Peace officer demographics and statistics in the US
Peace officer demographics research summary. Zippia estimates peace officer demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our peace officer estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about peace officers after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 7,243 peace officers currently employed in the United States.
- 22.6% of all peace officers are women, while 77.4% are men.
- The average peace officer age is 39 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of peace officers is White (58.0%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (21.6%), Black or African American (12.0%) and Unknown (4.6%).
- In 2022, women earned 96% of what men earned.
- 7% of all peace officers are LGBT.
- Peace officers are 45% more likely to work at government companies in comparison to private companies.
On this page
Peace officer demographics by:
Peace officer gender statistics
22.6% of peace officers are women and 77.4% of peace officers are men.
- Male, 77.4%
- Female, 22.6%
Peace officer gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 77.4% |
| Female | 22.6% |
Peace officer gender pay gap
Women earn 96¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$38,421
Female income
$36,889
Peace officer gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in peace officer positions over time. Currently, 22.6% of peace officers are female.
Peace officer gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 78.63% | 21.37% |
| 2011 | 78.59% | 21.41% |
| 2012 | 78.35% | 21.65% |
| 2013 | 79.14% | 20.86% |
| 2014 | 78.99% | 21.01% |
| 2015 | 79.55% | 20.45% |
| 2016 | 79.94% | 20.06% |
| 2017 | 79.56% | 20.44% |
| 2018 | 77.98% | 22.02% |
| 2019 | 77.24% | 22.76% |
| 2020 | 79.78% | 20.22% |
| 2021 | 77.42% | 22.58% |
Peace officer related jobs gender ratio
We compared peace officers with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, deputy sheriff-k9 handler and fugitive investigator have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Matron | 8% | 92% |
| Deputy Treasurer | 19% | 81% |
| Unemployment Examiner | 29% | 71% |
| Peace Officer | 77% | 23% |
| Town Marshal | 96% | 4% |
| Fugitive Investigator | 97% | 3% |
| Deputy Sheriff-K9 Handler | 98% | 2% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Peace officer demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among peace officers is White, which makes up 58.0% of all peace officers. Comparatively, 21.6% of peace officers are Hispanic or Latino and 12.0% of peace officers are Black or African American.
- White, 58.0%
- Hispanic or Latino, 21.6%
- Black or African American, 12.0%
- Unknown, 4.6%
- Asian, 2.9%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
Peace officer race
| Peace officer race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 58.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 21.6% |
| Black or African American | 12.0% |
| Unknown | 4.6% |
| Asian | 2.9% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.9% |
Peace officer race and ethnicity over time
See how peace officer racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Peace officer race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 63.83% | 12.25% | 2.20% | 19.04% |
| 2011 | 64.00% | 12.30% | 2.45% | 18.39% |
| 2012 | 63.70% | 12.36% | 2.00% | 18.46% |
| 2013 | 64.20% | 11.74% | 2.15% | 18.60% |
| 2014 | 63.58% | 11.81% | 2.34% | 18.86% |
| 2015 | 62.96% | 12.14% | 2.55% | 19.46% |
| 2016 | 62.81% | 12.26% | 2.21% | 19.83% |
| 2017 | 62.39% | 12.32% | 2.25% | 19.75% |
| 2018 | 61.51% | 11.60% | 2.74% | 20.71% |
| 2019 | 62.93% | 11.16% | 2.55% | 20.26% |
| 2020 | 59.89% | 12.40% | 2.77% | 20.23% |
| 2021 | 58.00% | 11.96% | 2.90% | 21.60% |
Peace officer wage gap by race
According to our data, asian peace officers have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american peace officers have the lowest average salary at $37,149.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $37,890 |
| White | $38,196 |
| Black or African American | $37,149 |
| Asian | $39,511 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $39,411 |
Average peace officer age
See how the average age of peace officers varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Peace officer age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 42 | 43 |
| Unknown | 38 | 37 |
| Asian | 38 | 43 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 39 | 36 |
| White | 39 | 39 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 41.5 |
Peace officer age breakdown
The average age of peace officers is 40+ years years old, representing 50% of the peace officer population.
Peace officer age breakdown
| Peace Officer Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 50% |
| 30-40 years | 34% |
| 20-30 years | 16% |
Peace officer educational attainment
The most common degree for peace officers is bachelor's degree, with 38% of peace officers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 28% and associate degree degree at 17%.
- Bachelor's, 38%
- Associate, 28%
- High School Diploma, 17%
- Master's, 8%
- Other Degrees, 9%
Peace officers by degree level
| Peace officer degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 38% |
| Associate | 28% |
| High School Diploma | 17% |
| Master's | 8% |
| Other Degrees | 9% |
Peace officer jobs you might like
Peace officer wage gap by degree level
According to the data, peace officers with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $41,345 annually. With a Doctorate degree, peace officers earn a median annual income of $40,805 compared to $39,783 for peace officers with an Bachelor's degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $41,345 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $36,164 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $39,783 |
| Doctorate Degree | $40,805 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $38,376 |
Peace officer employment statistics
Most peace officers work for a government in the government industry.
Company size where peace officers work
Below, you can see the size of companies where peace officers work.
Peace officer jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 9% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 20% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 34% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 7% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 24% |
| > 10,000 employees | 7% |
Peace officer jobs by company type
Employees with the peace officer job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most peace officers prefer to work at government companies over private companies.
Peace officer jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 20% |
| Public | 4% |
| Private | 32% |
| Government | 45% |
Peace officer jobs by industry
The most common industries for peace officers are government, education and professional.
Peace officer industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Government | 39% |
| Education | 18% |
| Professional | 10% |
| Manufacturing | 6% |
| Health Care | 6% |
| Media | 3% |
| Non Profits | 3% |
| Real Estate | 3% |
| Utilities | 2% |
| Hospitality | 2% |
| Technology | 2% |
| Agriculture | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
| Construction | 1% |
| Fortune 500 | 1% |
| Retail | 1% |
| Insurance | 1% |
Peace officer turnover and employment statistics
Peace officer unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for peace officers between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Peace officer unemployment rate by year
| Year | Peace officer unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 2.07% |
| 2011 | 2.19% |
| 2012 | 1.94% |
| 2013 | 1.72% |
| 2014 | 1.41% |
| 2015 | 1.11% |
| 2016 | 1.02% |
| 2017 | 1.12% |
| 2018 | 0.98% |
| 2019 | 1.03% |
| 2020 | 1.37% |
| 2021 | 1.40% |
Average peace officer tenure
The average peace officer stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 2,015 peace officers resumes in Zippia's database.
Peace officer tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 16% |
| 1-2 years | 24% |
| 3-4 years | 13% |
| 5-7 years | 18% |
| 8-10 years | 7% |
| 11+ years | 21% |
Peace officer LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of peace officers that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Deputy Sheriff, Building Guard | 5.55% | 22,627 |
| Peace Officer | 7.15% | - |
| Identification Officer | 8.65% | 55,638 |
| Bailiff | 11.11% | 130 |
Similar peace officer jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Deputy Sheriff, Building Guard | 5.55% | 22,627 |
| Identification Officer | 8.65% | 55,638 |
| Bailiff | 11.11% | 130 |
Foreign languages spoken by peace officers
The most common foreign language among peace officers is Spanish at 72.7%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 5.2% and Italian is the third-most popular at 3.9%.
- Spanish, 72.7%
- French, 5.2%
- Italian, 3.9%
- German, 2.6%
- Arabic, 2.6%
- Other, 13.0%
Peace officer languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 72.7% |
| French | 5.2% |
| Italian | 3.9% |
| German | 2.6% |
| Arabic | 2.6% |
| Other | 13.0% |
