Jobs Similar to Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to police and sheriff's patrol officers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Transit and Railroad Police, Bailiffs and Animal Control Workers.
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers: $76,210 median pay · usual preparation: Training or associate.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Transit and Railroad PoliceSame group | 84% | $90,230+18% | Training or associate |
| 2 | BailiffsSame group | 84% | $56,600−26% | Training or associate |
| 3 | Animal Control Workers | 82% | $45,660−40% | High school |
| 4 | Customs and Border Protection OfficersSame group | 80% | $76,210Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 5 | Crossing Guards and Flaggers | 80% | $38,100−50% | High school |
| 6 | Security Guards | 80% | $38,020−50% | High school |
| 7 | Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsSame group | 80% | $93,790+23% | Training or associate |
| 8 | Correctional Officers and JailersSame group | 79% | $58,940−23% | High school |
| 9 | Public Safety Telecommunicators | 79% | $53,040−30% | High school |
| 10 | Parking Enforcement WorkersSame group | 78% | $46,730−39% | High school |
| 11 | Fish and Game WardensSame group | 78% | $74,060−3% | Training or associate |
| 12 | First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | 77% | $106,040+39% | High school |
| 13 | Flight Attendants | 77% | $63,580−17% | High school |
| 14 | Police Identification and Records OfficersSame group | 77% | $93,790Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 15 | Compliance Officers | 76% | $80,730+6% | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Retail Loss Prevention Specialists | 75% | $42,540Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 17 | Coroners | 75% | $80,730Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 18 | Fire Inspectors and Investigators | 74% | $75,9200% | Training or associate |
| 19 | Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | 74% | $33,580−56% | High school |
| 20 | First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | 74% | $55,940−27% | High school |
- 1Transit and Railroad Police
84% similar · $90,230 (+18%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 2Bailiffs
84% similar · $56,600 (−26%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 3Animal Control Workers
82% similar · $45,660 (−40%) · High school
- 4Customs and Border Protection Officers
80% similar · $76,210 (broader group) · Training or associate · Same group
- 5Crossing Guards and Flaggers
80% similar · $38,100 (−50%) · High school
- 6Security Guards
80% similar · $38,020 (−50%) · High school
- 7Detectives and Criminal Investigators
80% similar · $93,790 (+23%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 8Correctional Officers and Jailers
79% similar · $58,940 (−23%) · High school · Same group
- 9Public Safety Telecommunicators
79% similar · $53,040 (−30%) · High school
- 10Parking Enforcement Workers
78% similar · $46,730 (−39%) · High school · Same group
- 11Fish and Game Wardens
78% similar · $74,060 (−3%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 12First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives
77% similar · $106,040 (+39%) · High school
- 13Flight Attendants
77% similar · $63,580 (−17%) · High school
- 14Police Identification and Records Officers
77% similar · $93,790 (broader group) · Training or associate · Same group
- 15Compliance Officers
76% similar · $80,730 (+6%) · Bachelor's degree
- 16Retail Loss Prevention Specialists
75% similar · $42,540 (broader group) · High school
- 17Coroners
75% similar · $80,730 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 18Fire Inspectors and Investigators
74% similar · $75,920 (0%) · Training or associate
- 19Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers
74% similar · $33,580 (−56%) · High school
- 20First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers
74% similar · $55,940 (−27%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than police and sheriff's patrol officers.
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Animal Control Workers82% similar · High school
- Crossing Guards and Flaggers80% similar · High school
- Security Guards80% similar · High school
- Correctional Officers and Jailers79% similar · High school
- Public Safety Telecommunicators79% similar · High school
- Parking Enforcement Workers78% similar · High school
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for police and sheriff's patrol officers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where police and sheriff's patrol officers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Animal Control Workers (87)
- Security Guards (85)
- First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers (83)
- Coroners (82)
- Public Safety Telecommunicators (81)
- Crossing Guards and Flaggers (79)
- Private Detectives and Investigators (76)
- Fire Inspectors and Investigators (74)
- Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists (74)
- Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists (74)
Questions about jobs like police and sheriff's patrol officers
What jobs are most similar to police and sheriff's patrol officers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Transit and Railroad Police (84% similar), Bailiffs (84% similar), Animal Control Workers (82% similar), Customs and Border Protection Officers (80% similar) and Crossing Guards and Flaggers (80% similar).
Which jobs like police and sheriff's patrol officers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives ($106,040, +39%; usually a high school diploma), Detectives and Criminal Investigators ($93,790, +23%; usually training or an associate degree) and Transit and Railroad Police ($90,230, +18%; usually training or an associate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with police and sheriff's patrol officers ($76,210). Without more preparation than police and sheriff's patrol officers usually need: First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives, Detectives and Criminal Investigators and Transit and Railroad Police.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.