HandsOnward
Sign InBuild My Roadmap

Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers

Job Zone 3 - Medium preparation needed

Compare to another career

Maintain order and protect life and property by enforcing local, tribal, state, or federal laws and ordinances. Perform a combination of the following duties: patrol a specific area; direct traffic; issue traffic summonses; investigate accidents; apprehend and arrest suspects, or serve legal processes of courts. Includes police officers working at educational institutions.

Pay & job outlook

Median pay: $76,210/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)

$47,510$115,120

Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.

Job outlook: +3.1% projected growth, 2024–2034 — about as fast as average.

About 53,700 openings per year, on average, over the decade.

Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.

Top skills
Social PerceptivenessActive ListeningSpeakingCritical ThinkingActive LearningReading ComprehensionPersuasionCoordinationJudgment and Decision MakingMonitoring
Top knowledge areas
Public Safety and SecurityLaw and GovernmentEnglish LanguagePsychologyCustomer and Personal ServiceEducation and TrainingTelecommunicationsAdministration and Management
Core tasks

• Identify, pursue, and arrest suspects and perpetrators of criminal acts.

• Provide for public safety by maintaining order, responding to emergencies, protecting people and property, enforcing motor vehicle and criminal laws, and promoting good community relations.

• Record facts to prepare reports that document incidents and activities.

• Render aid to accident survivors and other persons requiring first aid for physical injuries.

• Review facts of incidents to determine if criminal act or statute violations were involved.

• Investigate illegal or suspicious activities.

• Monitor, note, report, and investigate suspicious persons and situations, safety hazards, and unusual or illegal activity in patrol area.

• Testify in court to present evidence or act as witness in traffic and criminal cases.

Frequently asked questions

What's the median pay for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers?

The median pay for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers is $76,210 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What's the job outlook for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers?

Employment for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers is projected to change +3.1% from 2024 to 2034 - about as fast as average.

What education is typically required for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers?

Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.

How many job openings are there each year for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers?

About 53,700 openings per year, on average, over the decade.