Protective service
Police officer
Maintain order and protect life and property by enforcing local, tribal, state, or federal laws and ordinances. Perform a combination of the following duties: patrol a specific area; direct traffic; issue traffic summonses; investigate accidents; apprehend and arrest suspects, or serve legal processes of courts. Includes police officers working at educational institutions.
Median pay
$76,210
Growth to 2035
+4%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
51,500
Time to qualify*
14 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Police officer
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
- Required
- Physical fitness test · Background check and polygraph · State POST certification
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Exposure to disease
Police officer: 68% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Provide for public safety by maintaining order, responding to emergencies, protecting people and property, enforcing motor vehicle and criminal laws, and promoting good community relations.
- Identify, pursue, and arrest suspects and perpetrators of criminal acts.
- Verify that the proper legal charges have been made against law offenders.
- Render aid to accident survivors and other persons requiring first aid for physical injuries.
- Record facts to prepare reports that document incidents and activities.
- Review facts of incidents to determine if criminal act or statute violations were involved.
- Investigate illegal or suspicious activities.
- Drive vehicles or patrol specific areas to detect law violators, issue citations, and make arrests.
Also called: Deputy Sheriff · K-9 Handler (Canine Handler) · Law Enforcement Officer · Patrol Officer · Peace Officer · Police Officer · Police Patrol Officer · Public Safety Officer (PSO)
Outlook and AI
Police officers held 693,200 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 717,300 by 2035 (+4%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Police officer vs. Firefighter
- Police officer vs. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Police officer vs. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Police officer vs. Transit and railroad police
- Police officer vs. Bailiff
- Police officer vs. Private detectives and investigators
- Police officer vs. Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists
- Police officer vs. Correctional officers and jailers
- Police officer vs. First-line supervisor of correctional officers
- Police officer vs. Security guard