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Police officers (except commissioned) (NOC 4311)

High demand occupation
Table of contents
About this job Earnings and Outlook Duties Work environment
Workforce and employment statistics Job requirements Related careers Career paths and resources
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About this job

This group includes military police and railway police.

See what a day in the life of this job is like—watch WorkBC’s Career Trek video about this occupation.

Source: WorkBC’s Career Trek

Police officers:

  • protect the public, detect and prevent crime and perform other activities directed at maintaining law and order
  • work for municipal and federal governments, some provincial and regional governments and the armed forces
Common job titles
  • investigator, CSIS
  • police detective / investigator
  • police investigator
  • police officer, mounted / motorcycle patrol
  • police officer, railway
  • police officer, RCMP
  • investigator, CSIS
  • police detective / investigator
  • police investigator
  • police officer, canine team
  • police officer, community relations
  • police officer, desk / duty officer

Earnings

Annual provincial median salary

$78,210

Source: 2016 Job Bank Wage data

Note:Estimated median employment income based on 2016 Job Bank median hourly wage rate (median annual salary = hourly wage rate x 40 (hours per week) x 52.14 (weeks per year))

Provincial hourly rate

  • High
  • Median
  • Low

Source: 2016 Job Bank Wage Report

B.C. Labour Market Outlook (2017-2027)

Provincial outlook

Forecasted average employment growth rate

  • 2017 - 2022
  • 2022 - 2027

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Job openings

10 year expected job openings: 3,660

  • 2017
  • 2022
  • 2027

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Composition of job openings

 
New jobs due to economic growth:
27.3%
1,000 openings
 
Replacement of retiring workers:
72.7%
2,660 openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Regional outlook

Select a region to view regional outlook
Vancouver Island / Coast Mainland / Southwest Thompson-Okanagan Kootenay Cariboo Northeast North Coast & Nechako
Cariboo
Employment in 2017:
330
Average annual employment growth:
0.3%
Expected number of job openings:
80
Kootenay
Employment in 2017:
200
Average annual employment growth:
1.3%
Expected number of job openings:
90
Mainland / Southwest
Employment in 2017:
5,730
Average annual employment growth:
1.3%
Expected number of job openings:
2,770
North Coast & Nechako
Employment in 2017:
190
Average annual employment growth:
0.8%
Expected number of job openings:
60
Northeast
Employment in 2017:
80
Average annual employment growth:
1.7%
Expected number of job openings:
30
Thompson-Okanagan
Employment in 2017:
930
Average annual employment growth:
0.6%
Expected number of job openings:
300
Vancouver Island / Coast
Employment in 2017:
820
Average annual employment growth:
0.8%
Expected number of job openings:
330

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Duties

Police officers:

  • patrol assigned areas to maintain public safety and order and to enforce laws and regulations
  • investigate crimes and accidents, secure evidence, interview witnesses, compile notes and reports and provide testimony in courts of law
  • arrest criminal suspects
  • provide emergency assistance to 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

Work environment

Key aspects of the work in this occupation:

  • Work takes place in an indoor setting, as well as outdoors where workers can be exposed to various weather conditions.
  • Working in crime prevention may be dangerous with potential sources of injury.
  • Workers may spend their shifts in patrol cars and at crime and accident scenes.

Workforce and employment statistics

Workforce characteristics

10,700 workers are employed
75% of workers are working mostly full time

Source: 2011 National Household Survey

Employment by gender

  Men
  Women

Source: 2011 National Household Survey

Employment by age group

  15 - 24 years
  25 - 44 years
  45 - 64 years
  65+ years

Source: 2011 National Household Survey

Labour force by industry

Public Administration:
99%
View more industry data

Source: 2011 National Household Survey

Employment by region

Select your region:
Vancouver Island / Coast Mainland / Southwest Thompson-Okanagan Kootenay Cariboo Northeast North Coast & Nechako
  % employment of this occupation
  % employment of all occupations
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland / Southwest
North Coast & Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island / Coast

Source: 2011 National Household Survey

Career paths and resources

Career paths

Progression to commissioned police officer positions is possible with additional training and experience.

Additional resources

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Profile last updated:
March 27, 2018
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