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What is a desk sergeant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
ScoreDesk SergeantUS Average
Salary
3.1

Avg. Salary $39,731

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity
2.3
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.37%

Asian 1.79%

Black or African American 10.06%

Hispanic or Latino 15.82%

Unknown 3.94%

White 67.03%

Gender

female 18.43%

male 81.57%

Age - 47
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 - 47
Stress level
10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
7.3

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
4.6

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Desk sergeant career paths

Key steps to become a desk sergeant

  1. Explore desk sergeant education requirements

    Most common desk sergeant degrees

    Associate

    42.5 %

    Bachelor's

    31.1 %

    High School Diploma

    17.8 %
  2. Start to develop specific desk sergeant skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Patrol16.54%
    Law Enforcement Agencies14.52%
    Emergency Situations14.05%
    Incident Reports5.91%
    Blotter4.98%
  3. Complete relevant desk sergeant training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New desk sergeants 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 desk sergeant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real desk sergeant resumes.
  4. Research desk sergeant duties and responsibilities

    • Assist in establishing overall S3 objectives and accomplishing assign missions.
    • Monitor console alarm panels and CCTV displays for various high priority facilities.
    • Conduct classroom instruction in engagement techniques, limit visibility gunnery, target classification, range determination, and field reconnaissance.
    • Secure priceless and irreplaceable documents against threats of terrorism and sabotage.
  5. Prepare your desk sergeant resume

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

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a desk sergeant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable desk sergeant resume templates

    Build a professional desk sergeant resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your desk sergeant resume.
    Desk Sergeant Resume
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    Desk Sergeant Resume
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    Desk Sergeant Resume
    Desk Sergeant Resume
  6. Apply for desk sergeant jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a desk sergeant job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first desk sergeant job

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Average desk sergeant salary

The average desk sergeant salary in the United States is $39,731 per year or $19 per hour. Desk sergeant salaries range between $33,000 and $47,000 per year.

Average desk sergeant salary
$39,731 Yearly
$19.10 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do desk sergeants rate their job?

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Desk sergeant reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020
Cons

If I had to pick one thing, it would be working holidays and weekends which took me away from my children.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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