Police sergeant demographics and statistics in the US
Police sergeant demographics research summary. Zippia estimates police sergeant demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our police sergeant estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about police sergeants after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 13,239 police sergeants currently employed in the United States.
- 9.8% of all police sergeants are women, while 90.2% are men.
- The average police sergeant age is 46 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of police sergeants is White (66.4%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (15.6%), Black or African American (11.0%) and Unknown (3.9%).
- Police sergeants are most in-demand in Scotts Valley, CA.
- The government industry is the highest-paying for police sergeants.
- Santa Cruz, CA pays an annual average wage of $79,806, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women police sergeants earned 95% of what men earned.
- 11% of all police sergeants are LGBT.
- Washington is the best state for police sergeants to live.
- Police sergeants are 50% more likely to work at government companies in comparison to private companies.
On this page
Police sergeant demographics by:
Police sergeant gender statistics
9.8% of police sergeants are women and 90.2% of police sergeants are men.
- Male, 90.2%
- Female, 9.8%
Police sergeant gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 90.2% |
| Female | 9.8% |
Police sergeant gender pay gap
Women earn 95¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$70,323
Female income
$66,559
Police sergeant gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in police sergeant positions over time. Currently, 9.8% of police sergeants are female.
Police sergeant gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 89.61% | 10.39% |
| 2011 | 89.33% | 10.67% |
| 2012 | 91.57% | 8.43% |
| 2013 | 90.95% | 9.05% |
| 2014 | 89.39% | 10.61% |
| 2015 | 89.88% | 10.12% |
| 2016 | 90.43% | 9.57% |
| 2017 | 90.25% | 9.75% |
| 2018 | 90.11% | 9.89% |
| 2019 | 91.21% | 8.79% |
| 2020 | 89.03% | 10.97% |
| 2021 | 90.22% | 9.78% |
Police sergeant related jobs gender ratio
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Police Sergeant | 90% | 10% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Police sergeant demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among police sergeants is White, which makes up 66.4% of all police sergeants. Comparatively, 15.6% of police sergeants are Hispanic or Latino and 11.0% of police sergeants are Black or African American.
- White, 66.4%
- Hispanic or Latino, 15.6%
- Black or African American, 11.0%
- Unknown, 3.9%
- Asian, 1.8%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%
Police sergeant race
| Police sergeant race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 66.4% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 15.6% |
| Black or African American | 11.0% |
| Unknown | 3.9% |
| Asian | 1.8% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 1.3% |
Police sergeant race and ethnicity over time
See how police sergeant racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Police sergeant race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 73.17% | 10.07% | 1.19% | 13.08% |
| 2011 | 70.89% | 11.74% | 0.92% | 13.77% |
| 2012 | 71.83% | 11.06% | 1.58% | 12.54% |
| 2013 | 70.36% | 12.97% | 1.62% | 12.21% |
| 2014 | 69.85% | 12.78% | 1.42% | 13.95% |
| 2015 | 70.51% | 12.50% | 1.35% | 12.79% |
| 2016 | 69.10% | 14.06% | 1.05% | 13.57% |
| 2017 | 69.91% | 11.41% | 1.82% | 13.95% |
| 2018 | 69.93% | 11.50% | 1.20% | 14.70% |
| 2019 | 68.97% | 9.63% | 1.77% | 15.70% |
| 2020 | 67.22% | 9.98% | 2.04% | 15.67% |
| 2021 | 66.36% | 11.00% | 1.78% | 15.55% |
Police sergeant wage gap by race
According to our data, hispanic or latino police sergeants have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Unknown police sergeants have the lowest average salary at $66,503.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $66,503 |
| White | $68,064 |
| Black or African American | $66,725 |
| Asian | $74,750 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $76,180 |
Average police sergeant age
See how the average age of police sergeants varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Police sergeant age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 47 | |
| White | 47 | 46 |
| Black or African American | 52 | 41.5 |
| Asian | 42 | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 46 | 53.5 |
Police sergeant age breakdown
The average age of police sergeants is 40+ years years old, representing 78% of the police sergeant population.
Police sergeant age breakdown
| Police Sergeant Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 78% |
| 30-40 years | 21% |
| 20-30 years | 1% |
Police sergeant educational attainment
The most common degree for police sergeants is bachelor's degree, with 48% of police sergeants earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 27% and associate degree degree at 11%.
- Bachelor's, 48%
- Associate, 27%
- Master's, 11%
- High School Diploma, 8%
- Other Degrees, 6%
Police sergeants by degree level
| Police sergeant degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 48% |
| Associate | 27% |
| Master's | 11% |
| High School Diploma | 8% |
| Other Degrees | 6% |
Police sergeant jobs you might like
Police sergeant wage gap by degree level
According to the data, police sergeants with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $78,626 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, police sergeants earn a median annual income of $74,265 compared to $63,698 for police sergeants with an Associate degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $78,626 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $60,845 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $74,265 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $63,698 |
Police sergeant employment statistics
Most police sergeants work for a government in the government industry.
Company size where police sergeants work
Below, you can see the size of companies where police sergeants work.
Police sergeant jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 6% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 13% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 34% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 9% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 30% |
| > 10,000 employees | 8% |
Police sergeant jobs by company type
Employees with the police sergeant job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most police sergeants prefer to work at government companies over private companies.
Police sergeant jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 23% |
| Public | 1% |
| Private | 26% |
| Government | 50% |
Police sergeant jobs by industry
The most common industries for police sergeants are government, education and hospitality.
Police sergeant industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Government | 49% |
| Education | 22% |
| Hospitality | 4% |
| Manufacturing | 4% |
| Transportation | 3% |
| Media | 3% |
| Retail | 3% |
| Utilities | 2% |
| Health Care | 2% |
| Professional | 2% |
| Finance | 1% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Energy | 1% |
| Non Profits | 1% |
| Construction | 1% |
| Technology | 1% |
| Insurance | 1% |
Police sergeant turnover and employment statistics
Police sergeant unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for police sergeants between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Police sergeant unemployment rate by year
| Year | Police sergeant unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 2.01% |
| 2011 | 1.35% |
| 2012 | 1.64% |
| 2013 | 1.96% |
| 2014 | 1.46% |
| 2015 | 1.58% |
| 2016 | 1.04% |
| 2017 | 0.77% |
| 2018 | 0.86% |
| 2019 | 0.93% |
| 2020 | 0.81% |
| 2021 | 0.90% |
Average police sergeant tenure
The average police sergeant stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 2,798 police sergeants resumes in Zippia's database.
Police sergeant tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 4% |
| 1-2 years | 16% |
| 3-4 years | 15% |
| 5-7 years | 14% |
| 8-10 years | 9% |
| 11+ years | 43% |
Police sergeant LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of police sergeants 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Battalion Chief | 6.87% | 12,767 |
| Surveillance Supervisor | 6.90% | 3,887 |
| Police Sergeant | 10.94% | - |
| Corrections Emergency Response Team Sergeant | 18.30% | 47,979 |
Similar police sergeant jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Battalion Chief | 6.87% | 12,767 |
| Surveillance Supervisor | 6.90% | 3,887 |
| Corrections Emergency Response Team Sergeant | 18.30% | 47,979 |
Foreign languages spoken by police sergeants
The most common foreign language among police sergeants is Spanish at 65.4%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is Korean at 7.7% and Carrier is the third-most popular at 5.8%.
- Spanish, 65.4%
- Korean, 7.7%
- Carrier, 5.8%
- French, 3.8%
- Italian, 3.8%
- Other, 13.5%
Police sergeant languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 65.4% |
| Korean | 7.7% |
| Carrier | 5.8% |
| French | 3.8% |
| Italian | 3.8% |
| Other | 13.5% |
