First-line supervisors of police and detectives salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $63,350 | $30.46 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $106,040 | $50.98 |
| Mean (average) | $112,190 | $53.94 |
| 90th percentile | $165,110 | $79.38 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
First-line supervisors of police and detectives pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 53 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $75,970 | $48,520 | $121,430 | 1,900 | 0.91 |
| Alaska | $137,320 | $84,850 | $193,610 | 320 | 0.99 |
| Arizona | $104,850 | $81,350 | $158,610 | 2,790 | 0.87 |
| Arkansas | $62,290 | $43,440 | $95,580 | 2,100 | 1.62 |
| California | $163,960 | $121,720 | $204,500 | 13,200 | 0.73 |
| Colorado | $126,810 | $88,800 | $156,310 | 2,790 | 0.98 |
| Connecticut | $109,360 | $94,500 | $142,020 | 2,240 | 1.33 |
| Delaware | $131,080 | $98,030 | $190,120 | 410 | 0.85 |
| District of Columbia | $134,760 | $98,690 | $195,190 | 1,230 | 1.77 |
| Florida | $100,880 | $62,840 | $157,160 | 9,900 | 1 |
| Georgia | $80,120 | $58,020 | $118,970 | 7,910 | 1.63 |
| Hawaii | $140,590 | $110,620 | $140,590 | 700 | 1.12 |
| Idaho | $94,920 | $65,850 | $137,450 | 930 | 1.09 |
| Illinois | $135,080 | $81,750 | $162,640 | 4,900 | 0.81 |
| Indiana | $81,540 | $60,120 | $127,700 | 1,700 | 0.53 |
| Iowa | $98,840 | $76,150 | $126,470 | 1,370 | 0.88 |
| Kansas | $82,950 | $58,410 | $124,640 | 2,330 | 1.63 |
| Kentucky | $80,390 | $54,580 | $122,770 | 1,600 | 0.81 |
| Louisiana | $70,470 | $47,810 | $94,990 | 3,120 | 1.62 |
| Maine | $92,350 | $77,630 | $118,590 | 440 | 0.7 |
| Maryland | $120,700 | $78,720 | $160,590 | 6,700 | 2.44 |
| Massachusetts | $104,320 | $77,110 | $159,680 | 5,540 | 1.53 |
| Michigan | $98,140 | $69,680 | $122,200 | 3,290 | 0.75 |
| Minnesota | $118,750 | $79,050 | $136,430 | 2,870 | 0.98 |
| Mississippi | $59,860 | $45,590 | $86,960 | 2,060 | 1.79 |
| Missouri | $94,440 | $59,610 | $125,000 | 3,490 | 1.2 |
| Montana | $89,380 | $68,050 | $128,540 | 450 | 0.89 |
| Nebraska | $106,100 | $73,920 | $143,290 | 730 | 0.72 |
| Nevada | $132,100 | $94,260 | $163,940 | 1,300 | 0.84 |
| New Hampshire | $100,060 | $79,790 | $121,910 | 940 | 1.39 |
| New Jersey | $142,990 | $114,480 | $181,010 | 7,650 | 1.8 |
| New Mexico | $92,200 | $59,990 | $130,510 | 1,320 | 1.53 |
| New York | $124,080 | $94,100 | $189,550 | 12,750 | 1.32 |
| North Carolina | $91,100 | $61,750 | $124,120 | 4,820 | 0.98 |
| North Dakota | $98,300 | $77,090 | $128,430 | 440 | 1.03 |
| Ohio | $98,380 | $64,540 | $131,250 | 5,170 | 0.94 |
| Oklahoma | $82,830 | $48,380 | $121,100 | 2,420 | 1.43 |
| Oregon | $122,130 | $96,670 | $151,920 | 1,470 | 0.75 |
| Pennsylvania | $102,400 | $72,840 | $137,980 | 5,690 | 0.94 |
| Puerto Rico | $50,300 | $35,540 | $58,190 | 2,900 | 3.11 |
| Rhode Island | $97,690 | $77,160 | $136,470 | 820 | 1.65 |
| South Carolina | $73,700 | $56,750 | $118,240 | 1,560 | 0.68 |
| South Dakota | $87,810 | $71,650 | $140,500 | 190 | 0.42 |
| Tennessee | $74,770 | $47,720 | $122,620 | 4,430 | 1.36 |
| Texas | $111,000 | $70,910 | $149,570 | 5,540 | 0.4 |
| Utah | $110,500 | $82,270 | $135,490 | 1,360 | 0.79 |
| Vermont | $99,280 | $79,780 | $129,940 | 210 | 0.7 |
| Virgin Islands | $82,380 | $61,500 | $108,640 | 100 | 3.23 |
| Virginia | $101,230 | $67,690 | $179,030 | 3,750 | 0.92 |
| Washington | $136,280 | $105,710 | $180,770 | 2,750 | 0.78 |
| West Virginia | $74,280 | $51,380 | $88,880 | 490 | 0.7 |
| Wisconsin | $97,120 | $77,250 | $125,950 | 2,080 | 0.71 |
| Wyoming | $91,400 | $66,890 | $113,360 | 430 | 1.54 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for first-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 10,600. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for first-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Environmental/Natural Resources Law Enforcement and Protective Services CIP 03.0208
- Signal/Geospatial Intelligence CIP 29.0203
- Criminal Justice and Corrections, General CIP 43.0100
- Corrections CIP 43.0102
- Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration CIP 43.0103
- Criminal Justice/Safety Studies CIP 43.0104
- Law Enforcement Record-Keeping and Evidence Management CIP 43.0115
- Critical Incident Response/Special Police Operations CIP 43.0119
- Protective Services Operations CIP 43.0120
- Maritime Law Enforcement CIP 43.0122
- Cultural/Archaelogical Resources Protection CIP 43.0123
- Homeland Security CIP 43.0301
- Crisis/Emergency/Disaster Management CIP 43.0302
- Critical Infrastructure Protection CIP 43.0303
- Terrorism and Counterterrorism Operations CIP 43.0304
- Security Science and Technology, General CIP 43.0401
- Cybersecurity Defense Strategy/Policy CIP 43.0404
- Geospatial Intelligence CIP 43.0407
- Security Science and Technology, Other CIP 43.0499
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Supervise 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.
- Prepare work schedules and assign duties to subordinates.
- Direct collection, preparation, and handling of evidence and personal property of prisoners.
- Investigate and resolve personnel problems within organization and charges of misconduct against staff.
- Explain police operations to subordinates to assist them in performing their job duties.
- Maintain logs, prepare reports, and direct the preparation, handling, and maintenance of departmental records.
- Inform personnel of changes in regulations and policies, implications of new or amended laws, and new techniques of police work.
- Train staff in proper police work procedures.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Visio (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Computer aided composite drawing software
- Computer aided dispatch software
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
- Crime mapping software
- DesignWare 3D EyeWitness
- Email software
- Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System IAFIS
- Law enforcement information databases
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Management of Personnel Resources, Coordination, Persuasion, Instructing, Complex Problem Solving.
Common job titles: Captain, Deputy Sheriff, Detective Sergeant, Lieutenant, Patrol Sergeant, Police Captain, Police Chief, Police Lieutenant, Police Sergeant, Shift Supervisor.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do first-line supervisors of police and detectives make?
The national median annual wage for first-line supervisors of police and detectives was $106,040 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $63,350 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $165,110. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do first-line supervisors of police and detectives need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with less than 5 years of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is first-line supervisors of police and detectives a growing career?
BLS projects employment of first-line supervisors of police and detectives to change +3.3% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 10,600 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay first-line supervisors of police and detectives the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were California ($163,960), New Jersey ($142,990), Hawaii ($140,590). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.