Career Overview
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.
Also Known As
- Deputy
- Deputy Sheriff
- Patrol Officer
- Police Officer
Alternate Job Titles
- Accident Prevention Squad Police Officer
- Alcohol Law Enforcement Agent (ALE Agent)
- Animal Cop
- Border Guard
- Border Patrol Agent
- Border Patrol Officer
- Campus Police Officer
- Canine Deputy (K-9 Deputy)
- Canine Handler (K-9 Handler)
- Canine Police Officer (K-9 Police Officer)
- Certified Police Officer
- City Constable
- City Marshal
- Civil Division Deputy Sheriff
- Civil Process Server
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Public Safety and Security
- Law and Government
- English Language
- Psychology
- Customer and Personal Service
- Education and Training
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Social Perceptiveness
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Reading Comprehension
- Coordination
- Persuasion
- Judgment and Decision Making
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Problem Sensitivity
- Inductive Reasoning
- Deductive Reasoning
- Oral Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Speech Clarity
- Information Ordering
- Near Vision
- Speech Recognition
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Stress Tolerance
- Integrity
- Dependability
- Self-Control
- Cautiousness
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Achievement
- Relationships
- Support
- Independence
- Recognition
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
On-the-Job Training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
Education Details: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Experience Required: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Visio
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Word
Tools & Equipment
- 35 millimeter cameras
- All terrain vehicles ATV
- Audio recording equipment
- Automated external defibrillators AED
- Base station radios
- Biohazard suits
- Blood collection kits
- Body armor
- Breathalyzers
- Bulletproof vests
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation CPR face shields
- Crime scene rulers
- Crime scene tape measures
- Deoxyribonucleic acid DNA collection kits
- Desktop computers
Work Environment
- Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Contact With Others
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $47,640 |
| Median | $76,290 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $115,280 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 666,990
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Detectives and Criminal Investigators
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $93,580
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $105,980
Transit and Railroad Police
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $82,320
Bailiffs
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $57,050
Private Detectives and Investigators
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $52,370
Is This Career Right for You?
Discover your perfect career match with our free comprehensive assessment! Get personalized recommendations based on your interests, skills, and values.
Take the Free Career Assessment →
Want Personalized Guidance?
For customized career recommendations, college selection strategies, and expert application support, explore the MehtA+ Admissions Consulting Program. We help students identify the right opportunities and navigate the path to achieving their academic and career goals.
Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.