Description
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.
Interests
- Realistic
- Conventional
- Enterprising
Work Values
- Achievement
- Independence
- Support
Work Styles
- Integrity
- Dependability
- Self-Control
- Stress Tolerance
- Attention to Detail
Tasks
- Identify, pursue, and arrest suspects and perpetrators of criminal acts.
- Provide for public safety by maintaining order, responding to emergencies, protecting people and property, enforcing motor vehicle and criminal laws, and promoting good community relations.
- Record facts to prepare reports that document incidents and activities.
- Render aid to accident survivors and other persons requiring first aid for physical injuries.
- Review facts of incidents to determine if criminal act or statute violations were involved.
Work Activities
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
- Getting Information
- Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
Detailed Work Activities
- Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
- Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.
- Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
- Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
- Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
Technology Skills
- Data base user interface and query software
- Presentation software
- Graphics or photo imaging software
- Spreadsheet software
- Electronic mail software
Abilities
- Oral Comprehension
- Problem Sensitivity
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
- Oral Expression
Skills
- Active Listening
- Social Perceptiveness
- Speaking
- Active Learning
- Critical Thinking
Knowledge
- Law and Government
- Public Safety and Security
- English Language
- Psychology
- Customer and Personal Service
Most Common Education Level
The “Most Common Education Level” refers to the level of education held by the majority of workers in a given occupation. For example, if the highest percentage of workers in a role have an Associate’s Degree, that suggests this is the typical educational requirement. Knowing this helps you plan how many years of education you may need to pursue that career.
Certificates
Certificate name
Court and Judicial Security CertificationCertifying Organization
National Sheriffs' Association
Type
Advanced
Certificate name
Certified Workplace Violence and Threat SpecialistCertifying Organization
McAfee Institute
Type
Advanced
Certificate name
Sartech I/ CrewleaderCertifying Organization
National Association for Search and Rescue
Type
Advanced
Certificate name
Sartech IIICertifying Organization
National Association for Search and Rescue
Type
Advanced
Income Percentile
The income percentiles show how earnings are distributed within a profession. The 10th percentile means that 10% of workers earned less than that amount. The median (50th percentile) indicates that half of workers earned more, and half earned less. The 90th percentile reflects what the top 10% of earners in the field make.
| Income Percentile | Annual Income |
|---|---|
| Low (10%) | $57,310 |
| Median (50%) | $67,447 |
| High (90%) | $96,426 |
Income by Experience
This table shows how income typically grows with experience—from entry level (0–2 years), to mid-level (3–5 years), to senior level (6–8 years), to expert level (8+ years).
| Experience | Income |
|---|---|
Entry Level  | $66,932 |
| Mid Level | $75,855 |
| Senior Level | $82,239 |
| Expert Level | $107,547 |
Employability
There are currently 674,200 jobs in this career path. Over the next 10 years, that number is expected to increase to 700,600 positions, reflecting a projected growth of 4%.
The Projected Job Growth figure refers to the expected increase or decrease in employment within a specific career field over a certain period of time.
Projected Job Growth of 4%
Related Careers
The career information and data on this site incorporates information from O*NET Web Services, Lightcast, CareerOneStop, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). For more details regarding the data sources and the specific information sourced, click here.
Career Resources
Search All Careers
Compare Careers
Income Outlook
Career Pathways
Career Clusters
Job Suite Home
CV Templates
Resume Templates
Cover Letter Templates
All Templates
Job Resources
Blog Articles
Podcast