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What is an enforcement officer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted expert
Dr. Durmus Alper CAMLIBEL Ph.D.
introduction image

An enforcement officer is responsible for promoting and enforcing policies within their organization. They may work in various settings, such as schools, apartment buildings, manufacturing plants, healthcare facilities, corporate offices, and much more.

The duties of an enforcement officer vary depending on their nature of work. For instance, an enforcement officer in an apartment building is in charge of reminding tenants of their obligations, collecting rent, and addressing lease violations. An enforcement officer that works in a manufacturing plant, on the other hand, may be responsible for promoting safety policies and reprimanding workers that go against them.

The minimum education requirements for an enforcement officer are a high school diploma or GED, but having a bachelor's degree with an industry-relevant major is a great place to start. In terms of salary, an enforcement officer earns around $32,000 per year. And since an enforcement officer is needed in many types of workplaces, the number of job opportunities in the country is robust.

What general advice would you give to an enforcement officer?

Dr. Durmus Alper CAMLIBEL Ph.D.Dr. Durmus Alper CAMLIBEL Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

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.
ScoreEnforcement OfficerUS Average
Salary
3.0

Avg. Salary $38,446

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
10.0

Growth rate 3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.0
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.03%

Asian 3.10%

Black or African American 12.75%

Hispanic or Latino 17.45%

Unknown 4.66%

White 61.00%

Gender

female 29.08%

male 70.92%

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
8.3

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
6.0

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Enforcement officer career paths

Key steps to become an enforcement officer

  1. Explore enforcement officer education requirements

    Most common enforcement officer degrees

    Bachelor's

    47.3 %

    Associate

    22.1 %

    High School Diploma

    15.0 %
  2. Start to develop specific enforcement officer skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Customer Service15.89%
    Parking Enforcement13.44%
    Traffic Control13.31%
    Data Entry11.86%
    Issue Citations9.99%
  3. Complete relevant enforcement officer training and internships

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

    • Manage support teams, including maritime engineers, electrical and electronic engineers, and technical support and logistics personnel.
    • Assist with evictions and work with local sheriffs to execute.
    • Patrol assign customer's business locations, observing and reporting incidents and safety concerns.
    • Remain in high visibility status to deter any criminal activity within the assigned patrol areas.
  5. Prepare your enforcement officer resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your enforcement officer 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 an enforcement officer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable enforcement officer resume templates

    Build a professional enforcement officer 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 enforcement officer resume.
    Enforcement Officer Resume
    Enforcement Officer Resume
    Enforcement Officer Resume
    Enforcement Officer Resume
    Enforcement Officer Resume
    Enforcement Officer Resume
    Enforcement Officer Resume
    Enforcement Officer Resume
    Enforcement Officer Resume
  6. Apply for enforcement officer jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an enforcement officer 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 enforcement officer job

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Average enforcement officer salary

The average enforcement officer salary in the United States is $38,446 per year or $18 per hour. Enforcement officer salaries range between $29,000 and $50,000 per year.

Average enforcement officer salary
$38,446 Yearly
$18.48 hourly

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How do enforcement officers rate their job?

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Enforcement officer reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2020
Pros

Ability to move around to various locations. Meeting new & different people. Learning new things everyday.


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A zippia user wrote a review on May 2019
Pros

Variety and independence


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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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