Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
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.
$77,270
Median Annual Pay
Jobs growth:
+3% projected 2024โ2034
What They Do
Programs That Prepare You
College programs linked to this occupation, ranked by graduate earnings
Criminal Justice and Corrections(masters)University of San Diego, CA
$143,943Criminal Justice and Corrections(masters)Curry College, MA
$121,483Criminal Justice and Corrections(certificate)Santa Rosa Junior College, CA
$111,649Criminal Justice and Corrections(postbacc-cert)University of Louisville, KY
$102,190Criminal Justice and Corrections(masters)University of Chicago, IL
$100,258Criminal Justice and Corrections(masters)Lewis University, IL
$96,146Criminal Justice and Corrections(certificate)San Bernardino Valley College, CA
$94,285Criminal Justice and Corrections(masters)University of Massachusetts-Lowell, MA
$93,930Criminal Justice and Corrections(certificate)San Diego Miramar College, CA
$91,647Criminal Justice and Corrections(doctoral)Nova Southeastern University, FL
$90,969Criminal Justice and Corrections(masters)Concordia University-Saint Paul, MN
$89,127Criminal Justice and Corrections(certificate)Monroe Community College, NY
$85,061Criminal Justice and Corrections(masters)Columbus State University, GA
$82,799Criminal Justice and Corrections(masters)University of Louisville, KY
$81,602Criminal Justice and Corrections(certificate)Moreno Valley College, CA
$81,339Criminal Justice and Corrections(doctoral)Walden University, MN
$79,647Criminal Justice and Corrections(masters)Salve Regina University, RI
$78,042Criminal Justice and Corrections(doctoral)Capella University, MN
$76,899Criminal Justice and Corrections(masters)Saint Elizabeth University, NJ
$76,861Criminal Justice and Corrections(masters)Excelsior University, NY
$76,747Criminal Justice and Corrections(masters)Michigan State University, MI
$75,435Criminal Justice and Corrections(masters)Anderson University, SC
$75,008Criminal Justice and Corrections(masters)American Public University System, WV
$74,466Criminal Justice and Corrections(certificate)Gateway Technical College, WI
$73,818Criminal Justice and Corrections(certificate)Butte College, CA
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