A police officer is a member of the criminal justice system responsible for keeping the community safe. Cops spend their days capturing criminals, issuing fines, and responding to emergency calls in the hopes of making their homes into better places. If you have been looking for a new career to call your own, working as a police officer may be a perfect fit for you. To determine that though, we need to explore the facts. Here is a look at the job of a police officer so you can see what may be involved in your household.
What Do Police Officers Do?
Police officers have a variety of responsibilities to carry in their career. The job duties that you may have as a police officer may be different than those of another officer one county over from you. Common police officer job duties include:
- Writing traffic citations
- Patrolling designated areas in a car, on a motorcycle, or by foot
- Providing information to citizens regarding public safety
- Investigating crime scenes and assisting detectives
- Transporting prisoners to and from prison
- Testifying in the court system
- Writing police reports and bulletins
- Controlling riots
- Escorting high-risk figures (celebrities, athletes, politicians, etc.)
- Protecting and serving the community
- Serving warrants and subpoenas
- Directing traffic
- Leading escort convoys (commonly used for funerals)
- Responding to domestic disturbances
- Assisting in traffic accidents and other emergency situations
- Arresting law violators
The day to day tasks of a police officer are highly unpredictable, and they can literally change in a minute of time. While some police officers may be responsible for conducting specific duties in their jobs, they must all respond to a call of distress when it comes along. If you’re looking for an ever changing job guaranteed to keep you on your toes, this could be a perfect match for you.
Police Officer Pay Rates
On average, police officers earn between $28,000 and $80,000 a year, according to PayScale.com. The amount of time you have in the field and the location of your employer will both contribute to the amount of money you earn as a police officer. Listed below are different scenarios to keep in mind regarding your future pay rate.
Salary Levels by Popular Employers
- California Highway Patrol: $71,270 – $121,245
- New York Police Department (NYPD): $39,635 – $99,287
- The City of Chicago, Illinois: $45,615 – $89,762
- U.S. Air Force (USAF): $18,365 – $102,765
- U.S. Army: $20,426 – $47,367
Salary Levels by Popular Industries
- Education, College/University: $27,481 – $73,322
- Government: $31,109 – $81,210
- Law Enforcement: $30,098 – $79,442
- Military and Armed Forces: $28,438 – $85,985
- Security: $27,341 – $77,018
Salary Levels by Gender
- Male: $37,365 – $64,948
- Female: $35,918 – $57,317
Salary Levels by Degree
- Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice: $30,340 – $62,827
- Associate’s Degree: $30,863 – $84,811
- Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice: $29,583 – $71,772
- Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice: $30,336 – $76,043
- Bachelor’s Degree: $32,013 – $78,263
Salary Levels by Location (Top 5)
- 1. Nassau, New York: $42,729 – $120,864
- 2. Oakland, California: $70,197 – $99,872
- 3. San Francisco, California: $47,500 – $105,498
- 4. New York, New York: $40,326 – $96,022
- 5. Newark, New Jersey: $52,000 – $85,000
- 6. East Orange, New Jersey: $52,500 – $75,885
- 7. San Jose, California: $58,000 – $102,000
- 8. Chicago, Illinois: $42,885 – $86,966
- 9. Joliet, Illinois: $45,863 – $100,299
- 10. Jersey City, New Jersey: $49,132 – $91,563
As you can see, there is a wide range of salary levels you may see as a police officer. Ideally, you need to devote several years to the force so you can make as much money as possible. If you become one of the lead officers of your job sector, you could earn a very nice living for the future.
How to Become a Police Officer
If the descriptions above have you excited about potentially working as a police officer, you need to first obtain a high school diploma. Then you will have to complete a pre-entrance examination to assess your math, English, and reading comprehension skills. If you pass that exam, you can get into a police academy for the bulk of your training. Then all you have to do is graduate from the academy and find a place to work. In less than a year, you could be a certified police officer – serving the community day in and day out.
