How to become a Specialist Police Officer

Uses specialised operational tactics and technology to undertake serious crimes investigations, analyse evidence, resolve high-risk situations and run specialist police operations.

Main tasks

• Plans and undertakes police investigations into offences committed in areas such as organised, corporate and cybercrime, homicide, drug trafficking, money laundering and terrorism
• Recruits and manages informants within criminal investigations
• Assesses, controls and examines incident and crime scenes, and coordinates resources to collect and preserve evidence for analysis
• Uses surveillance techniques to monitor, track and locate suspects, and conducts raids and arrests on premises
• Provides intelligence support to police responses
• Uses specialist equipment and tactics in the containment and resolution of high-risk situations such as hostage situations, terrorist incidents, and chemical, biological or radiation incidents
• Undertakes vehicle crash investigation and analysis, including by applying specialist techniques to analyse complex crashes
• Prepares and undertakes land or marine search and rescue responses, including assessing terrain or marine conditions, coordinating resources and determining a safe route to the target
• Develops and presents the findings of police analysis and investigations in court

Ways in

• TAFE and VET: Advanced Diploma of Crash Analysis (POL60120); Advanced Diploma of Forensic Investigation (POL64124); Advanced Diploma of Human Source Management (POL62124); Advanced Diploma of Police Close Personal Protection (POL60121); Advanced Diploma of Police Intelligence Operations (POL60225); Advanced Diploma of Police Investigation (POL65125); Advanced Diploma of Police Negotiation (POL60319); Advanced Diploma of Police Search and Rescue Management (POL60421)

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Typical full-time pay: $133,120 a year
• About 67,500 people work in this job group now, and about 74,900 are projected by 2035. (+11.1%)
• AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Specialist Police Officer?

Ways in include: Advanced Diploma of Crash Analysis; Advanced Diploma of Forensic Investigation.

How much does a Specialist Police Officer earn in Australia?

Median full-time pay is $133,120 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Is a Specialist Police Officer a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 11% by 2035, from about 67,500 to about 74,900 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become a Specialist Police Officer?

Not always. 36% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Advanced Diploma of Crash Analysis; Advanced Diploma of Forensic Investigation.

Will AI change the work of a Specialist Police Officer?

AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

Sources

• Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04