Career outlook for Aircraft Dispatchers

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Pferdeflüsterer

New Member
Hello. As of Sept. 2019 I am looking for information about the job prospects were one to go to Aircraft Dispatch school today. I am 34/F looking to switch careers. I have a Bachelor's degree, 6 years as an EMT, and work experience in marketing. If I were to go to school now would I be able to get a job? (Boston area). I don't want to go to school and then have there be 'no' jobs available... just trying to see what the demand is for this role. Would love to do it, but very weary post recession about sinking any money into something with an obscure outcome. Thanks in advance!
 
You will have to move, likely multiple times as you gain experience. There is a slim chance of making livable wage as dispatcher living in BOS. Sorry to burst your bubble :/
 
Not dreaming but looking for honest advice. Thank you for the information. Can you elaborate though so I understand? Why can't a dispatcher make a living wage in BOS?
 
Starting wage at a regional airline is generally around $15-16/hr and I don't think there are any major airlines around BOS. Actually I don't think there are even regional airlines around the Boston area. Maybe cargo.
 
Cape Air is in Hyannis. Pay is very low though, so I've been told. If you want to make an actual career out of it you will have to move. Prospects are good though for getting a job at a regional then moving on to a better paying gig after a few years.
 
The closest major to the BOS area is B6 where you can definitely make a livable wage for living in BOS. Many of our dispatchers commute and stay at a crash pad. I can't imagine commuting to and from BOS would be tough considering that several airlines have an hourly shuttle btwn the three NYC airports and BOS + CASS.
 
It really depends on if you are set on staying in Boston or willing to move. There are countless opportunities starting out at regional airlines across the country. If you were open to moving chances are pretty good. A good handful from my class ended up with job offers before they even finished the course. Another company nearby is Elite Airways in Portland, ME with pretty decent pay. If you want to stay in BOS though options are pretty limited. It could still be beneficial to get the license though. Might open the door to other aviation jobs in the area.
 
Pferdeflüsterer said:
Hello. As of Sept. 2019 I am looking for information about the job prospects were one to go to Aircraft Dispatch school today. I am 34/F looking to switch careers. I have a Bachelor's degree, 6 years as an EMT, and work experience in marketing. If I were to go to school now would I be able to get a job? (Boston area). I don't want to go to school and then have there be 'no' jobs available... just trying to see what the demand is for this role. Would love to do it, but very weary post recession about sinking any money into something with an obscure outcome. Thanks in advance!
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Right now a lot of the older dispatchers are retiring, so it's as good a time as any to start making your way up the chain. You should be advised, however, that it is unlikely that you will be hired as a dispatcher right out of school. Most airlines prefer that you have prior experience before getting into relatively important and safety-critical position such as dispatch, so you will likely need to do something else like crew scheduling, AOG, some other type of non-dispatch flight operations job. These are not bad jobs by any means, I only point this out as fair warning that you will be making significantly less money than the "big time" dispatch jobs at the Big Three.

Secondly, regionals are all over the country but pay significantly less than the majors. In BOS you have JB within commuting distance which is a decent place to go. However, limiting yourself to one company will dramatically reduce your job prospects. This is an industry where you have to be willing to relocate, even for an "office job" like something in flight ops.
 
If you haven’t worked an airline before, I’d work for one first. It gets your foot in the door, make some contacts, and see if the airline world is for you because it’s not for everybody.

It would be foolish to go to Dispatch school for 7k and then find out you don’t like airline work. I know people that have done just that.

Just my 2 cents.
 
KiloEchoVictor said:
Right now a lot of the older dispatchers are retiring, so it's as good a time as any to start making your way up the chain. You should be advised, however, that it is unlikely that you will be hired as a dispatcher right out of school. Most airlines prefer that you have prior experience before getting into relatively important and safety-critical position such as dispatch, so you will likely need to do something else like crew scheduling, AOG, some other type of non-dispatch flight operations job. These are not bad jobs by any means, I only point this out as fair warning that you will be making significantly less money than the "big time" dispatch jobs at the Big Three.

Secondly, regionals are all over the country but pay significantly less than the majors. In BOS you have JB within commuting distance which is a decent place to go. However, limiting yourself to one company will dramatically reduce your job prospects. This is an industry where you have to be willing to relocate, even for an "office job" like something in flight ops.
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Yep. All true. And I’d add that there are TONS of people in those non dispatch positions that have dispatch certs and waiting for a chance to join the ranks
 
KiloEchoVictor said:
Most airlines prefer that you have prior experience before getting into relatively important and safety-critical position such as dispatch, so you will likely need to do something else like crew scheduling, AOG, some other type of non-dispatch flight operations job.
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I would say that is true for the majors, but I know quite a few dispatchers at the regional side where it was their first job in the industry without any prior experience.
 
who'swho said:
Cape Air is in Hyannis. Pay is very low though, so I've been told. If you want to make an actual career out of it you will have to move. Prospects are good though for getting a job at a regional then moving on to a better paying gig after a few years.
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Cape Air starts off at $16/hr. Health Insurance is pretty high though, which doesn't help. Great group of people that work there though. If you're looking to not have to move but to start getting some experience (even if it is Part 135), 9K wouldn't be a bad gig.
 
My understanding is that following the deregulation act of 1978 massive industry growth really got going in the mid 80s and lasted for 10-15 years. Thus, there’s lots of dispatchers nearing retirement age at major carriers. Also every major carrier is growing right now so there’s likely to be steady hiring. Hardly anyone knows about Dispatch in the first place so you’re 99% ahead of the game in that regard. It’s the last 1% of us fighting to get to about, roughly, 1,500 jobs total at a major airline. If you’re sharp, network, are willing to learn and can move around or at least commute you can get hired at a major.

Also Boston may offer corporate experience which can definitely be useful. I know of a good paying office in eastern Connecticut.
 
If you’re willing to move or commute, you’ll definitely have a decent chance to find a job right out of school. I had no prior airline experience, and it took me 4 months to land a job at a regional...but that was in a comparatively slow job market compared to now. With places like SkyWest doing large classes of 15+ (some majors are doing the same), it’s a really good time to get started I think.
 
DogwoodLynx said:
If you haven’t worked an airline before, I’d work for one first. It gets your foot in the door, make some contacts, and see if the airline world is for you because it’s not for everybody.

It would be foolish to go to Dispatch school for 7k and then find out you don’t like airline work. I know people that have done just that.

Just my 2 cents.
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Thanks. What job could I do with out school or experience while working for an airline?
 
SpaceBeagle said:
If you’re willing to move or commute, you’ll definitely have a decent chance to find a job right out of school. I had no prior airline experience, and it took me 4 months to land a job at a regional...but that was in a comparatively slow job market compared to now. With places like SkyWest doing large classes of 15+ (some majors are doing the same), it’s a really good time to get started I think.
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If you were me where would you go to school?
 
Pferdeflüsterer said:
Thanks. What job could I do with out school or experience while working for an airline?
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Crew scheduling, ramp agent, gate agent, operations at the airport, guest services, AOG, maintenance planning, IT, crew training, HR.. etc. if I were you I would try to snag a job that is located inside an SOC/OCC like a Crew scheduling or AOG. That way you are in the same room as dispatch and can build those relationships.
 
Lots of misleading statements in the posts above...too many to quote. You can get a job as Dispatcher at a Regional Airline right out of school, however: the major airlines or as we call them, "mainline" carriers very rarely hire newbies. Many regionals' HR staff go to the nearby Dx school and interview on the spot. As for "other" airline jobs, actually, Southwest ramp workers are union and the pay is pretty good (better than entry level Dispatcher). I know 2 guys and 1 woman doing it now. They LOVE it. And you can pick your city since they need folks all the time....BUT.....forgetting about airlines....With your experience you could work in any City Police/Fire dispatch office and make GREAT money. I know 2 guys who do it and they LOVE it. Also, if you like airports, most of the big ones have their own Police/Fire dispatch offices as well. LAX, BOS, SFO to name a few...And they hire often and its union and very well paid. With your EMT exp, they would love you! This career path is hit or miss. Some move up fast and some never move up at all. There are 20+ yr veterans making $22/hr at Regionals. But they like it and they like where they live.

If, after all this, you still wanna go to DX school...then I recommend Sheffield down in FLA. Its as good as the others but the big thing is they have the largest "Bro" network. When they see Sheffield on the old CV....doors fly open. unless you are a total McDouche.
 
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