Also called: Highway Patrol Officer, State Police Officer
Patrols highways and assists rural areas as part of a state police force.
Troopers spend much of their shift on the interstate, stopping speeders, working serious crashes, and helping stranded drivers. State police also investigate major crimes and help small towns. Training academies are famously tough and often live-in.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 1 year after high school. High school diploma or college credits; live-in state police academy.
Ways in: On-the-job training, 4-year college, Military. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Criminal Justice, Criminology.
Growing about average (about 3% over 10 years). BLS police and detectives 2024-34.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. Speed cameras and safer self-driving cars may trim traffic stops by the 2030s; crash scenes, rural backup and major cases stay human.
Classes: Driver's ed, PE / distance running, Physics, Government / Civics.
Official data: O*NET occupation 33-3051.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.