Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
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 called: Accident Prevention Squad Police Officer, Border Patrol Officer, Campus Police Officer, Certified Police Officer, Chief Deputy Sheriff, City Constable
Median pay
$76,210
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$47,510 – $115,120
People employed
670,520
Holland code
RCE
Realistic · Conventional · Enterprising
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you enjoy serving customers or the public?
- 2.Are you OK working outdoors in all kinds of weather?
- 3.Are you OK with physical risk, such as hazardous equipment or conditions, with proper training?
- 4.Are you OK working more than 40 hours a week?
- 5.Are you OK with hours that change?
The hard parts
- Work outdoors in all weather
- Dealing with conflict is part of the job
- Tight deadlines are common
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary in every state →
What police and sheriff's patrol officers do
- 01Provide for public safety by maintaining order, responding to emergencies, protecting people and property, enforcing motor vehicle and criminal laws, and promoting good community relations.
- 02Identify, pursue, and arrest suspects and perpetrators of criminal acts.
- 03Verify that the proper legal charges have been made against law offenders.
- 04Render aid to accident survivors and other persons requiring first aid for physical injuries.
- 05Record facts to prepare reports that document incidents and activities.
- 06Review facts of incidents to determine if criminal act or statute violations were involved.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Reading Comprehension
- Monitoring
Knowledge
- Public Safety and Security
- Law and Government
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Psychology
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Cautiousness
- Self-Control
Education and first steps
O*NET has no education survey data for this job.
How people get started
- Usually needs vocational training or an associate degree (O*NET Job Zone 3).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: over 3 months, up to and including 6 months.
- A professional certification is often expected.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from police and sheriff's patrol officers
- First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives84% · +39%
- First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers80% · +2%
- Coroners79% · group pay
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers77% · +23%
- Compliance Officers75% · +6%
Change into police and sheriff's patrol officers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Animal Control Workers87% · $45,660
- Security Guards85% · $38,020
- First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers83% · $77,970
- Coroners82% · $80,730
- Public Safety Telecommunicators81% · $53,040
Majors that lead here
- Environmental/Natural Resources Law Enforcement and Protective Services
- Criminal Justice and Corrections, General
- Criminal Justice/Police Science
- Law Enforcement Investigation and Interviewing
- Law Enforcement Record-Keeping and Evidence Management
- Critical Incident Response/Special Police Operations
- Protective Services Operations
- Maritime Law Enforcement
- Criminalistics and Criminal Science
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.