Police Officers

(NOC 4311)

in All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services

Police officers protect the public, find and prevent crime and do other activities to maintain law and order. They work for municipal and federal governments and some provincial and regional governments.

Job Outlook

Average

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  • Estimate Weak growth employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 80 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate Low rate of unemployment in 2022

Compared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services

  • Estimate 1830 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 5515 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

As with most public-sector employment, budgetary restrictions may limit overall employment growth. This is a large occupational group overall so positions will arise through normal retirements and attrition.

Hourly Pay

$30.00

Minimum

$42.47

Median

$49.52

Maximum

Annual Pay

$56,982

Minimum

$97,595

Median

$122,030

Maximum

Compared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services

Hourly Pay

$16.30

Minimum

$30.00

Median

$51.30

Maximum

Annual Pay

$5,616

Minimum

$44,335

Median

$92,599

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

Police officers protect the public, find and prevent crime and do other activities to maintain law and order. They work for municipal and federal governments and some provincial and regional governments.

Job duties

Police officers:

  • Patrol areas to maintain public safety and order and to enforce laws and regulations.
  • Investigate crimes and accidents, carry out search warrants, gather evidence, interview witnesses, compile notes and reports and testify in court.
  • Arrest criminal suspects.
  • Help victims of accidents, crimes and natural disasters.
  • Participate in crime prevention, public information and safety programs.
  • May supervise and coordinate the work of other police officers.

Sample job titles

  • Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) investigator
  • community relations officer
  • constable
  • crime prevention constable
  • detective
  • harbour police officer
  • highway patrol officer
  • police cadet
  • police officer
  • police sergeant
  • railway police officer
  • RCMP officer
  • crime scene technician
  • police diver

Skills

  • You should be physically fit and in excellent health. Cultural sensitivity, patience, and mental stability are important. You must be resourceful, able to give and take orders, and able to make decisions quickly. Excellent communication, observation, and problem-solving skills are essential. You should also be able to communicate with and gain the respect of the public.

Job requirements

  • High school is required.
  • A college program or university degree in law and security or in the social sciences is usually required.
  • A three-to-six-month police training program is required.
  • Physical agility, strength, fitness and vision requirements must be met, and psychological or other tests are also required.
  • Experience as a constable and the completion of specialized courses are required for detectives and sergeants.
  • Specialized training or certification is required for certain areas of policing.

Other considerations

  • Earnings will generally increase with the officer's rank and years of service. Movement to commissioned police officer positions is possible with additional training and experience.

By the numbers

Quick look

1,970

employed in 2016

98.2%

employed full-time

0.0%

self employed

18.1%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
81.9%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
43.4

median age

Compared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services

55,420

employed in 2016

76.4%

employed full-time

6.6%

self employed

64.0%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
36%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
43.5

median age

Where will I likely work?

51.5%

Halifax

$99,388 median annual income
14.2%

Annapolis Valley

$97,586 median annual income
13.5%

Cape Breton

$90,910 median annual income
12.4%

North Shore

$97,439 median annual income
8.4%

Southern

$97,823 median annual income

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

100.0%

Public administration

What is the age of Employment?

35.0%

35-44

35.0%

45-54

19.0%

25-34

9.0%

55-64

1.0%

65+

1.0%

15-24

Compared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services

24.2%

35-44

22.7%

45-54

21.4%

25-34

17.2%

55-64

8.4%

15-24

Top levels of education

44.7%

College Diploma

$96,419 median annual income
29.9%

Bachelor

$99,857 median annual income
13.5%

High school

$101,025 median annual income
4.8%

Trade Certification

$81,572 median annual income
3.0%

Diploma Below Bachelor

$92,716 median annual income

Compared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services

28.9%

Bachelor

$45,929 median annual income
21.2%

College Diploma

$35,398 median annual income
16.8%

Master

$71,043 median annual income
14.6%

High school

$29,055 median annual income
4.6%

Doctorate

$100,443 median annual income

Education & training

Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs preapre students to apply theories and practices of criminal justice to structuring, managing, directing and controlling criminal justice agencies, including police departments, law enforcement divisions and units, and protective services.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Criminal Justice/Police Science

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs prepare students for the duties of police and public security officers, including patrol and investigative activities, traffic control, crowd control and public relations, witness interviewing, evidence collection and management, basic crime prevention methods, weapon and equipment operation and maintenance, report preparation and other routine law enforcement responsibilities.

Institutions providing this program

Ravensberg College

Halifax, NS

Halifax Regional Police Training School

Dartmouth, NS

Criminology

College or University Program

These programs focus on the systematic study of crime as a sociopathological phenomenon, the behaviour of criminals, and the social institutions evolved to respond to crime. They include courses in the theory of crime, psychological and social bases of criminal behaviour, social value systems and the theory of punishment, criminal law and criminal justice systems, penology, rehabilitation and recidivism, studies of specific types of crime, social attitudes and policy, and applications to specific issues in law enforcement administration and policy.

Institutions providing this program

Eastern College - Halifax

Halifax, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Crisis/Emergency/Disaster Management

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs focus on applying the incident command system model to formulating and implementing effective response to natural and man-made disasters. They include courses in contingency planning, hazard and risk assessment, joint operations, law and ethics, emergency response and recovery, event mitigation, emergency rescue and medical operations, incident command, terrorism and national security issues, law enforcement, relief administration, volunteer and citizen coordination, public relations and applications to specific types of incidents.

Institutions providing this program

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Forensic Science and Technology

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs focus on applying the physical, biomedical, and social sciences to the analysis and evaluation of physical evidence, human testimony and criminal suspects. They include courses in forensic medicine, forensic dentistry, anthropology, psychology, pathology, forensic laboratory technology, crime scene analysis, fingerprint technology, document analysis, pattern analysis, examination procedures, applicable laws and regulations, and professional standards and ethics.

Institutions providing this program

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution

College or University Program

These programs focus on the origins, resolution and prevention of international and inter-group conflicts. They include courses in peace research methods and related social scientific and psychological knowledge bases.

Institutions providing this program

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

Contacts

Royal Canadian Mounted Police - Nova Scotia
Dartmouth, NS
Nova Scotia Department of Justice, Policing Services Division
Halifax, NS

Additional resources

There are no additional resources for this occupation.