1. Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA • Private
In-State Tuition
$18,454
Enrollment
40,108
What is a Detective Sergeant?
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a detective sergeant. For example, did you know that they make an average of $25.26 an hour? That's $52,546 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 5% and produce 37,500 job opportunities across the U.S.
What Does a Detective Sergeant Do
There are certain skills that many detective sergeants have in order to accomplish their responsibilities. By taking a look through resumes, we were able to narrow down the most common skills for a person in this position. We discovered that a lot of resumes listed resourcefulness, communication skills and empathy.
How To Become a Detective Sergeant
If you're interested in becoming a detective sergeant, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 52.1% of detective sergeants have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 9.8% of detective sergeants have master's degrees. Even though most detective sergeants have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.
Detective Sergeant Career Paths
In addition to switching up your job search, it might prove helpful to look at a career path for your specific job. Now, what's a career path you ask? Well, it's practically a map that shows how you might advance from one job title to another. Our career paths are especially detailed with salary changes. So, for example, if you started out with the role of sergeant you might progress to a role such as officer eventually. Later on in your career, you could end up with the title operations officer.
Detective Sergeant
Operations Officer
5 Years
Senior Investigator
8 Years
Security Manager
6 Years
Security Director
10 Years
Assistant Director Of Security
7 Years
Security Operations Manager
7 Years
Show More
Average Salary for a Detective Sergeant
Detective Sergeants in America make an average salary of $52,546 per year or $25 per hour. The top 10 percent makes over $67,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent under $40,000 per year.
Average Detective Sergeant Salary
$52,546 Yearly$25.26 hourly
What Am I Worth?
Roles and Types of Detective Sergeant
There are several types of detective sergeant, including:
Sergeant
Role:
Sergeants have a lot of responsibility. And when we say a lot, we mean a lot. You'll have all the responsibilities that police officers have and then you'll also be responsible for any duties that the police chief assigns to you.
It is an important role for the community you serve. You're the one police officers look to for guidance and support. But you also have to supervise your team to ensure they're doing the right thing for the community.
Speaking of community, sergeants are very involved in their communities. From engaging in conversations to directing public events, you'll want to be welcoming and inviting to the community so that they trust you and your team. Your duty is to serve and protect them, and they're counting on you to see that through.
- Average Salary: $48,557
- Degree: Bachelor's Degree
Lieutenant
Role:
A lieutenant monitors activities in the police department, examines departmental issues, and is cooperative during law enforcement inquisitions. Your job requires you to oversee internal events and make sure of the safeguarding and safety of the area. As a lieutenant, you have to execute laws and policies for everybody's strict adherence and examine police departments' establishments. You must also identify grievous crimes, seize contravene goods, and write any proof for investigation. Additionally, you have to often oversee City periods and give instructions to deputies about recent or modified policies. You must carry out equipment, vehicle, and uniform reviews, and you may have to train new workers and analyze present employees' efficiency. Sometimes, outside of the field, you have to carry out managerial duties like sustaining apprehension and property books. You must also ensure appropriate documentation of evidence.
To become a lieutenant requires you to have a bachelor's or an associate degree in criminal justice, fire science and protection, or business. Furthermore, you must exhibit excellent communication, leadership, and organization skills. In addition, as a lieutenant, you must be proficient in using specific weapons. You will earn an average of $43,329 yearly or $20.83 an hour.
- Average Salary: $47,781
- Degree: Bachelor's Degree
Platoon Sergeant
Role:
A platoon sergeant is the senior noncommissioned officer in a unit. A unit is usually composed of about 40 officers. He/She is the principal tactical adviser to the platoon commander and collaborates with the commander to establish training schedules. Asides from that, he/she reviews the readiness of the platoon and its members for combat. Platoon sergeants are tasked with running the training of the platoon. They oversee the daily routines of the platoon, including inspections, movement between training locations, rest periods, and other activities.
As a platoon sergeant, you must hold at least the rank of a staff sergeant. You must be within pay grade E-6. You must have been in the force for at least four years. Your experience must include the practical application of acquired knowledge. You must possess communication, leadership, and analytical skills. Platoon sergeants earn an average salary of $59,246 per year. It varies between $40,000 and $87,000.
- Average Salary: $95,863
- Degree: Bachelor's Degree
States With The Most Detective Sergeant Jobs
Number Of Detective Sergeant Jobs By State
| Rank | State | Number of Jobs | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 64 | $58,042 |
| 2 | Florida | 55 | $46,083 |
| 3 | New York | 54 | $60,280 |
| 4 | New Jersey | 45 | $57,943 |
| 5 | Texas | 41 | $44,773 |
| 6 | Connecticut | 30 | $55,464 |
| 7 | Georgia | 30 | $47,368 |
| 8 | Ohio | 29 | $58,025 |
| 9 | Michigan | 29 | $51,586 |
| 10 | Virginia | 23 | $50,115 |
| 11 | South Carolina | 23 | $34,530 |
| 12 | Illinois | 21 | $52,561 |
| 13 | Indiana | 20 | $37,596 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | 19 | $52,943 |
| 15 | North Carolina | 17 | $47,960 |
| 16 | Maryland | 15 | $38,666 |
| 17 | Massachusetts | 15 | $38,936 |
| 18 | Arkansas | 12 | $36,579 |
| 19 | Kentucky | 9 | $55,431 |
| 20 | Tennessee | 9 | $47,702 |
| 21 | Washington | 8 | $66,032 |
| 22 | Missouri | 8 | $44,609 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | 7 | $37,780 |
| 24 | Nevada | 6 | $52,419 |
| 25 | Colorado | 6 | $54,709 |
| 26 | Nebraska | 6 | $44,920 |
| 27 | Delaware | 5 | $55,139 |
| 28 | Oklahoma | 5 | $46,892 |
| 29 | Alabama | 5 | $45,994 |
| 30 | Minnesota | 5 | $47,626 |
| 31 | Mississippi | 4 | $43,547 |
| 32 | Louisiana | 4 | $34,075 |
| 33 | Arizona | 3 | $47,505 |
| 34 | Maine | 2 | $66,072 |
| 35 | West Virginia | 2 | $58,106 |
| 36 | Rhode Island | 2 | $55,267 |
| 37 | New Hampshire | 2 | $54,017 |
| 38 | Oregon | 2 | $50,909 |
| 39 | Iowa | 1 | $51,752 |
| 40 | Wyoming | 1 | $46,950 |
| 41 | New Mexico | 1 | $50,805 |
| 42 | Alaska | 1 | $47,130 |
| 43 | Utah | 1 | $45,795 |
| 44 | South Dakota | 1 | $35,011 |
| 45 | Montana | 1 | $35,268 |
| 46 | Idaho | 0 | $64,415 |
| 47 | Kansas | 0 | $50,660 |
| 48 | North Dakota | 0 | $45,350 |
| 49 | Hawaii | 0 | $41,037 |
| 50 | Vermont | 0 | $37,213 |
Top Colleges for Detective Sergeants
2. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,309
Enrollment
9,142
3. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$9,808
Enrollment
13,990
4. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
In-State Tuition
$51,522
Enrollment
13,760
5. University of New Haven
West Haven, CT • Private
In-State Tuition
$39,270
Enrollment
5,041
6. University of Georgia
Athens, GA • Private
In-State Tuition
$11,830
Enrollment
29,474
7. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
8. SUNY at Albany
Albany, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$10,011
Enrollment
13,434
9. Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC • Private
In-State Tuition
$3,926
Enrollment
9,835
10. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
In-State Tuition
$55,695
Enrollment
6,596
Top Skills For a Detective Sergeant
The skills section on your resume can be almost as important as the experience section, so you want it to be an accurate portrayal of what you can do. Luckily, we've found all of the skills you'll need so even if you don't have these skills yet, you know what you need to work on. Out of all the resumes we looked through, 19.5% of detective sergeants listed patrol on their resume, but soft skills such as resourcefulness and communication skills are important as well.
Choose From 10+ Customizable Detective Sergeant Resume templates
Zippia allows you to choose from different easy-to-use Detective Sergeant templates, and provides you with expert advice. Using the templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your Detective Sergeant resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.
Detective Sergeant diversity
Detective Sergeant Gender Distribution
Male
94%
Female
6%
After extensive research and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
- Among detective sergeants, 6.3% of them are women, while 93.7% are men.
- The most common race/ethnicity among detective sergeants is White, which makes up 67.3% of all detective sergeants.
- The most common foreign language among detective sergeants is Spanish at 66.7%.
Online Courses For Detective Sergeant That You May Like
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How Do Detective Sergeants Rate Their Jobs?
Top Detective Sergeant Employers
Most Common Employers For Detective Sergeant
| Rank | Company | Average Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Police Department | $65,276 | $31.38 | 3 |
| 2 | Polk County Sheriff's Office | $61,830 | $29.73 | 3 |
| 3 | Lee County Sheriff's Office | $61,787 | $29.71 | 4 |
| 4 | City | $60,075 | $28.88 | 6 |
| 5 | LAPD HQ | $57,800 | $27.79 | 4 |
| 6 | NOPD | $57,772 | $27.77 | 4 |
| 7 | suffolk County DPW | $57,215 | $27.51 | 2 |
| 8 | Town of Davie, FL | $56,610 | $27.22 | 2 |
| 9 | Nyc Parks | $55,036 | $26.46 | 4 |
| 10 | VSECU | $54,834 | $26.36 | 5 |