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What is a state patrol 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 state patrol officer. For example, did you know that they make an average of $20.3 an hour? That's $42,229 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 3% and produce 20,600 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreState Patrol OfficerUS Average
Salary
3.3

Avg. Salary $42,229

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
10.0

Growth rate 3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.7
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.10%

Asian 3.34%

Black or African American 10.96%

Hispanic or Latino 13.98%

Unknown 4.95%

White 65.67%

Gender

female 33.63%

male 66.37%

Age - 39
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 - 39
Stress level
10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.8

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
6.0

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a state patrol officer

  1. Explore state patrol officer education requirements

    Most common state patrol officer degrees

    Bachelor's

    51.5 %

    Associate

    19.1 %

    Master's

    11.8 %
  2. Start to develop specific state patrol officer skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Patrol78.96%
    Field Training8.94%
    Background Investigations6.34%
    Law Enforcement Agencies2.98%
    Emergency Situations1.26%
  3. Complete relevant state patrol officer training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New state patrol officers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a state patrol officer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real state patrol officer resumes.
  4. Research state patrol officer duties and responsibilities

    • Supervise cadets (new highway patrol cadets) undergoing firearms training and accurately detect causative factors for inadequacies.
    • Provide patrol duties on the state's highways being vigilant for any factors compromising the safety of all motorist and pedestrians.
    • Qualify and utilize firearms provide emergency assistance, conduct investigations, report writing and presenting testimony in a court of law.
    • Conduct driving while intoxicate (DWI) and traffic-relate investigations.
  5. Prepare your state patrol officer resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your state patrol 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 state patrol 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 state patrol officer resume templates

    Build a professional state patrol 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 state patrol officer resume.
    State Patrol Officer Resume
    State Patrol Officer Resume
    State Patrol Officer Resume
    State Patrol Officer Resume
    State Patrol Officer Resume
    State Patrol Officer Resume
    State Patrol Officer Resume
    State Patrol Officer Resume
    State Patrol Officer Resume
  6. Apply for state patrol officer jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a state patrol 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 state patrol officer job

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Average state patrol officer salary

The average state patrol officer salary in the United States is $42,229 per year or $20 per hour. State patrol officer salaries range between $27,000 and $66,000 per year.

Average state patrol officer salary
$42,229 Yearly
$20.30 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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