How To Become A Deputy Sheriff-K9 Handler: What It Is and Career Path

What is a deputy sheriff-k9 handler and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

2 min read

Quoted expert

Jill Myers

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a deputy sheriff-k9 handler. For example, did you know that they make an average of $23.07 an hour? That's $47,985 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 3% and produce 20,600 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a deputy sheriff-k9 handler?

Jill Myers

Director of the School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration

The more skill sets you have the better prepared you will be for future advancement and salary increases. Having a solid education, a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice and a masters degree will sometimes result in increased wages. Having federal certifications and competencies will enhance your opportunities and create potential marketability for your career. It is always a great skill set to have people skills, communication in both written and oral formats. It will enhance your ability to explain yourself in court, in the warrants one prepares, and with dealing with the public in all circumstances from victims and witnesses and suspects, to legislators, the funding sources like mayors and city council and the public at large.

ScoreDeputy Sheriff-K9 HandlerUS Average

Salary

3.7

Avg. Salary $47,985

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

10.0

Growth rate 3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.7

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.89%

Asian 3.20%

Black or African American 16.11%

Hispanic or Latino 15.23%

Unknown 4.32%

White 60.25%

Gender

female 1.64%

male 98.36%

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 sheriff-k9 handler

Explore deputy sheriff-k9 handler education requirements

Most common deputy sheriff-k9 handler degrees

Bachelor's

40.0 %

Associate

40.0 %

High School Diploma

16.0 %

Start to develop specific deputy sheriff-k9 handler skills

Skills	Percentages
Patrol	50.21%
Law Enforcement Agencies	14.13%
State Laws	5.84%
Criminal Investigations	5.77%
Field Training	5.68%

Complete relevant deputy sheriff-k9 handler training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New deputy sheriff-k9 handlers 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 sheriff-k9 handler based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real deputy sheriff-k9 handler resumes.

Research deputy sheriff-k9 handler duties and responsibilities

Hire and manage credit officers responsible for Citigroup's new commodity derivatives business in Houston.
Serve subpoenas, arrest warrants, citations and deliver emergency messages.
Serve warrants and subpoenas; file complaints; perform other work relate to the processing of misdemeanor and felony complaints.
Supervise assigned deputy sheriffs overseeing all incidents, accidents and criminal investigations.

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