Post job

What is a patrol commander and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
ScorePatrol CommanderUS Average
Salary
6.6

Avg. Salary $84,074

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity
2.3
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.37%

Asian 1.77%

Black or African American 10.89%

Hispanic or Latino 14.93%

Unknown 3.92%

White 67.13%

Gender

female 3.31%

male 96.69%

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

Patrol commander career paths

Key steps to become a patrol commander

  1. Explore patrol commander education requirements

    Most common patrol commander degrees

    Bachelor's

    55.2 %

    Associate

    20.0 %

    Master's

    11.0 %
  2. Start to develop specific patrol commander skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Patrol47.94%
    Emergency Situations9.91%
    Public Safety7.21%
    Security Operations5.37%
    Law Enforcement Agencies5.17%
  3. Complete relevant patrol commander training and internships

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

    • Manage overall daily operations of patrol division / communications.
    • Supervise the patrol division, including support personnel and code enforcement operations.
    • Receive and implement combat orders and direct deployment of personnel in offensive, defensive and retrograde operations.
    • Arrange quarterly Compstat, take complaint reports (CRs), handle special attentions and conduct roll call training.
  5. Get patrol commander experience

  6. Prepare your patrol commander resume

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

    Choose from 10+ customizable patrol commander resume templates

    Build a professional patrol commander 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 patrol commander resume.
    Patrol Commander Resume
    Patrol Commander Resume
    Patrol Commander Resume
    Patrol Commander Resume
    Patrol Commander Resume
    Patrol Commander Resume
    Patrol Commander Resume
    Patrol Commander Resume
    Patrol Commander Resume
  7. Apply for patrol commander jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a patrol commander 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 patrol commander job

Zippi

Are you a patrol commander?

Share your story for a free salary report.

Average patrol commander salary

The average patrol commander salary in the United States is $84,074 per year or $40 per hour. Patrol commander salaries range between $54,000 and $128,000 per year.

Average patrol commander salary
$84,074 Yearly
$40.42 hourly

What am I worth?

salary-calculator

How do patrol commanders rate their job?

5/5

Out of 1 Patrol Commander reviews, 100% were positive.

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Based on 1 ratings

Career growth
5.0
Pay / salary
5.0
Overall rating
5.0
Work/life balance
5.0

Patrol commander reviews

profile
5.0
A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2023
Pros

Nobody listens to me because we are friends, now they are putting me a the position to charge them

Cons

It’s hard


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020
Pros

I truly enjoyed my time on the regional swat team. Although I was not an operator, I was assigned to the team as a certified FBI Negotiator. This further enhanced my people skills which will make me an asset to any company.

Cons

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


Working as a patrol commander? Share your experience anonymously.
Overall rating*
Career growth
Work/Life balance
Pay/Salary

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.

Browse protective service jobs