Life As a Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff
Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff Definition Enforce law and order in rural or unincorporated districts or serve legal processes of courts. May patrol courthouse, guard court or grand jury, or escort defendants.
Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff Responsibilities
- Locate and confiscate real or personal property, as directed by court order.
- Record daily activities and submit logs and other related reports and paperwork to appropriate authorities.
- Place people in protective custody.
- Verify that the proper legal charges have been made against law offenders.
- Question individuals entering secured areas to determine their business, directing and rerouting individuals as necessary.
- Transport or escort prisoners and defendants en route to courtrooms, prisons or jails, attorneys' offices, or medical facilities.
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What Every Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff Should Know
When polled, Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Negotiation: Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
Other Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff Job Titles
- Patrol Deputy Sheriff
- Sheriff
- Deputy K-9
- Sheriff’s Sergeant
- Deputy Sheriff, Building Guard
Job Demand for Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs
There were about 684,200 jobs for Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff in 2016 (in the United States). 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 Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff by 2026. The BLS estimates 49,500 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff 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.
Salary for a Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff
The typical yearly salary for Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs is somewhere between $35,750 and $101,620.
Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs who work in California, New Jersey, or Alaska, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs 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 |
What Tools do Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Email software
- Word processing software
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Visio
- Database software
- ESRI ArcView
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
- IBM Lotus 1-2-3
- National Crime Information Center NCIC database
- Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System IAFIS
- Law enforcement information databases
- National Integrated Ballistics Information Network NIBIN
- Computer aided dispatch software
Becoming a Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff
What kind of Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff requirements are there?
What work experience do I need to become a Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff?
Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs Sector
Below are examples of industries where Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs work:
Similar Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff might also be interested in the following careers:
Those who work as a Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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