Police clerks handle the records and processing work in police departments — managing reports, processing requests, and maintaining the documentation that police work generates.
Police Clerk pay typically runs $35K–$53K at this level, and jobs in this field are projected to shrink 7% through 2034.
Workdays involve steady processing work — entering reports, processing records requests, maintaining files. The work tends to be detail-heavy with legal implications that most clerical work doesn't carry — police records show up in court, and they have to hold up.
Collaboration usually involves officers, the public, attorneys, and other agencies. What's harder than expected is the legal sensitivity of police records — small errors create real problems, and records requests sometimes come from people whose interest in the records is itself sensitive (victims, attorneys, journalists, suspects).
People who thrive tend to be methodical, accurate, and discreet. If you find satisfaction in supporting law enforcement records work, the role often fits. People who can't hold the discretion the work requires, or who don't connect with the law enforcement mission, usually find the role wearing.
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Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.
It's your career.
Take the wheel.
Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.
Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths
View all Admin & Office roles →Police clerks handle the records and processing work in police departments — managing reports, processing requests, and maintaining the documentation that police work generates.
Median pay for a Police Clerk is about $44K nationally, with the field ranging roughly from $29K to $64K depending on experience, employer, and metro (BLS).
Core skills for this role include Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking, Writing, and Social Perceptiveness.
Most people in this role hold a high school diploma.
Employment in this field is projected to decline about 6.7% through 2034, with roughly 2.5 million people working in it today (BLS).
Closely related roles include Laundry Clerk, Field Representative, and Blood Bank Calendar Control Clerk.
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