Post job

Police detective vs operations sergeant

The differences between police detectives and operations sergeants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an operations sergeant has an average salary of $52,200, which is higher than the $52,087 average annual salary of a police detective.

The top three skills for a police detective include patrol, law enforcement agencies and criminal cases. The most important skills for an operations sergeant are combat, logistical support, and professional development.

Police detective vs operations sergeant overview

Police DetectiveOperations Sergeant
Yearly salary$52,087$52,200
Hourly rate$25.04$25.10
Growth rate3%6%
Number of jobs74,95857,018
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Average age4646
Years of experience--

Police detective vs operations sergeant salary

Police detectives and operations sergeants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Police DetectiveOperations Sergeant
Average salary$52,087$52,200
Salary rangeBetween $38,000 And $71,000Between $38,000 And $70,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between police detective and operations sergeant education

There are a few differences between a police detective and an operations sergeant in terms of educational background:

Police DetectiveOperations Sergeant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Most common majorCriminal JusticeBusiness
Most common collegePennsylvania State UniversityPennsylvania State University

Police detective vs operations sergeant demographics

Here are the differences between police detectives' and operations sergeants' demographics:

Police DetectiveOperations Sergeant
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 87.4% Female, 12.6%Male, 90.1% Female, 9.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 1.8% White, 66.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4%Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 14.7% Asian, 1.8% White, 66.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between police detective and operations sergeant duties and responsibilities

Police detective example responsibilities.

  • Plan, manage, develop, implement and revise the training FTO program, as needed.
  • Complete applications for arrest, subpoenas, search and seizure warrants, etc.
  • Serve criminal and civil subpoenas, confer with attorneys and assist in the preparation of cases for trial.
  • Maintain and repair department issue firearms.
  • Conduct investigations ranging from disorderly persons offenses to homicide.
  • Network with co-workers to improve initial investigation techniques in the patrol division.
  • Show more

Operations sergeant example responsibilities.

  • Manage and compile all personnel records for enrollment into ROTC.
  • Plan, implement, and manage the maintenance of 16 CH-47D helicopters and all platoon equipment, value at $528M.
  • Orchestrate squadron recognition programs, manage enlisted promotion recommendations and alleviate all airmen quality force issues.
  • Develop and execute demanding and realistic training exercises to ensure operational readiness of attendees to ensure troops are ready for combat.
  • Update the training calendar for the ROTC battalion every week.
  • Coordinate and disseminate weekly flight hour reports and PowerPoint presentations for monthly board and weekly staff meetings.
  • Show more

Police detective vs operations sergeant skills

Common police detective skills
  • Patrol, 11%
  • Law Enforcement Agencies, 9%
  • Criminal Cases, 9%
  • Local Laws, 7%
  • Evidence Collection, 6%
  • Criminal Law, 6%
Common operations sergeant skills
  • Combat, 13%
  • Logistical Support, 9%
  • Professional Development, 6%
  • Tactical Operations, 5%
  • Training Programs, 4%
  • Law Enforcement, 4%

Browse protective service jobs