A deputy is a policeman that works for a county's sheriff's department, while an officer is a policeman in a police department of a specific town or city. A deputy is a law enforcement professional who enforces the laws of a specific county within a state. They are tasked with investigating crimes, arresting criminals, and responding to emergency situations.

How To Become A Deputy: What It Is and Career Path

What is a deputy and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Dr. Durmus Alper CAMLIBEL Ph.D.

Deputy Sheriffs enforce laws, arrest criminals, escort defendants to and from the court, and assist citizens and properties in danger. You will patrol specific areas to detect law violators and investigate suspicious behaviors and activities. Your responsibilities include conducting criminal investigations and placing suspects in protective custody. As the deputy, you must take charge of accident scenes to control traffic flow, render help to accident victims, and assist in determining the cause of the accident. In extreme situations, you must report to officers of higher rank on assignments and ask for help and advice. Furthermore, you must provide medical aid to people in trouble and assist citizens under threat.

For this job position, you need to have a high school diploma or a GED in psychology or criminal justice, but having a bachelor's degree can be an advantage. You should also have strong verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills. You will earn an average salary of $42,056 per year.

What general advice would you give to a deputy?

Dr. Durmus Alper CAMLIBEL Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh

They need to avoid being overzealous officers. They should not put their career at the center of their life. They need to spend quality time with their family. In law enforcement, good relations with the public and colleagues are essential. They need to develop good relationships with the people and their colleagues and expand their professional network. They always try to be a "problem solver officer" rather than a "problem creator officer." If someone asks for help from them, they should treat this person with dignity and respect. They should avoid being arrogant in their interaction with the public. Because arrogance is the worst plague, and Humility is the greatest virtue.

ScoreDeputyUS Average

Salary

4.2

Avg. Salary $53,682

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

10.0

Growth rate 3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.3

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.14%

Asian 3.51%

Black or African American 13.24%

Hispanic or Latino 16.75%

Unknown 4.92%

White 60.44%

Gender

female 34.95%

male 65.05%

Age - 39

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39

Stress level

10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

9.1

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.8

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a deputy

Explore deputy education requirements

Most common deputy degrees

Bachelor's

48.2 %

Associate

18.2 %

Master's

12.4 %

Start to develop specific deputy skills

Skills	Percentages
Patrol	20.37%
Public Safety	8.98%
Transport Inmates	5.87%
Emergency Situations	5.11%
CPR	5.00%

Complete relevant deputy training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New deputies learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a deputy based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real deputy resumes.

Research deputy duties and responsibilities

Hire and manage credit officers responsible for Citigroup's new commodity derivatives business in Houston.
Service warrants, subpoenas and evictions, supervise interstate extraditions on special assignments.
POST certify, weapons certification, first aid and CPR certification.
Take part in ongoing training and firearms qualifications provide by the department in accordance with state regulations.

Prepare your deputy resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your deputy resume.

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