How to hire a patrol deputy sheriff

How to hire a patrol deputy sheriff, step by step

Here's a step-by-step patrol deputy sheriff hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a patrol deputy sheriff job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new patrol deputy sheriff
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your patrol deputy sheriff job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a patrol deputy sheriff for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A patrol deputy sheriff's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, patrol deputy sheriffs from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of patrol deputy sheriffs and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Patrol Deputy Sheriff	Description	Hourly rate
   Patrol Deputy Sheriff	Police officers protect lives and property. Detectives and criminal investigators, who are sometimes called agents or special agents, gather facts and collect evidence of possible crimes.	$16-31
   Law Enforcement Officer	The duties of a law enforcement officer depend on their line of work or agency of employment. In general, they are responsible for enforcing laws and regulations, prioritizing the safety of citizens and the protection of the city... Show more	$14-24
   Police Officer	Police officers are responsible for keeping peace and security in a community. They uphold and enforce the law... Show more	$18-34

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Patrol
   • Crime Scenes
   • Law Enforcement Agencies
   • Public Safety
   • CPR
   • Physical Evidence
   • Field Training
   • Motor Vehicle
   • Traffic Laws
   • Local Laws
   • Criminal Justice
   • Firearms
   • State Laws
   • Subpoenas

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Hire and manage credit officers responsible for Citigroup's new commodity derivatives business in Houston.
   • Render first aid or CPR if need.
   • Execute warrants and subpoenas and participate in special operations.
   • Patrol deputy enforcing county laws and highway enforcement to include drug interdiction and special assignments.
   • Apprehend violators and provide need assistance or medical aid.-Completing multiple extensive reports after road patrol duties.
   • Protect Oklahoma roads and interstates by working DUI checkpoints.

   More patrol deputy sheriff duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your patrol deputy sheriff job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A patrol deputy sheriff can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, patrol deputy sheriffs' average salary in north carolina is 48% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level patrol deputy sheriffs 48% less than senior-level patrol deputy sheriffs.
   • Certifications. A patrol deputy sheriff with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a patrol deputy sheriff's salary.

   Average patrol deputy sheriff salary

   $48,048yearly

   $23.10 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level patrol deputy sheriff salary

   $34,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 5, 2025

   Average patrol deputy sheriff salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$59,316	$29
   2	Colorado	$51,965	$25
   3	Oregon	$51,058	$25
   4	Texas	$41,746	$20
   5	Florida	$39,429	$19
   6	Missouri	$37,297	$18
   7	North Carolina	$33,066	$16

   Average patrol deputy sheriff salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Forsyth County	$57,789	$27.78
   2	Boulder County	$57,632	$27.71	1
   3	Washington County	$57,271	$27.53	5
   4	Deschutes County	$56,563	$27.19	2
   5	Orange County Sheriff's Office	$56,535	$27.18
   6	Williamson County	$56,285	$27.06	1
   7	Skagit County	$56,006	$26.93
   8	Oakland County, Michigan Government	$56,006	$26.93	8
   9	Bexar County	$55,201	$26.54	1
   10	Eagle County	$54,767	$26.33
   11	Larimer County	$54,459	$26.18	3
   12	Arapahoe County	$53,274	$25.61	2
   13	Lincoln Holdings LLC	$52,901	$25.43	4
   14	Weld County Government	$52,441	$25.21
   15	Ada County	$52,008	$25.00	2
   16	Denton County	$51,973	$24.99	4
   17	Douglas County	$51,727	$24.87	5
   18	Rings Levin A Atty	$51,442	$24.73
   19	SHASTA COUNTY	$51,409	$24.72	2
   20	Buncombe County Government	$50,372	$24.22	2

4. Writing a patrol deputy sheriff job description

   A patrol deputy sheriff job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a patrol deputy sheriff job description:

   Patrol deputy sheriff job description example

   Buncombe County is a caring community in harmony with its environment where citizens succeed, thrive, and realize their potential. Our mission is to promote a healthy, safe, well-educated, and thriving community with a sustainable quality of life; to provide effective and efficient government our citizens can trust; and to deliver needed service through a responsive work force committed to excellence, integrity, and teamwork.
   Job
   Title: Uniformed
   Patrol Deputy
   
   Purpose of the position:
   An employee in this position is responsible for performing specialized law enforcement work as a uniformed patrol deputy to protect lives, property and rights of citizens of the county.
   
   Essential Functions of the position:
   Patrols an assigned area of the County; inspects troublesome areas and checks security of business establishments; answers complaint calls and assists in investigating crimes and disturbances; interviews witnesses; gathers evidence; interrogates suspects and makes arrests; prepares investigation reports.Serves legal papers such as summons, warrants, capiases, commitment papers, and special court orders; uses directories and other means to locate designated parties; explains briefly the meaning of papers and makes arrests when necessary.Appears in court as a witness to give testimony.Cooperates with law enforcement officers of other governmental units in making investigations and arrests Assists with community outreach.Performs other related duties as assigned
   
   Minimum Education, Training and/or Experience (required at time of hire):
   High School diploma or equivalent. Must be 21 years of age.
   
   License or Certification Required by Statute or Regulation:
   Certification as a law enforcement officer in accordance with the North Carolina Sheriffs' Training and Standards Commission. Possession of a valid driver's license issued by the State of North Carolina.
   
   Additional Information:
   Preferred Qualification: Two years' experience as a certified law enforcement officer in NC. Includes detention officers with two years' experience as a certified law enforcement officer.Must be willing to work nights and weekends.Uniformed Patrol positions are 12-hour shifts, 84 hour bi-wkly.Adheres to assigned work schedule as outlined in the Department and County attendance policies and procedures.Regular, predictable attendance is essential
   
   Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
   Knowledge of modern law enforcement practices and procedures Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws pertaining to law enforcement work Knowledge of the locations of streets, roads, highways and the geography and socioeconomic characteristics of the county Knowledge of the content and purpose of legal papers and the practices involved in serving them Some knowledge of the standard practices, materials, techniques, and equipment associated with the Patrol DivisionSkill in the use of firearms and other law enforcement equipment Ability to exercise sound judgment in emergency and routine situations and to adopt quick, effective and reasonable courses of action Ability to apply interpretation of laws to specific situations Ability to prepare clear and concise reports Ability to present court testimony effectively Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.
   
   This posting is for continuous recruitment purposes. This posting may close without notice.
   
   Department:Sheriff
   
   Location: Asheville, NC
   
   Job Posting End Date:
   
   Salary
   Range: $45,623.00 - $54,425.00
   
   Buncombe County Government realizes the importance of a diverse professional workforce and the need to foster a responsive and innovative organizational culture, one that fully engages all of our employees, honoring and building on each employee's unique experiences, opinions, and perspective.
   
   It is the policy of Buncombe County to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, age, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other legally protected class under federal or NC State law. In addition the Agency expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment or discrimination.
   
   Applicants for employment are invited to participate in the affirmative action program by reporting their status as a protected veteran or other minority. In extending this invitation, we advise you that: (a) workers (applicants) are under no obligation to respond but may do so in the future if they choose; (b) responses will remain confidential within the human resource department; and (c) responses will be used only for the necessary information to include in our affirmative action program. We are a company that values diversity. We actively encourage women, minorities, veterans and disabled employees to apply. Refusal to provide this information will have no bearing on your application and will not subject you to any adverse treatment.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right patrol deputy sheriff for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with patrol deputy sheriffs they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit patrol deputy sheriffs who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your patrol deputy sheriff job on Zippia to find and recruit patrol deputy sheriff candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting patrol deputy sheriffs requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new patrol deputy sheriff

   Once you've decided on a perfect patrol deputy sheriff candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new patrol deputy sheriff. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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