Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
SOC Code: 33-3051 Job Zone 3: Medium Preparation Needed
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.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $109,054 | $127,088 | $145,122 | $163,155 |
| Vallejo, CA | $95,846 | $111,197 | $126,547 | $141,898 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $101,629 | $114,962 | $128,294 | $141,627 |
| Napa, CA | $97,115 | $110,698 | $124,301 | $137,883 |
| Salinas, CA | $82,992 | $99,029 | $115,045 | $131,082 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $83,637 | $98,592 | $113,547 | $128,502 |
| Redding, CA | $80,080 | $96,138 | $112,216 | $128,274 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $79,830 | $95,430 | $111,051 | $126,651 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $77,522 | $93,870 | $110,198 | $126,547 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $81,370 | $95,826 | $110,302 | $124,758 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Speaking | 3.9 | |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.9 | |
| Active Listening | 3.9 | |
| Active Learning | 3.8 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.8 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.6 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.6 | |
| Coordination | 3.6 | |
| Persuasion | 3.6 | |
| Service Orientation | 3.5 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Public Safety and Security | 4.8 |
| Law and Government | 4.8 |
| English Language | 4.3 |
| Psychology | 4.1 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 4.0 |
| Education and Training | 3.8 |
| Telecommunications | 3.5 |
| Administration and Management | 3.5 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma | 40.4% |
| Some college | 21.3% |
| Associate's degree | 17.1% |
| Post-secondary certificate | 14.7% |
| Bachelor's degree | 6.6% |
Typical Tasks
- Identify, pursue, and arrest suspects and perpetrators of criminal acts.
- 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.
- Record facts to prepare reports that document incidents and activities.
- Render aid to accident survivors and other persons requiring first aid for physical injuries.
- Investigate illegal or suspicious activities.
- Review facts of incidents to determine if criminal act or statute violations were involved.
- Monitor, note, report, and investigate suspicious persons and situations, safety hazards, and unusual or illegal activity in patrol area.
- Testify in court to present evidence or act as witness in traffic and criminal cases.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Visio Microsoft Windows Microsoft Word Computer aided composite drawing software Computer aided dispatch software Corel WordPerfect Office Suite Crime mapping software Database software DesignWare 3D EyeWitness ESRI ArcView
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