First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of members of police force.
Also called: Captain · Deputy Sheriff · Detective Sergeant · Lieutenant · Patrol Sergeant · Police Captain
Median pay (national)
$105,980
$62,370–$165,050 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
153,130
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+2.9%
~10,900 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for first-line supervisors of police and detectives shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $165,050 versus $62,370 at the bottom 10% — 2.6x. The median of $105,980 leaves roughly 56% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +2.9% from 2024 to 2034 — about as fast as the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 10,900 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 52 states with released data, California pays the most for this role (median $162,740, +54% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $49,190 — a 231% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Microsoft Office software as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Active Learning
- Writing
- Learning Strategies
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- 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.
- 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.
- Monitor and evaluate the job performance of subordinates, and authorize promotions and transfers.
- Review contents of written orders to ensure adherence to legal requirements.
- Conduct raids and order detention of witnesses and suspects for questioning.
Tools & technology
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP
- Microsoft Visio
- Computer aided composite drawing software
- Computer aided dispatch software
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
- Crime mapping software
- DesignWare 3D EyeWitness
- Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System IAFIS
- Law enforcement information databases
- Microsoft Internet Explorer
- National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database
- National Integrated Ballistics Information Network NIBIN
- Scheduling software
- SmartDraw Legal
- Spillman Technologies Records Management
Knowledge areas
- Public Safety and Security
- Law and Government
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administration and Management
- English Language
- Psychology
- Sociology and Anthropology
- Therapy and Counseling