Explore Jobs
Find Specific Jobs
Explore Careers
Explore Professions
Best Companies
Explore Companies
An officer maintains law and order in a particular jurisdiction. They are typically employed by government agencies, such as the police or military. Officers enforce laws, investigate crimes, and respond to emergency situations. They often work long hours, including nights and weekends, and may face dangerous situations on the job. Officers must have strong communication skills, be physically fit, and able to make quick decisions under pressure.
Avg. Salary $52,506
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth Rate 3%
Growth Rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 1.85%
Asian 6.64%
Black or African American 15.25%
Hispanic or Latino 18.58%
Unknown 5.74%
White 51.93%
Genderfemale 36.10%
male 63.90%
Age - 43American 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 - 43Stress level is very high
7.1 - high
Complexity Level is intermediate
7 - challenging
Work Life balance is excellent
6.4 - fair
Pros
Sense of purpose in contributing to a safer society
Competitive salary, benefits, and job security
Opportunities for advancement and specialization
Access to training and education
Ability to work in a variety of locations and settings
Cons
High stress and potential for danger
Long hours and irregular schedules
Burnout, compassion fatigue, mental health challenges, and difficulties with work-life balance
Potentially negative public perception and media portrayal
Potential for legal liability or lawsuits
Skills![]() ![]() | Percentages![]() ![]() |
---|---|
Patrol | 19.43% |
Customer Service | 18.35% |
Public Safety | 9.76% |
Emergency Situations | 6.17% |
PowerPoint | 3.26% |
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your officer 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 an officer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Now it's time to start searching for an officer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
Are you an Officer?
Share your story for a free salary report.
The average Officer salary in the United States is $52,506 per year or $25 per hour. Officer salaries range between $26,000 and $103,000 per year.
What Am I Worth?
The pay is not worth what you have to do sometimes
How political the job has become. There isn’t a correct way to do your job. Almost everyone wants to get you fired. It’s annoying.
Ability to move around to various locations. Meeting new & different people. Learning new things everyday.
No upward mobility. Stagnant. Lack of educational opportunities.