What Do Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff Do?
Job Description: Enforce law and order in rural or unincorporated districts or serve legal processes of courts. May patrol courthouse, guard court or grand jury, or escort defendants.
Daily Life Of a Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff
- Manage jail operations and tend to jail inmates.
- Verify that the proper legal charges have been made against law offenders.
- Place people in protective custody.
- Notify patrol units to take violators into custody or to provide needed assistance or medical aid.
- Supervise law enforcement staff, such as jail staff, officers, and deputy sheriffs.
- Investigate illegal or suspicious activities.
Featured schools near , edit
Things a Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff Should Know How to Do
Below is a list of the skills most Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs say are important on the job.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Negotiation: Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
Related Job Titles
- Deputy Sheriff Generalist/Bailiff
- Sheriff’s Officer
- Special Deputy Sheriff
- Sheriff Deputy
- Deputy (Patrol)
Job Outlook for Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 684,200 jobs in the United States for Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 7% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 47,700 new jobs for Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff by 2026. The BLS estimates 49,500 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff are Utah, Texas, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in New Jersey, Maryland, or Alaska. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Do Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs Make A Lot Of Money?
The average yearly salary of a Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff ranges between $35,750 and $101,620.
Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs who work in California, New Jersey, or Alaska, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $45,930 |
| Alaska | $88,030 |
| Arizona | $64,640 |
| Arkansas | $39,560 |
| California | $101,380 |
| Colorado | $72,950 |
| Connecticut | $71,920 |
| Delaware | $70,000 |
| District of Columbia | $74,940 |
| Florida | $59,610 |
| Georgia | $42,990 |
| Hawaii | $74,040 |
| Idaho | $53,880 |
| Illinois | $75,720 |
| Indiana | $55,310 |
| Iowa | $58,340 |
| Kansas | $48,350 |
| Kentucky | $45,600 |
| Louisiana | $41,550 |
| Maine | $49,840 |
| Maryland | $68,230 |
| Massachusetts | $69,870 |
| Michigan | $56,270 |
| Minnesota | $69,060 |
| Mississippi | $35,550 |
| Missouri | $48,920 |
| Montana | $56,230 |
| Nebraska | $57,530 |
| Nevada | $70,450 |
| New Hampshire | $58,120 |
| New Jersey | $83,720 |
| New Mexico | $51,250 |
| New York | $74,860 |
| North Carolina | $48,420 |
| North Dakota | $57,190 |
| Ohio | $61,040 |
| Oklahoma | $46,120 |
| Oregon | $70,360 |
| Pennsylvania | $66,600 |
| Rhode Island | $60,890 |
| South Carolina | $42,280 |
| South Dakota | $48,550 |
| Tennessee | $44,600 |
| Texas | $61,870 |
| Utah | $53,890 |
| Vermont | $52,940 |
| Virginia | $56,710 |
| Washington | $77,670 |
| West Virginia | $43,590 |
| Wisconsin | $62,040 |
| Wyoming | $55,050 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Email software
- Word processing software
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Visio
- Database software
- ESRI ArcView
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
- IBM Lotus 1-2-3
- National Crime Information Center NCIC database
- Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System IAFIS
- Law enforcement information databases
- National Integrated Ballistics Information Network NIBIN
- Computer aided dispatch software
Becoming a Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff
What education or degrees do I need to become a Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff?
What work experience do I need to become a Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff?
Who Employs Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs?
Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs work in the following industries:
You May Also Be Interested In…
Those interested in being a Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff may also be interested in:
Career changers with experience as a Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
Request Info
|
Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs. Learn More > |
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.