What is a cop and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a cop. For example, did you know that they make an average of $44.41 an hour? That's $92,365 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 3% and produce 20,600 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreCopUS Average
Salary
7.2

Avg. Salary $92,365

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
-

Growth Rate 3%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.0
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.04%

Asian 3.13%

Black or African American 11.88%

Hispanic or Latino 18.36%

Unknown 4.78%

White 60.81%

Gender

female 30.91%

male 69.09%

Age - 39
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39
Complexity Level
7.3

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Cop career paths

Key steps to become a cop

  1. Explore cop education requirements

    Most common cop degrees

    Bachelor's

    50.4 %

    High School Diploma

    17.7 %

    Associate

    14.2 %
  2. Start to develop specific cop skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Situational Awareness32.35%
    Control Systems28.73%
    Gccs18.53%
    Climate8.25%
    Windows6.59%
  3. Complete relevant cop training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New cops learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a cop based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real cop resumes.
  4. Research cop duties and responsibilities

    • Complete VMWARE infrastructure course lead by certify VMWARE trainer, which cover all aspects of VMWARE installation and support.
    • Work with AIS systems administrators to maintain and upgrade Unix base servers and GCCS applications.
    • Assist POs to develop plans and tools relate to business and marketing opportunities.
    • Deploy to multiple MSCs worldwide to install and to train new users on the proper use of C2PC.
  5. Apply for cop jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a cop job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Cop Job

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Average cop salary

The average Cop salary in the United States is $92,365 per year or $44 per hour. Cop salaries range between $60,000 and $141,000 per year.

Average Cop Salary
$92,365 Yearly
$44.41 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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