What is the best state to be a dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance?

By the Gera US Real Pay Index, North Dakota is the best state for a dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance: a BLS median of $57,580 is worth $64,726 after the 2025 state income tax ($0) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 89.0), an index of 126.2 where the average state is 100.

Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?

Not necessarily. District of Columbia has the highest headline BLS median for a dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance at $72,260, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #2 of 51 on real pay (index 122.3). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance

Best States to Be a Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance

After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance salary goes furthest in North Dakota — a $57,580 BLS median worth $64,726 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 126.2).

Which US states are best for a dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance after cost of living and tax?

For a dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks North Dakota #1: a $57,580 BLS median becomes $64,726 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 126.2). Florida ranks last ($44,365, index 86.5). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 51 states; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

North Dakota ranks #1 of 51 states for a dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance. Index 100 = the average state; 126.2 means pay goes 26.2% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

126.2

Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance — real pay by state (best first)

#	State	BLS median	State tax	Cost (RPP)	Real pay	Index
1	North Dakota	$57,580	—	89.0	$64,726	126.2
2	District of Columbia	$72,260	$3,322	109.9	$62,727	122.3
3	Nebraska	$53,880	$1,706	90.1	$57,905	112.9
4	Minnesota	$59,220	$2,538	98.6	$57,474	112.1
5	Vermont	$56,360	$1,469	98.0	$56,035	109.3
6	Washington	$59,330	—	107.0	$55,442	108.1
7	Alaska	$56,730	—	102.4	$55,423	108.1
8	Missouri	$51,410	$1,535	90.8	$54,918	107.1
9	Delaware	$57,170	$2,496	99.8	$54,779	106.8
10	Maine	$55,150	$2,108	97.0	$54,654	106.6
11	Illinois	$57,240	$2,692	100.0	$54,571	106.4
12	Tennessee	$49,660	—	91.9	$54,055	105.4
13	Wisconsin	$52,350	$1,622	94.1	$53,911	105.2
14	Ohio	$50,320	$601	92.8	$53,591	104.5
15	Kentucky	$49,990	$1,869	90.2	$53,374	104.1
16	Wyoming	$48,690	—	92.7	$52,529	102.5
17	Alabama	$48,790	$2,175	88.8	$52,481	102.4
18	Arkansas	$47,130	$1,630	86.9	$52,337	102.1
19	Louisiana	$47,050	$1,037	88.2	$52,165	101.7
20	Indiana	$50,060	$1,472	93.3	$52,061	101.5
21	Iowa	$47,000	$1,746	87.8	$51,564	100.6
22	Mississippi	$45,660	$1,204	87.0	$51,127	99.7
23	Colorado	$54,070	$1,719	103.1	$50,800	99.1
24	New Hampshire	$52,770	—	104.2	$50,660	98.8
25	West Virginia	$46,620	$1,371	89.5	$50,560	98.6
26	Kansas	$47,170	$1,832	90.1	$50,337	98.2
27	Massachusetts	$55,690	$2,565	105.8	$50,234	98.0
28	Idaho	$49,660	$1,708	95.5	$50,215	97.9
29	Pennsylvania	$49,960	$1,534	97.6	$49,631	96.8
30	South Dakota	$43,920	—	88.6	$49,579	96.7
31	North Carolina	$48,230	$1,508	94.3	$49,533	96.6
32	Michigan	$49,490	$1,857	96.2	$49,506	96.6
33	New York	$55,810	$2,465	107.9	$49,430	96.4
34	Oklahoma	$44,950	$1,598	87.8	$49,352	96.3
35	Oregon	$54,980	$4,007	103.4	$49,316	96.2
36	South Carolina	$47,550	$1,341	93.7	$49,290	96.1
37	Utah	$51,010	$2,321	98.9	$49,249	96.1
38	Georgia	$49,180	$2,004	96.3	$48,992	95.6
39	New Jersey	$54,590	$1,468	108.8	$48,823	95.2
40	Texas	$47,320	—	97.1	$48,755	95.1
41	Montana	$47,140	$1,643	94.6	$48,071	93.8
42	Virginia	$50,710	$2,116	101.1	$48,063	93.7
43	Nevada	$47,920	—	100.0	$47,930	93.5
44	Rhode Island	$49,320	$1,250	102.3	$46,999	91.7
45	Maryland	$51,350	$2,106	105.0	$46,917	91.5
46	Arizona	$47,880	$722	100.7	$46,841	91.4
47	New Mexico	$43,960	$970	92.2	$46,621	90.9
48	California	$52,350	$1,237	110.7	$46,164	90.0
49	Hawaii	$52,570	$2,469	110.0	$45,567	88.9
50	Connecticut	$47,960	$1,233	103.6	$45,099	88.0
51	Florida	$45,880	—	103.4	$44,365	86.5

"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 51 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In North Dakota, a $57,580 salary is worth about $63,108 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $1,440 (≈ top marginal 2.50% (upper bound)) · take-home $56,141 · BEA cost of living 89.0 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $64,999, a $1,891 gain over North Dakota.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$64,999	88.6
2	Arkansas	$63,649	86.9
3	Louisiana	$63,320	88.2
4	Mississippi	$63,306	87.0
5	Iowa	$63,116	87.8
6	North Dakota	$63,108	89.0
7	Tennessee	$62,676	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$62,435	87.8
9	Wyoming	$62,120	92.7
10	Alabama	$61,584	88.8
11	Kentucky	$61,310	90.2
12	West Virginia	$61,236	89.5

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Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance — real pay FAQ

What is the best state to be a dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance?: By the Gera US Real Pay Index, North Dakota is the best state for a dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance: a BLS median of $57,580 is worth $64,726 after the 2025 state income tax ($0) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 89.0), an index of 126.2 where the average state is 100.
Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?: Not necessarily. District of Columbia has the highest headline BLS median for a dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance at $72,260, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #2 of 51 on real pay (index 122.3). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
Where does a dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance salary go least far?: Florida ranks last of 51 states for a dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance: a $45,880 BLS median is worth only $44,365 after tax and cost of living (index 86.5). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

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Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.