Sheriffs & Deputy Sheriffs
| Description |
OES Code: 63032 |
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. Exclude Deputy Sheriffs who spend the majority of their time guarding prisoners in county correctional institutions.
| CA Wages/hour |
median |
range |
| New, no experience: |
$15.00 |
$13.00 – $18.00 |
| New, experienced: |
$18.00 |
$13.00 – $22.00 |
| 3 yrs+ experience: |
$21.00 |
$14.00 – $22.00 |
Many employers in this occupation are unionized.
Local Wages
• CCOIS Survey • OES Survey
Hours & Benefits
Full-time positions average 40 hours per week. Persons working in this occupation must be willing to work overtime and frequently on weekends, holidays or evening shifts.
Almost all employers offer medical, dental, and vision insurance in addition to sick leave, vacation, retirement and life insurance.
Employment Trends
| Employment 1996 |
8,040 |
| Projected Employment 2006 |
9,520 |
| Growth Rate 1996-2006 |
18.4% |
| Openings due to Separations |
1,570 |
Employment Trends by California County
Most (60%) employers expect employment to remain stable over the next 3 years while many (40%) indicate that they expect it to grow.
Advancement
Advancement opportunities usually consist of promotion to sergeant. The job of Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff is part of a cluster of law enforcement occupations which includes police patrol and correctional officer, as well as others such as FBI or Treasury Agent which many people may not believe are related to the position of Sheriff.
Getting the Job & Other Information
Jobs in this occupation are filled through examinations which evaluate the experience, education and personal fitness of applicants, and new hires receive additional training prior to beginning work (see the training section of this occupational assessment).
Applications and notices of examination are available at county personnel offices.
For current job listings, browse CalJOBS or America's Job Bank. |
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Education and Training
Although applicants in this occupation are formally required to have completed high school or the equivalent, more advanced education with related specialties such as police science or criminal justice are becoming more common as this occupation continues to professionalize, and is highly desirable.
Skills & Other Requirements
Work in this occupation demands a combination of self control, emotional stability and physical ability well above the average for most occupations.
Physical skills for this occupation include the ability to pass a pre-employment medical examination, and being able to pass a physical performance test.
Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff need a Possession of a Firearms Qualifications Card. They should also be able to write effectively, have problem solving skills.
On a personal level, sheriffs need to understand of a variety of cultures, have the ability to read and comprehend information quickly, in addition to being able to pass a psychological interview.
They also need public contact skills, have the ability to work independently, and interact well with others
References
Note: The references below (and/or on other parts of this page) will link to pages on the internet outside the Career Video system.
Related Occupation: Security Guards #75, Law Enforcement Occupations #457
Training: California State Training Inventory
© State of California EDD/LMID, US Department of Labor
Unless indicated otherwise, wage data is based on Statewide aggregated CCOIS survey responses between 1995 and 1997.
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