Protective service
First-line supervisors of police and detectives
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of members of police force.
Median pay
$106,040
Growth to 2035
+3%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
10,600
Time to qualify*
2.5 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
First-line supervisors of police and detectives
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- Less than 5 years
Calculate your switch to first-line supervisors of police and detectives
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Exposure to disease
First-line supervisors of police and detectives: 56% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core 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.
Also called: Captain · Deputy Sheriff · Detective Sergeant · Lieutenant · Patrol Sergeant · Police Captain · Police Chief · Police Lieutenant
Outlook and AI
First-line supervisors of police and detectives held 160,200 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 165,400 by 2035 (+3%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- First-line supervisors of police and detectives vs. Police officer
- First-line supervisors of police and detectives vs. Detectives and criminal investigators
- First-line supervisors of police and detectives vs. First-line supervisor of correctional officers
- First-line supervisors of police and detectives vs. First-line supervisor of security workers
- First-line supervisors of police and detectives vs. Transit and railroad police
- First-line supervisors of police and detectives vs. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- First-line supervisors of police and detectives vs. Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists
- First-line supervisors of police and detectives vs. Correctional officers and jailers
- First-line supervisors of police and detectives vs. Bailiff