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Police And Sheriff Schools, Salaries, and Job Data

Police and Sheriffs Job Overview

Police and sheriffs guard the life and property of the people. Police officers chase and apprehend criminals who do not abide by the law. Sheriffs bring law into action at the county level.

Police and Sheriffs Schools and Degrees

Candidates aspiring to become a police officer or a sheriff need to have a minimum of a high school education. Some departments may ask for a college degree. There are many universities, colleges and junior colleges with curriculums in law enforcement or justice administration.

Job Requirements

Training is a very important requirement in this profession. Officers generally go through a long period of training before they are given their first assignment. In the case of state and some large local police divisions, new entrants trained for about 14 weeks. In smaller academies, recruits are only required to attend a regional academy. The training is comprised of teachings in civil, state, local and constitutional laws. They are also trained in patrol, self defense, first aid, traffic control, firearms and response to emergencies.

To advance in this field, one needs to have a minimum of either three years of work experience or an advanced degree and two years of work experience. Specialization in accounting, information technology, computer science or electrical engineering can also be beneficial, as can the knowledge of a second language. A degree from a recognized law school can also help, especially those hoping to eanr a job in the FBI.

To enter this profession one has to be 20 years old and a citizen of U.S. He or she also needs to meet the tough physical and personal requirements, including passing tests on agility and strength as well as those on vision and hearing. Previous qualification, experience and performance on written exam are determining factors for employers. Integrity of character is also extremely important.

Nature of Work

Police officers apprehend unlawful citizens and write and maintain records of their encounters. They watch their jurisdiction and investigate any suspicious happenings. Their everyday activities depend on the specialty of their occupation. A sheriff has duties which are similar to those of a police officer, only their departments are comparatively smaller.

Police officials and sheriffs encounter a lot of danger while fulfilling their responsibilities. They have to confront criminals and also have to face threatening situations. Their work is stressful and a threat of on-the-job death does exist. Their job, which usually consists of 40 hours a week, may require them to travel. They have to work for long hours and in every kind of weather.

Police and Sheriffs Jobs and Outlook

According to research in 2006, the job outlook for police officers and sheriffs in the U.S is estimated to increase by 11% in the next ten years. Employment is highest in the following industries:

  • Colleges, Universities and Professional schools
  • Federal Executive Branch(OES Designation)
  • Junior Colleges
  • Local Government (OES Designation)
  • State Government (OES Designation)

The mean hourly wage for police officers and sheriffs in the US is about $24.36, while the mean annual salary is around $50,670.

Job Numbers and Growth

Nationally, there are 648,000 police and sheriffs. The occupation is characterized by a very low joblessness level. The unemployment rate for employees was 1% in 2008.

Area Job Conditions

Looking at employees per capita, Hinesville (Georgia), Ocean City (New Jersey), and Merced (California) rise to the top of the list. Dalton (Georgia), Decatur (Illinois), and Bakersfield (California) have the fewest per capita.

The highest salaries for police and sheriffs are in and around San Jose (California), Oakland (California), and Nassau (New York). The lowest-paying areas are Joplin (Missouri), Johnstown (Pennsylvania), and Hattiesburg (Mississippi).

Training and Education

Successful workers find it useful to have long-term on-the-job training. According to recent surveys, 33% of employees had received a degree. Police and sheriffs with some schooling beyond high school, but not a college degree, total about 52%. A high school degree was all that was needed for 16% of workers. Recommended schools are shown in the column to the right; request information from them to help you decide which if any could help you with this career.

Part-Time Work and Self-Employment

Police and sheriffs working less than full time, whether by design or chance, were 1% of the total.


Career Video for Police And Sheriffs

Police And Sheriffs by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)

In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.

Alabama

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Anniston$39,000240+29%
Auburn$38,000350+100%
Birmingham$41,0002,810+20%
Decatur$36,000330+54%
Dothan$36,000300+25%
Florence$35,000280+40%
Gadsden$32,000180+41%
Huntsville$43,000720-21%
Mobile$34,000790-1%
Montgomery$38,0001,000+35%
Tuscaloosa$42,000530+43%

Alaska

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Anchorage$65,000520-25%
Fairbanks$58,000100-19%

Arizona

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Flagstaff$51,000280+28%
Kingman$54,000210+4%
Phoenix$54,0007,720-9%
Prescott$50,000250+0%
Tucson$55,0002,060+25%
Yuma$44,000300+24%

Arkansas

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Fayetteville$37,000890+3%
Fort Smith$33,000630+27%
Jonesboro$34,000250+29%
Little Rock$41,0001,770+17%
Pine Bluff$36,000280+123%

California

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bakersfield$65,000470-60%
Chico$67,000300+7%
El Centro$64,000270+34%
Fresno$67,0001,290-13%
Madera$59,000180+30%
Merced$68,000590+159%
Modesto$59,000660-7%
Napa$73,000160-38%
Oakland$85,0003,650-22%
Riverside$72,0004,750-18%
Sacramento$66,0005,080+27%
Salinas$71,000770+16%
San Diego$73,0003,630-40%
San Jose$90,0002,330-44%
San Luis Obispo$75,000560+35%
Santa Ana$77,0003,590-48%
Santa Cruz$77,000350-4%
Santa Rosa$77,000680-15%
Vallejo$76,000910+76%
Visalia$56,000540-6%
Yuba City$61,000340+128%

Colorado

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Boulder$64,000580-16%
Colorado Springs$53,0001,180+7%
Denver$63,0004,410-22%
Fort Collins$62,000390-24%
Greeley$57,000480+57%

Connecticut

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bridgeport$58,0002,080+6%
Danbury$56,000250-13%
Hartford$57,0002,240-14%
New Haven$56,0001,360+10%
Norwich$54,000570+8%

Delaware

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Dover$55,000320+47%
Wilmington$59,0001,4600%

District of Columbia

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Washington$62,00013,100+25%

Florida

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Cape Coral$51,0001,160+27%
Deltona$40,000870+30%
Fort Lauderdale$63,0003,740+13%
Fort Walton Beach$40,000380+23%
Lakeland$43,0001,020+21%
Miami$59,0005,210+16%
Ocala$40,000460+17%
Orlando$48,0003,990-16%
Palm Bay$44,0001,030+21%
Panama City$38,000390+40%
Pensacola$39,0001,070+67%
Port St Lucie$49,0001,070+99%
Sarasota$51,0001,270+10%
Sebastian$50,000260+38%
Tallahassee$48,000920+31%
Tampa$54,0004,100-26%
West Palm Beach$57,0002,710+12%

Georgia

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Albany$33,000290+19%
Athens$38,000510+66%
Atlanta$42,00010,650-1%
Augusta$35,000780-13%
Brunswick$37,000250+53%
Dalton$35,000140-56%
Hinesville$35,000170+284%
Savannah$37,000720+12%
Valdosta$33,000330+49%
Warner Robins$36,000260+33%

Hawaii

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Honolulu$50,0002,100+7%

Idaho

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Boise$51,0001,190+0%
Idaho Falls$45,000120-35%
Pocatello$47,000130+16%

Illinois

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bloomington$44,000280-2%
Champaign$50,000570+46%
Chicago$69,00022,520+30%
Danville$37,000140+49%
Decatur$54,00080-56%
Kankakee$60,000240+67%
Peoria$49,0001,080+47%
Rockford$58,000560-14%
Springfield$48,000580+34%

Indiana

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Anderson$38,000300+96%
Bloomington$43,000260-7%
Columbus$48,000130-21%
Elkhart$43,000260-53%
Evansville$46,000600-20%
Fort Wayne$43,000540-42%
Gary$43,0001,240+0%
Indianapolis$52,0003,660-10%
Kokomo$44,000140+4%
Lafayette$45,000280-10%
Michigan City$44,000140-16%
Muncie$43,000160-9%
South Bend$45,000610+5%
Terre Haute$39,000310+10%

Iowa

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Ames$47,000110-24%
Cedar Rapids$47,000380-34%
Davenport$46,000580-27%
Des Moines$52,000900-38%
Dubuque$47,000120-41%
Iowa City$47,000190-35%
Sioux City$44,000280-3%
Waterloo$45,000340-4%

Kansas

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Lawrence$52,000230+31%
Topeka$38,000440-5%
Wichita$42,0001,220-10%

Kentucky

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bowling Green$40,000210-8%
Elizabethtown$44,000220+31%
Lexington$37,0001,010-5%
Louisville$41,0002,260-19%

Louisiana

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Alexandria$31,000140-41%
Baton Rouge$36,0001,450-12%
Houma$33,000450+14%
Lafayette$38,000410-34%
Lake Charles$32,000630+76%
Monroe$30,000460+43%
New Orleans$38,0003,440+50%
Shreveport$38,000950+25%

Maine

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bangor$38,000200-22%
Lewiston$41,000150-22%
Portland$42,000580-34%

Maryland

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Baltimore$55,00011,110+88%
Bethesda$63,0002,160-16%
Cumberland$42,000200+49%
Hagerstown$44,000310-25%
Salisbury$43,000210+1%

Massachusetts

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Barnstable Town$53,000660+57%
Boston$56,0006,960-11%
Brockton$62,000470+27%
Framingham$58,000530-24%
Haverhill$46,000550+74%
Leominster$50,000200+2%
Lowell$54,000540+5%
New Bedford$57,000340+30%
Pittsfield$49,000130+5%
Springfield$52,0001,940+46%
Taunton$43,000280+55%
Worcester$59,0001,730+58%

Michigan

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Ann Arbor$61,000620-13%
Battle Creek$43,000230+21%
Bay City$49,000130-1%
Detroit$50,0005,170+61%
Flint$50,000680+16%
Grand Rapids$55,000930-45%
Holland$55,000240-44%
Jackson$47,000170-17%
Kalamazoo$52,000630+8%
Lansing$55,000800-5%
Monroe$49,000200+32%
Muskegon$49,0002400%
Niles$44,000420+69%
Saginaw$44,000300-4%
Warren$55,0003,660-30%

Minnesota

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Duluth$48,000500-8%
Minneapolis$57,0004,170-49%
Rochester$53,000210-45%
St Cloud$52,000280-35%

Mississippi

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Gulfport$33,000810+77%
Hattiesburg$30,000300+33%
Jackson$32,0001,410+26%
Pascagoula$33,000320+74%

Missouri

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Jefferson City$33,000340+22%
Joplin$31,000310-6%
Kansas City$48,0004,600-1%
Springfield$38,000750-12%
St Joseph180-8%
St Louis$48,0005,020-18%

Montana

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Billings$46,000240-28%
Great Falls$46,000140+8%
Missoula$41,000140-31%

Nebraska

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Omaha$48,0001,560-25%

Nevada

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Las Vegas$65,0002,950-29%
Reno$59,000910+0%

New Hampshire

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Manchester$50,000360-18%
Nashua$51,000440-26%
Portsmouth$47,000190-15%
Rochester$44,000290+28%

New Jersey

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Atlantic City$74,000980+54%
Camden$66,0002,640+11%
Edison$76,0004,910+5%
Newark$75,0005,400+18%
Ocean City$72,000540+239%
Trenton$75,0001,940+106%
Vineland$65,000420+84%

New Mexico

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Albuquerque$43,0001,530-12%
Farmington$51,000300+45%
Las Cruces$43,000380+55%

New York

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Albany$50,0003,760+92%
Binghamton$49,000340-24%
Buffalo$56,0002,260-7%
Elmira$47,000120-10%
Glens Falls$38,000180-13%
Ithaca$49,000150-8%
Kingston$44,000310+31%
Nassau$77,0005,890+4%
New York$60,00040,690+75%
Poughkeepsie$53,0001,340+28%
Rochester$52,0001,930-14%
Syracuse$48,0001,450+5%
Utica$40,000490-10%

North Carolina

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Asheville$38,000720-7%
Burlington$39,000220-6%
Charlotte$44,0004,430+10%
Durham$42,0001,100-9%
Fayetteville$42,000720+39%
Goldsboro250+74%
Greensboro$43,0001,370-17%
Greenville$43,000320+10%
Hickory$36,000730+4%
Jacksonville$37,000250+60%
Raleigh$45,0001,590-31%
Rocky Mount$38,000260+12%
Wilmington$38,000820+32%
Winston Salem$39,000870-8%

North Dakota

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bismarck$41,000150-33%
Fargo$48,000310-37%
Grand Forks$47,000180-5%

Ohio

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Akron$48,0001,340-11%
Canton$46,000970+29%
Cincinnati$53,0003,670-22%
Cleveland$54,0005,660+18%
Columbus$56,0004,470+6%
Dayton$54,0001,170-33%
Lima$43,000280+36%
Mansfield$35,000190-7%
Sandusky$44,000190+43%
Springfield$43,000160-13%
Toledo$43,0001,3800%
Youngstown$43,0001,170+14%

Oklahoma

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Lawton$35,000270+92%
Oklahoma City$48,0002,340-8%
Tulsa$43,0001,730-11%

Oregon

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bend$58,000190-32%
Eugene$55,000510-20%
Medford$53,000270-22%
Portland$61,0002,770-41%
Salem$54,000610-5%

Pennsylvania

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Allentown$54,0001,5000%
Altoona$43,000240+1%
Erie$56,000620+16%
Harrisburg$49,0001,090-22%
Johnstown$33,000300+34%
Lancaster$57,000870-16%
Lebanon$52,000170-5%
Philadelphia$62,00010,410+22%
Pittsburgh$50,0005,410+5%
Reading$57,000750+5%
Scranton$41,0001,280+13%
State College$56,000200-10%
Williamsport$52,000170-15%
York$52,000440-44%

Rhode Island

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Providence$52,0002,510-1%

South Carolina

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Anderson$36,000280+16%
Charleston$38,0001,690+31%
Columbia$41,0001,890+21%
Florence$35,000460+33%
Greenville$37,0001,010-25%
Myrtle Beach$35,000600+20%
Spartanburg$35,000360-31%

South Dakota

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Rapid City$41,000240-4%
Sioux Falls350-41%

Tennessee

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Chattanooga$35,000810-21%
Clarksville$35,000280-9%
Cleveland$41,000210+57%
Jackson$38,000320+40%
Johnson City$36,000420+38%
Kingsport$36,0004800%
Knoxville$37,000880-41%
Memphis$38,0004,330+55%
Morristown$31,000230+26%
Nashville$46,0003,120-10%

Texas

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Beaumont$48,000880+30%
Brownsville$39,000860+64%
College Station$48,000470+49%
Corpus Christi$49,000970+27%
Dallas$55,0009,170-4%
Fort Worth$51,0004,380+12%
Houston$51,00013,120+12%
Killeen$43,000840+67%
Laredo$46,000810+138%
Longview$38,000470+21%
Lubbock$49,000580+13%
Mcallen$42,0001,540+61%
Midland$43,000320+20%
Odessa$47,000270+21%
San Angelo$55,000250+61%
San Antonio$48,0004,850+27%
Sherman$42,000270+80%
Texarkana$40,000290+35%
Tyler$47,000360-4%
Victoria$46,000300+66%
Waco$42,000590+47%
Wichita Falls$46,000450+96%

Utah

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Ogden$44,000700-20%
Provo$41,000490-31%
Salt Lake City$48,0001,810-36%
St George$41,000230+22%

Vermont

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Burlington$47,000420-9%

Virginia

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Blacksburg$41,000310+27%
Charlottesville$45,000400+3%
Danville$36,000230+76%
Harrisonburg$43,000190-11%
Lynchburg$39,000430+3%
Richmond$48,0002,560-5%
Roanoke$45,000660-3%
Virginia Beach$46,0004,180+23%

Washington

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bellingham$65,000250-23%
Bremerton$56,000400+17%
Kennewick$63,000250-32%
Longview$57,000130+6%
Mount Vernon$64,000130-25%
Olympia$64,000400+3%
Seattle$66,0003,600-45%
Spokane$59,000540-41%
Tacoma$63,000910-24%
Yakima$63,000270-18%

West Virginia

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Charleston$37,000610-2%
Huntington$36,000390-18%
Morgantown$34,000160-11%
Parkersburg$43,000290+3%
Weirton$37,000290+80%
Wheeling$36,000310+22%

Wisconsin

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Appleton$51,000410-15%
Eau Claire$46,000270-14%
Fond$49,000230+36%
Green Bay$53,000580-20%
Janesville$54,000310+19%
La Crosse$48,000200-28%
Madison$54,0001,380-7%
Milwaukee$59,0004,680+22%
Oshkosh$52,000230-34%
Racine$55,000340+8%
Wausau$48,000280+3%

Wyoming

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Casper$52,000160+11%
Cheyenne$43,000200+20%

Salary and employment data obtained from the United States Department of Labor. Individual salaries depend on location, education and career background. Thanks to CityTownInfo.com for this police and sheriff schools and jobs info.

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