Aviation Dispatcher Salary in the United States

How much does an Aviation Dispatcher make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Aviation Dispatcher in the United States is $80,373 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $39.

However, an Aviation Dispatcher's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $111,940
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $70,987 to $96,896
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $62,441

Key Factors That Influence Aviation Dispatcher Salaries

An Aviation Dispatcher's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Aviation Dispatcher Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Aviation Dispatcher's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $76,211
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $76,479
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $80,373
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $87,176
  • Expert (over 8 years): $87,662
Levels Salary
Entry Level Aviation Dispatcher$76,211
Intermediate Level Aviation Dispatcher$76,479
Senior Level Aviation Dispatcher$80,373
Specialist Level Aviation Dispatcher$87,176
Expert Level Aviation Dispatcher$87,662

Top Paying Cities for Aviation Dispatchers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $101,374
  • San Francisco: $100,264
  • Oakland: $98,151

What Skills Can Increase an Aviation Dispatcher's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Scheduling (Mentioned in 13.77% Job Postings): Scheduling is the process of arranging, controlling and optimizing work and workloads in a production process or manufacturing process.
  • Economics (Mentioned in 2.45% Job Postings): Economics is a social science that focuses on the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services, and analyzes the choices that individuals, businesses, governments, and nations make to allocate resources.
  • Accounting (Mentioned in 1.18% Job Postings): Creating financial statements and reports based on the summary of financial and business transactions.
Skills Demand Percentage
Scheduling 13.77%
Economics 2.45%
Accounting 1.18%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Aviation Dispatcher's salary.

  • HACCP: Can increase your salary by up to 22%.
  • Reserve Management: Can increase your salary by up to 19%.
  • Prioritization: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
HACCP $98,055
22%
Reserve Management $95,644
19%
Prioritization $87,606
9%

Aviation Dispatcher Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Aviation Dispatcher roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 30% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 15% above the average. In contrast, Aviation Dispatcher positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Software & Networking typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Aviation Dispatcher as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Aviation Dispatcher

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$92,429$44.015%
Aerospace & Defense$88,410$43.010%
Financial Services$88,410$43.010%
Energy & Utilities$86,803$42.08%
Internet$85,999$41.07%

How Education impacts an Aviation Dispatcher's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Aviation Dispatchers enter the field with a Associate's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Aviation Dispatcher with a Associate's Degree is between $72,032 and $78,759).

Aviation Dispatcher Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Aviation Dispatcher
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.9%
High School 22.9%
Associates 14.7%
Bachelors 57.8%
Masters 3.7%
Doctorate 0.0%

Aviation Dispatcher Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Aviation Dispatcher's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$70,987
Average $80,373/year
$96,896
$5,916
Average $6,698/month
$8,075
$1,365
Average $1,546/week
$1,863
$34
Average $39/hour
$47
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $96,896 $8,075 $1,863 $47
Average $80,373 $6,698 $1,546 $39
25th Percentile $70,987 $5,916 $1,365 $34

Most common benefits for Aviation Dispatcher

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Aviation Dispatcher

Here are companies hiring for Aviation Dispatcher and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Aviation Dispatcher

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Aviation Dispatcher?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Aviation Dispatcher roles, with salaries approximately 15% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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