What does a state trooper do?
State trooper responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real state trooper resumes:
- Administer CPR and Narcan injections for drug overdoses.
- Answer calls for service, provide assistance to strand motorists, DUI detection and drug interdiction.
- Monitor potential driving under the influence motor vehicle suspects, and subsequently make DUI arrests when appropriate.
- Require to undergo firearm proficiency/self defense tactics and be able to operate a departmental cruiser safely during patrol.
- Provide patrol personnel with the information concerning activities of patrol, work directives and sensitive information pertaining to criminal activity.10.
- Qualify and utilize firearms provide emergency assistance, conduct investigations, report writing and presenting testimony in a court of law.
- Maintain firearm proficiency, provide emergency assistance, conduct investigations, report writing and testify in court as needed.
- Monitor CCTV for military inmates during their incarceration on daily activities.
State trooper skills and personality traits
We calculated that 30% of State Troopers are proficient in Patrol, Public Safety, and Law Enforcement Agencies. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Empathy, and Good judgment.
We break down the percentage of State Troopers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Patrol, 30%
Required to undergo firearm proficiency/self defense tactics and be able to operate a departmental cruiser safely during patrol.
- Public Safety, 12%
Perform various protective services which include law enforcement, criminal activity investigation and public safety.
- Law Enforcement Agencies, 10%
Collaborate in joint operations with local law enforcement agencies to saturate problem areas and remove impaired drivers.
- Criminal Law, 5%
Investigate traffic accidents and criminal activity, arrest offenders and violators of criminal law.
- Field Training, 4%
Range Master/Firearms Instructor b. Troop CBRNE Officer c. Field Training Officer d. Troop Education Officer e. Criminal Investigative Assessment Officer
- Traffic Control, 4%
Experienced in testifying in court cases, traffic control and transporting prisoners to court.
"patrol," "public safety," and "law enforcement agencies" are among the most common skills that state troopers use at work. You can find even more state trooper responsibilities below, including:
Communication skills. The most essential soft skill for a state trooper to carry out their responsibilities is communication skills. This skill is important for the role because "police and detectives must be able to speak with people and to express details in writing about an incident." Additionally, a state trooper resume shows how their duties depend on communication skills: "maintained post communications, supervision, patrolled highways and roads to enforce traffic and criminal laws. "
Empathy. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling state trooper duties is empathy. The role rewards competence in this skill because "police officers need to understand the perspectives of a variety of people in their jurisdiction and be willing to help the public." According to a state trooper resume, here's how state troopers can utilize empathy in their job responsibilities: "possess understanding of all law enforcement post equipment, alarms, logs, and devices within established guidelines. "
Good judgment. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of state troopers is good judgment. This skill is critical to many everyday state trooper duties, as "police and detectives must be able to determine the best way to solve an array of problems." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "issue traffic citations and tickets, and use my judgment when issuing an alcohol breathalyzer test for potential drunk drivers. "
Leadership skills. For certain state trooper responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "leadership skills." The day-to-day duties of a state trooper rely on this skill, as "police officers must be comfortable with being a highly visible member of their community, as the public looks to them for help in emergencies." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what state troopers do: "performed law enforcement functions with limited supervision; exhibited a leadership role among other law enforcement agencies. "
Perceptiveness. Another common skill required for state trooper responsibilities is "perceptiveness." This skill comes up in the duties of state troopers all the time, as "officers, detectives, and fish and game wardens must be able to anticipate people’s reactions and understand why they act a certain way." An excerpt from a real state trooper resume shows how this skill is central to what a state trooper does: "make frequent contact with the general public, other lawenforcement agencies, and community organizations requiring tact, perceptiveness and discretion. "
Physical strength. While "physical strength" is last on this skills list, don't underestimate its importance to state trooper responsibilities. Much of what a state trooper does relies on this skill, seeing as "police officers must be strong enough to physically apprehend suspects and to assist people in precarious situations." Here is a resume example of how this skill is used in the everyday duties of state troopers: "presented the most physically fit award during the training academy member of the prestigious wyoming highway patrol honor guard lead d.w.u.i. "
The three companies that hire the most state troopers are:
- Arizona Department of Public Safety4 state troopers jobs
- The State of Oregon2 state troopers jobs
- State of Connecticut1 state troopers jobs
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Compare different state troopers
State trooper vs. Policeman
Community service offers or CSO support in crime response, investigation, and prevention where police powers are not necessary. The community service officers assist the police officers in terms of upholding order and law in the community. They provide citizens with customer service, community outreach, and patrol. It is their job to implement city codes and other non-criminal police associated duties. They provide non-EMS in-home and on-site assistance to the citizens. Also, they respond to non-criminal complaints, building checks, and more.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a state trooper are more likely to require skills like "law enforcement agencies," "field training," "dps," and "crime scenes." On the other hand, a job as a policeman requires skills like "combat," "physical security," "motor vehicle," and "security operations." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Policemen tend to reach similar levels of education than state troopers. In fact, policemen are 1.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.3% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.State trooper vs. Community services officer
In the military, a law enforcement specialist is in charge of preventing and investigating crimes within the military bases. Although the extent of their responsibilities highly depends on their area of assignment, it usually includes patrolling different places, responding to distress and other emergencies, conducting interviews on witnesses and suspects, and monitoring security systems. There are also instances when they must keep guard of facilities and properties. Moreover, as a law enforcement specialist, it is essential to be proactive and alert in dealing with different situations due to the nature of the job.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, state trooper responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "criminal law," "field training," "dps," and "emergency response." Meanwhile, a community services officer has duties that require skills in areas such as "parking enforcement," "rehabilitation," "criminal justice," and "animal control." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
On average, community services officers earn a lower salary than state troopers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, community services officers earn the most pay in the education industry with an average salary of $42,187. Whereas state troopers have higher pay in the finance industry, with an average salary of $44,467.In general, community services officers achieve similar levels of education than state troopers. They're 1.1% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.State trooper vs. Law enforcement specialist
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, state troopers are more likely to have skills like "dps," "emergency response," "firearms," and "state laws." But a law enforcement specialist is more likely to have skills like "treasury," "physical security," "data entry," and "vehicle accidents."
When it comes to education, law enforcement specialists tend to earn similar degree levels compared to state troopers. In fact, they're 1.4% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 1.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.State trooper vs. Officer candidate
Even though a few skill sets overlap between state troopers and officers candidate, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a state trooper might have more use for skills like "patrol," "public safety," "law enforcement agencies," and "criminal law." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of officers candidate require skills like "platoon," "combat," "leadership," and "physical fitness test. "
In general, officers candidate hold similar degree levels compared to state troopers. Officers candidate are 3.5% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 1.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of state trooper
Updated January 8, 2025
