Life As a Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer
Example of Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer Job 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.
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Other Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer Job Titles
- Patrol Officer
- Policewoman
- State Trooper
- Mounted Police
- Motorcycle Police
Job Opportunities for Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers
In the United States, there were 684,200 jobs for Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 7% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 47,700 new jobs for Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 49,500 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer are Utah, Texas, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in New Jersey, Maryland, or Alaska. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers Salary
The salary for Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers ranges between about $35,750 and $101,620 a year.

Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers who work in California, New Jersey, or Alaska, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $45,930 |
Alaska | $88,030 |
Arizona | $64,640 |
Arkansas | $39,560 |
California | $101,380 |
Colorado | $72,950 |
Connecticut | $71,920 |
Delaware | $70,000 |
District of Columbia | $74,940 |
Florida | $59,610 |
Georgia | $42,990 |
Hawaii | $74,040 |
Idaho | $53,880 |
Illinois | $75,720 |
Indiana | $55,310 |
Iowa | $58,340 |
Kansas | $48,350 |
Kentucky | $45,600 |
Louisiana | $41,550 |
Maine | $49,840 |
Maryland | $68,230 |
Massachusetts | $69,870 |
Michigan | $56,270 |
Minnesota | $69,060 |
Mississippi | $35,550 |
Missouri | $48,920 |
Montana | $56,230 |
Nebraska | $57,530 |
Nevada | $70,450 |
New Hampshire | $58,120 |
New Jersey | $83,720 |
New Mexico | $51,250 |
New York | $74,860 |
North Carolina | $48,420 |
North Dakota | $57,190 |
Ohio | $61,040 |
Oklahoma | $46,120 |
Oregon | $70,360 |
Pennsylvania | $66,600 |
Rhode Island | $60,890 |
South Carolina | $42,280 |
South Dakota | $48,550 |
Tennessee | $44,600 |
Texas | $61,870 |
Utah | $53,890 |
Vermont | $52,940 |
Virginia | $56,710 |
Washington | $77,670 |
West Virginia | $43,590 |
Wisconsin | $62,040 |
Wyoming | $55,050 |
Where Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers Are Employed

Below are examples of industries where Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers work:

References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
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