position requires. Those selected for employment will be required to pass Pre-Employment checks depending on the position requirements. Those could include, but are not limited to: criminal background check, drug screen, education verification, etc. criminal convictions will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Employees are paid by direct deposit only.
