Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in New Mexico
Considering working as a Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in New Mexico? Here’s what you need to know. 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.
What do Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Make in New Mexico?
For police and sheriff's patrol officers working in New Mexico, the median annual wage is $63,340 per year (or about $30.45/hour).Pay can range from $47,470 at the 10th percentile to $77,910 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $47,470 | $22.82 |
| 25th percentile | $58,150 | $27.96 |
| Median (50th) | $63,340 | $30.45 |
| 75th percentile | $74,250 | $35.70 |
| 90th percentile | $77,910 | $37.46 |
Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in New Mexico compared to the national average — is 1.30, meaning that police and sheriff's patrol officers are more concentrated here than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, police and sheriff's patrol officers earn a median of $49,631 per year ($23.86/hour), higher than the New Mexico median.
Employment Outlook
National employment for 440,443 police and sheriff's patrol officers in the U.S.. In New Mexico alone, approximately 4,830 people work in this role. That trails the typical state, which employs around 8,920 police and sheriff's patrol officers.
Top New Mexico Metros for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
These are the New Mexico metros with the most police and sheriff's patrol officers in New Mexico.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NM | 1,770 | $74,250 |
| Las Cruces, NM | 390 | $61,440 |
| Farmington, NM | 370 | $60,680 |
| Santa Fe, NM | 350 | $75,530 |
Top States for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Employment
View the states that employ the most police and sheriff's patrol officers work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 65,170 |
| Texas | 62,230 |
| New York | 54,360 |
| Florida | 48,340 |
| Illinois | 29,790 |
| Pennsylvania | 24,280 |
| Ohio | 24,050 |
| North Carolina | 21,650 |
| New Jersey | 21,620 |
| Georgia | 21,540 |
| Virginia | 19,400 |
| Massachusetts | 17,000 |
| Michigan | 16,290 |
| Louisiana | 14,340 |
| Tennessee | 13,780 |
| Indiana | 13,480 |
| South Carolina | 12,820 |
| Missouri | 12,750 |
| Arizona | 12,430 |
| Alabama | 12,060 |
Highest-Paying States for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
Where police and sheriff's patrol officers earn the most: police and sheriff's patrol officers.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $115,400 |
| Washington | $102,640 |
| Illinois | $101,530 |
| Alaska | $100,300 |
| Colorado | $96,100 |
| New York | $93,050 |
| Hawaii | $89,390 |
| New Jersey | $89,030 |
| District of Columbia | $88,330 |
| Oregon | $88,140 |
Skills
Top police and sheriff's patrol officers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
The abilities that matter most for police and sheriff's patrol officers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Common tasks include:
- 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.
- Review facts of incidents to determine if criminal act or statute violations were involved.
- Investigate illegal or suspicious activities.
- 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.
- Relay complaint and emergency-request information to appropriate agency dispatchers.
- Monitor traffic to ensure motorists observe traffic regulations and exhibit safe driving procedures.
- Drive vehicles or patrol specific areas to detect law violators, issue citations, and make arrests.
- Execute arrest warrants, locating and taking persons into custody.
Work Activities
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
- Getting Information
- Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization
- Assisting and Caring for Others
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Working with Computers
Tools & Technology
Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Microsoft Access
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Related college programs include:
- Criminal Justice & Corrections
- Security Science and Technology
- Natural Resource Management
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Related Careers
Related occupations to police and sheriff's patrol officers include:
- Compliance Officers
- Coroners
- Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists
- Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers
- Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates
- First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers
Also Known As
Accident Prevention Squad Police Officer, Alcohol Law Enforcement Agent (ALE Agent), Animal Cop, Border Guard, Border Patrol Agent, Border Patrol Officer, Campus Police Officer, Canine Deputy (K-9 Deputy), Canine Handler (K-9 Handler), Canine Police Officer (K-9 Police Officer), Certified Police Officer, City Constable, City Marshal, Civil Division Deputy Sheriff, Civil Process Server.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 33-3051.00
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