Staff sergeant is a rank of non-commissioned officer used in the armed forces of many countries.

In origin, certain senior sergeants were assigned to administrative, supervisory, or other specialist duties as part of the staff of a British Army regiment.

As such they held seniority over sergeants who were members of a battalion or company, and were paid correspondingly increased wages.

Their seniority was indicated by a crown worn above the three sergeant's stripes on their uniform rank markings.

Post-unification, the Canadian Armed Forces replaced the rank with that of Warrant Officer.

In the Norwegian Defence Forces, the tasks and responsibilities of the staff sergeant (Norwegian: Stabssersjant) are not clear; quite recently, in January 2016, Norway replaced their old rank system, and implemented a new, which is more adapted to other NATO members.

The rank insignia of SSGT is one Singapore coat of arms and three pointed-down chevrons below it.

[12] Staff sergeants wear a rank insignia of two pointed-up chevrons, one Singapore coat of arms and three pointed-down chevrons, with the letters 'NCC' located below the insignia to differentiate NCC cadets from SAF personnel.

In the National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) and the National Civil Defence Cadet Corps (NCDCC), the rank of staff sergeant is above sergeant, and below Station Inspector and Warrant Officer respectively.

[13][14] The rank of staff sergeant generally is awarded to cadets when they are in Secondary Four, before they pass out.

NPCC and NCDCC staff sergeants wear a rank insignia of one Singapore coat of arms and three pointed-down chevrons.

Staff sergeants in SJB wear a rank insignia of one St John coat of arms and three pointed-down chevrons.

The equivalent rank in infantry regiments is colour sergeant, and holders are known by that title no matter what their appointment.

[19] Until the end of World War II, the insignia of platoon sergeant was three chevrons and a rocker (worn by "line" NCO grades), with staff sergeant having a horizontal stripe (worn by "staff" NCO grades) instead of a rocker below the chevrons.

Other national police services (for example, Cyprus) have a corresponding rank of senior sergeant.