Police work builds social perceptiveness, judgment and coordination, skills that matter in supervision, inspection and compliance. Of the 25 careers below, First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives match best at 84%, with a BLS May 2025 median of $106,040.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | 84% | $106,040 | +39% | None |
| 2 | First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | 80% | $77,970 | +2% | None |
| 3 | Coroners | 79% | $80,730Pay for the broader BLS group “Compliance Officers” | Not compared | None |
| 4 | First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | 77% | $93,530 | +23% | None |
| 5 | Compliance Officers | 75% | $80,730 | +6% | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Fire Inspectors and Investigators | 74% | $75,920 | 0% | None |
| 7 | Air Traffic Controllers | 72% | $148,080 | +94% | None |
| 8 | Flight Attendants | 70% | $63,580 | −17% | None |
| 9 | Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists | 70% | $66,270 | −13% | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage | 68% | $78,240 | +3% | None |
Compared with Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers, median $76,210. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in police officers’ work (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
Officers read tense situations fast, make decisions that hold up later and work closely with dispatch, courts and other agencies. O*NET rates social perceptiveness at 4 out of 5 for patrol officers, which is why investigation, compliance and emergency roles rank high. Fire inspectors and compliance officers use the same eye for detail you bring to a report. Supervisor roles build on the field experience you already have. The main gaps are management skills, such as operations analysis and leading staff.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
84% skill match · $106,040 · +39% pay
Management of Personnel Resources · Operations Analysis · Instructing
80% skill match · $77,970 · +2% pay
Management of Personnel Resources · Operations Analysis · Systems Evaluation
79% skill match · $80,730 (broader BLS group)
Equipment Selection · Operations Analysis · Complex Problem Solving
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives (84%), First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers (80%) and Coroners (79%), based on O*NET 31.0 data. Outside law enforcement, Compliance Officers (75%) and Fire Inspectors and Investigators (74%) also use your judgment and reporting skills.
9 of the 25 matches pay more than the $76,210 median for patrol officers in BLS May 2025 data. Air Traffic Controllers lead at $148,080, a 94% increase, though the FAA has strict hiring rules. Police supervisors earn $106,040 (+39%) and fire supervisors earn $93,530 (+23%).
Mostly not. 20 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than a patrol officer has, based on O*NET Job Zones. The other 5 usually need a bachelor's degree, including Compliance Officers and Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists, so check the education column first.
Within law enforcement, the nearest roles are Transit and Railroad Police (94% match), Detectives and Criminal Investigators (90%) and Customs and Border Protection Officers (87%). Bailiffs (85%) and Fish and Game Wardens (78%) are other options that keep you in public safety with a different daily routine.