What is a deputy sheriff and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted Expert
Dr. Durmus Alper CAMLIBEL Ph.D.

Deputy sheriffs are essentially responsible for keeping life ordered and civil. They patrol their designated areas to prevent crime, investigate illegal activities, and arrest offenders. They supervise detainees in county jails, prepare documents for court cases, and respond to emergency situations, such as accidents, medical emergencies, or missing people.

Supervising law enforcement staff is also their responsibility. But all dynamic and exciting duties aside, deputy sheriffs have to take care of administrative tasks as well. They have to log daily activities and submit reports on the work of their department to the authorities they respond to.

If you want to become a deputy sheriff, the most important thing is to have a clean criminal record. Everything else comes after that, like a high school diploma, a driver's license, perhaps some military experience, or even a degree in criminal justice. 72% of people working as deputy sheriffs find their work makes a difference and if you believe that, you too can get there, regardless of any requirements.

What general advice would you give to a Deputy Sheriff?

D

Dr. Durmus Alper CAMLIBEL Ph.D.Dr. Durmus Alper CAMLIBEL Ph.D. LinkedIn Profile

Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh

They need to avoid being overzealous officers. They should not put their career at the center of their life. They need to spend quality time with their family. In law enforcement, good relations with the public and colleagues are essential. They need to develop good relationships with the people and their colleagues and expand their professional network. They always try to be a "problem solver officer" rather than a "problem creator officer." If someone asks for help from them, they should treat this person with dignity and respect. They should avoid being arrogant in their interaction with the public. Because arrogance is the worst plague, and Humility is the greatest virtue.
ScoreDeputy SheriffUS Average
Salary
3.9

Avg. Salary $50,143

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
10.0

Growth Rate 3%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.0
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.08%

Asian 3.27%

Black or African American 13.67%

Hispanic or Latino 15.73%

Unknown 4.91%

White 61.35%

Gender

female 17.20%

male 82.80%

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
Stress Level
10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
9.1

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
4.8

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

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Deputy Sheriff career paths

Key steps to become a deputy sheriff

  1. Explore deputy sheriff education requirements

    Most common deputy sheriff degrees

    Bachelor's

    41.6 %

    Associate

    28.9 %

    High School Diploma

    14.7 %
  2. Start to develop specific deputy sheriff skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Patrol24.67%
    Public Safety6.92%
    Transport Inmates5.98%
    Law Enforcement Agencies5.40%
    Emergency Situations5.24%
  3. Complete relevant deputy sheriff training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New deputy sheriffs 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 deputy sheriff based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real deputy sheriff resumes.
  4. Gain additional deputy sheriff certifications

    Deputy sheriff certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific deputy sheriff certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for deputy sheriffs include First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor and OSHA Safety Certificate .

    More About Certifications
  5. Research deputy sheriff duties and responsibilities

    • Hire and manage credit officers responsible for Citigroup's new commodity derivatives business in Houston.
    • Act as a supervisor and FTO.
    • Monitor access control systems including CCTV systems.
    • Act as first responder for medical emergencies and criminal acts.
  6. Prepare your deputy sheriff resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your deputy sheriff resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a deputy sheriff resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Deputy Sheriff Resume templates

    Build a professional Deputy Sheriff resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Deputy Sheriff resume.
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  7. Apply for deputy sheriff jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a deputy sheriff 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 Deputy Sheriff Job

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Average deputy sheriff salary

The average Deputy Sheriff salary in the United States is $50,143 per year or $24 per hour. Deputy sheriff salaries range between $35,000 and $70,000 per year.

Average Deputy Sheriff Salary
$50,143 Yearly
$24.11 hourly

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How do deputy sheriffs rate their job?

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Deputy Sheriff reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2022
Cons

The pay is not worth what you have to do sometimes


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A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2022
Cons

Dirty officers, mistreatment of I/M's, lack of help from higher up management, being required to work days off because we can't keep staff.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2019
Cons

I don't like jumping shifts day to night and so forth. it tends to mess up the internal clock.


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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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