First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives
Also called: Supervisors of Police and Detectives
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of members of police force.
Also called: Captain, Chief Deputy, Community Relations Police Lieutenant, Deputy Chief Sheriff, Deputy Sheriff, Desk Sergeant
Median pay
$106,040
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$63,350 – $165,110
People employed
154,610
Holland code
ECS
Enterprising · Conventional · Social
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you enjoy serving customers or the public?
- 2.Are you OK working outdoors in all kinds of weather?
- 3.Do you want to lead or coordinate other people’s work?
- 4.Are you OK with physical risk, such as hazardous equipment or conditions, with proper training?
- 5.Are you happy talking and working with people most of the day?
- 6.Do you prefer a steady pace without constant deadlines?
- 7.Do you want a lot of freedom to make your own decisions?
The hard parts
- Work outdoors in all weather
- Dealing with conflict is part of the job
- Mistakes can have serious consequences
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives salary in every state →
What first-line supervisors of police and detectives do
- 01Supervise and coordinate the investigation of criminal cases, offering guidance and expertise to investigators, and ensuring that procedures are conducted in accordance with laws and regulations.
- 02Prepare work schedules and assign duties to subordinates.
- 03Direct collection, preparation, and handling of evidence and personal property of prisoners.
- 04Investigate and resolve personnel problems within organization and charges of misconduct against staff.
- 05Explain police operations to subordinates to assist them in performing their job duties.
- 06Maintain logs, prepare reports, and direct the preparation, handling, and maintenance of departmental records.
Skills that matter most
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Public Safety and Security
- Law and Government
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administration and Management
- English Language
Work styles that stand out
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Cautiousness
- Cooperation
- Self-Control
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year.
- A certification can help.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from first-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators78% · −12%
- Transit and Railroad Police77% · −15%
- Postmasters and Mail Superintendents74% · −9%
- Gambling Managers73% · −12%
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers72% · −28%
Change into first-line supervisors of police and detectives
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Bailiffs84% · $56,600
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers84% · $76,210
- Correctional Officers and Jailers83% · $58,940
- Transit and Railroad Police82% · $90,230
- Customs and Border Protection Officers81% · $76,210
Majors that lead here
- Environmental/Natural Resources Law Enforcement and Protective Services
- Signal/Geospatial Intelligence
- Criminal Justice and Corrections, General
- Corrections
- Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration
- Criminal Justice/Safety Studies
- Law Enforcement Record-Keeping and Evidence Management
- Critical Incident Response/Special Police Operations
- Protective Services Operations
- Maritime Law Enforcement
- Cultural/Archaelogical Resources Protection
- Homeland Security
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.