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Police detective vs staff sergeant

The differences between police detectives and staff sergeants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a police detective has an average salary of $52,087, which is higher than the $41,479 average annual salary of a staff sergeant.

The top three skills for a police detective include patrol, law enforcement agencies and criminal cases. The most important skills for a staff sergeant are combat, logistical support, and emergency situations.

Police detective vs staff sergeant overview

Police DetectiveStaff Sergeant
Yearly salary$52,087$41,479
Hourly rate$25.04$19.94
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs74,95868,521
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 48%
Average age4646
Years of experience--

Police detective vs staff sergeant salary

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

Police DetectiveStaff Sergeant
Average salary$52,087$41,479
Salary rangeBetween $38,000 And $71,000Between $31,000 And $54,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between police detective and staff sergeant education

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

Police DetectiveStaff Sergeant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 48%
Most common majorCriminal JusticeBusiness
Most common collegePennsylvania State UniversityPennsylvania State University

Police detective vs staff sergeant demographics

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

Police DetectiveStaff Sergeant
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 87.4% Female, 12.6%Male, 86.1% Female, 13.9%
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, 10.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 15.9% Asian, 1.8% White, 66.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between police detective and staff 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.
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Staff sergeant example responsibilities.

  • Manage training for CBRN response operations including detection and decontamination equipment.
  • Facilitate meetings and submit weekly reports, briefings and PowerPoint slides.
  • Use varies Microsoft programs to create reports, memorandums, newsletters, PowerPoint presentations, spreadsheets and email.
  • Study activities relating to narcotics, money laundering, gangs, terrorism, or other national security threats.
  • Maintain and operate petroleum logistics operations.
  • Supervise and discipline airmen under direct supervision.
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Police detective vs staff 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 staff sergeant skills
  • Combat, 12%
  • Logistical Support, 8%
  • Emergency Situations, 7%
  • Platoon, 6%
  • NCO, 5%
  • Law Enforcement, 3%

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