First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives: Career Overview
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of members of police force.
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What Do First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives Take On?
The day-to-day responsibilities of first-line supervisors of police and detectives include:
- 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.
Skills and Knowledge
Successful first-line supervisors of police and detectives draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
These are the skills most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives Jobs
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Captain
- Chief Deputy
- Community Relations Police Lieutenant
- Deputy Chief Sheriff
- Deputy Sheriff
- Desk Sergeant
- Detective Chief
- Detective Lieutenant
Employment and Demand
There are about 259,513 first-line supervisors of police and detectives working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +11.9% over the projection horizon.
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $52,907 |
| Hourly median | $25.44 |
| 10th percentile | $34,797 |
| 25th percentile | $43,852 |
| 75th percentile | $61,961 |
| 90th percentile | $71,016 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $162,740 |
| New Jersey | $144,160 |
| Illinois | $136,440 |
| District of Columbia | $134,760 |
| Washington | $134,120 |
| Nevada | $133,660 |
| Alaska | $132,320 |
| Hawaii | $129,360 |
| Colorado | $128,310 |
| Oregon | $123,500 |
| New York | $122,720 |
| Delaware | $120,080 |
| Maryland | $119,290 |
| Connecticut | $110,460 |
| Texas | $110,030 |
| Utah | $109,760 |
| Nebraska | $107,360 |
| Arizona | $106,750 |
| Massachusetts | $105,150 |
| Vermont | $105,040 |
| Pennsylvania | $102,420 |
| Virginia | $102,040 |
| Florida | $101,340 |
| Minnesota | $100,680 |
| Iowa | $100,550 |
| New Hampshire | $99,550 |
| Wisconsin | $99,160 |
| Michigan | $99,130 |
| Ohio | $98,000 |
| North Dakota | $97,370 |
| New Mexico | $93,290 |
| Rhode Island | $93,110 |
| Indiana | $92,660 |
| Missouri | $91,150 |
| Idaho | $90,010 |
| Wyoming | $88,300 |
| Maine | $87,160 |
| North Carolina | $87,110 |
| Montana | $84,110 |
| South Dakota | $83,220 |
| Kansas | $82,220 |
| South Carolina | $80,230 |
| Kentucky | $80,080 |
| Georgia | $79,240 |
| Oklahoma | $79,120 |
| Alabama | $75,140 |
| West Virginia | $72,960 |
| Tennessee | $72,220 |
| Louisiana | $69,790 |
| Arkansas | $63,350 |
| Mississippi | $58,470 |
| Puerto Rico | $49,190 |
Where First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives Earn the Most
Earnings for first-line supervisors of police and detectives vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $152,498 | 12.3% | 0.75 |
| Middle Atlantic | $123,865 | 22.0% | 1.68 |
| Rocky Mountains | $110,759 | 3.6% | 0.95 |
| Great Lakes | $110,332 | 11.0% | 0.82 |
| New England | $104,047 | 6.1% | 1.35 |
| Southwest | $101,812 | 7.6% | 0.79 |
| Plains States | $94,794 | 8.0% | 1.25 |
| Southeast | $83,634 | 27.5% | 1.22 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Centro, CA | CA | $177,610 | 50 |
| Vallejo, CA | CA | $176,840 | 130 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $173,900 | 1,720 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $169,590 | 4,800 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $168,660 | 340 |
| Napa, CA | CA | $168,580 | 50 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | CA | $159,820 | 1,260 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | CA | $158,430 | 80 |
Which Industries Hire First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives
Most first-line supervisors of police and detectives are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services | 4,350 | $86,970 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 280 | $84,970 |
Below are examples of industries where first-line supervisors of police and detectives work:
Tech Stack
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Web platform development software: Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Process mapping and design software: Microsoft Visio (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The work environment for first-line supervisors of police and detectives tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Telephone Conversations
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
- Contact With Others
Education and Training
Entry-level first-line supervisors of police and detectives positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Emergency Management Directors (Supplemental)
- Compliance Officers (Supplemental)
- Coroners (Supplemental)
- Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists (Primary-Long)
- First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers (Primary-Short)
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers (Primary-Long)
- First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers (Primary-Short)
- Bailiffs (Primary-Long)
Degree Programs
Future first-line supervisors of police and detectives commonly pursue programs in:
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services
17 programs across 3 majors
Natural Resources and Conservation
1 programs across 1 majors
Military Technologies and Applied Sciences
1 programs across 1 majors
References
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 33-1012.00 (First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives).
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