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What is a special service officer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a special service officer. For example, did you know that they make an average of $17.36 an hour? That's $36,113 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 3% and produce 38,000 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreSpecial Service OfficerUS Average
Salary
2.8

Avg. Salary $36,113

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
-

Growth rate 3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
9.2
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.80%

Asian 6.44%

Black or African American 10.87%

Hispanic or Latino 21.39%

Unknown 4.89%

White 55.60%

Gender

female 42.86%

male 57.14%

Age - 42
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42

Key steps to become a special service officer

  1. Explore special service officer education requirements

    Most common special service officer degrees

    Bachelor's

    52.6 %

    Associate

    14.5 %

    High School Diploma

    14.5 %
  2. Start to develop specific special service officer skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Patrol47.08%
    Traffic Control25.88%
    Law Enforcement17.28%
    CCTV9.77%
  3. Research special service officer duties and responsibilities

    • Manage day-to-day operations including contract management, accounts payable, receivables, payroll and general administrative assistance.
    • Operate and monitor multiple CCTV surveillance systems.
    • Lap top and GPS systems for monitoring troups and operations in the field.
    • Prepare and teach all bicycle patrol training session including bicycle refresher courses and firearms instruction pertaining specifically to bicycle patrol.
  4. Prepare your special service officer resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your special service officer resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a special service officer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable special service officer resume templates

    Build a professional special service officer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your special service officer resume.
    Special Service Officer Resume
    Special Service Officer Resume
    Special Service Officer Resume
    Special Service Officer Resume
    Special Service Officer Resume
    Special Service Officer Resume
    Special Service Officer Resume
    Special Service Officer Resume
    Special Service Officer Resume
  5. Apply for special service officer jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a special service officer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first special service officer job

Zippi

Are you a special service officer?

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Average special service officer salary

The average special service officer salary in the United States is $36,113 per year or $17 per hour. Special service officer salaries range between $27,000 and $47,000 per year.

Average special service officer salary
$36,113 Yearly
$17.36 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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