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What is a detective sergeant and how to become one
What's a day at work look like for a Detective Sergeant?
Jodi Gill
Internship Coordinator, Pennsylvania State University - Beaver
Avg. Salary $52,546
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth Rate 3%
Growth Rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 1.37%
Asian 1.77%
Black or African American 10.87%
Hispanic or Latino 14.78%
Unknown 3.92%
White 67.30%
Genderfemale 6.32%
male 93.68%
Age - 47American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 47Stress level is very high
7.1 - high
Complexity Level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work Life balance is fair
6.4 - fair
Detective Sergeant career paths
Key steps to become a detective sergeant
Explore detective sergeant education requirements
Start to develop specific detective sergeant skills
Skills 
Percentages Patrol 19.52% Evidence Collection 10.15% Law Enforcement Agencies 9.56% Homicide 6.07% Burglary 4.36% Complete relevant detective sergeant training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New detective sergeants 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 detective sergeant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real detective sergeant resumes.Research detective sergeant duties and responsibilities
- Receive multiple letters of commendation for effective investigations that lead to successful prosecutions.
- Assist in writing standards for certification for the firearms unit.
- Supervise detective squad, identify monthly investigation outcomes, create staffing schedules, perform stake-outs, monitor wire taps ,
- Establish probable cause to obtain warrants, leading to arrests and the seizure of narcotics, firearms and other contraband.
Prepare your detective sergeant resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your detective sergeant 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 detective sergeant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose From 10+ Customizable Detective Sergeant Resume templates
Build a professional Detective Sergeant 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 Detective Sergeant resume.
Apply for detective sergeant jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a detective sergeant job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How Did You Land Your First Detective Sergeant Job
Are you a Detective Sergeant?
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Average detective sergeant salary
The average Detective Sergeant salary in the United States is $52,546 per year or $25 per hour. Detective sergeant salaries range between $40,000 and $67,000 per year.
What Am I Worth?
How do detective sergeants rate their job?
Detective Sergeant reviews
I truly enjoyed my time on the regional swat team. Although I was not an operator, I was assigned to the team as a certified FBI Negotiator. This further enhanced my people skills which will make me an asset to any company.
If I had to pick one thing, it would be working holidays and weekends which took me away from my children.
Updated January 8, 2025
