The nonlinear saturation amplitude of the dissipative trapped electron instability is calculated. Comparison is made with an experiment carried out in linear mirror geometry and near threshold, with only a single mode predominating. A model in which the untrapped electrons respond in a Boltzmann fashion yields good agreement. A model in which Landau damping is included predicts saturation amplitudes much smaller than observed. The first model seems appropriate for linear geometries while the second may apply to closed devices.