Career Spotlight: HVAC Dispatcher

Looking to get into HVAC, but not sure if you’re ready to be a technician just yet? Consider becoming an HVAC dispatcher. This is an important support position that helps you learn about the business, and it’s a great stepping stone to becoming a technician later. It can also be a great path for technicians looking to step back from physically demanding field work.

What does an HVAC dispatcher do?

HVAC dispatchers field incoming service requests from customers, schedule appointments, and coordinate the activities of service technicians, delivery drivers, and other field staff. In this job, you need to be on your toes and able to juggle multiple tasks simultaneously. You’re also the voice of the company to customers, so you must be a great listener and communicator.

HVAC dispatcher is a full time position, and may also require overtime (including nights and weekends) during the busiest periods (typically in the summer).

Responsibilities include:

• Communicating with customers about the status of their service visit
• Communicating internally with all departments to ensure customers get what they need
• Prioritizing service requests
• Assigning jobs to technicians based on their skills, location, and availability
• Ordering parts or other tasks/information needed to complete service requests
• Follow up with customers after appointments to ensure satisfaction

Salary range for dispatchers varies quite a bit and is based on experience. An entry level dispatcher here in the NYC area may make $20 per hour, but an experienced one can earn as much as $40 per hour or even more. Medical benefits and 401K may be offered, depending on the company you work for. 

Is this job a good path to becoming a technician?

If you decide you want to become a technician after working as a dispatcher, your experience will definitely come in handy and will certainly help you land a job as an entry level technician. 

That’s because you’ll be familiar with the process, and also because of the customer service skills that you will develop in the position. 

While dispatchers are the voice of the company, technicians are the face! So they also need excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

What are the requirements for becoming an HVAC dispatcher?

A college degree is not required by most employers, and prior industry experience is not required for an entry-level position. But knowledge of the industry is a huge plus and will help you get a job with more responsibility and a higher salary. Related customer service experience is also a big plus.

These are the skills employers are looking for most:

• Communication, especially active listening
• Reliability
• Organization
• Proactive thinking and problem-solving
• Time management and ability to work in a fast-paced environment
• Attention to detail
• Ability to learn quickly and work without supervision
• Positive attitude
• Computer skills

Get more career advice at HVACR Career Connect NY

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HVACR Career Connect NY was created to promote the exceptional quality-of-life benefits of a career in HVAC and Refrigeration service, and also to provide a clear path for getting started in the profession. In doing so, we serve as a resource for employers in the New York City metro area to find and hire smart and capable new technicians. We also serve as an educational resource to support business growth and to help service technicians succeed in their chosen profession.