How to become a First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives

Official title: First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives

Also called: Captain, Deputy Sheriff, Detective Sergeant, Lieutenant, Patrol Sergeant, Police Captain, Police Chief, Police Lieutenant, Police Sergeant, Shift Supervisor

Directly supervise and coordinate activities of members of police force.

Main 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.

How to become one

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Median pay: $106,040 a year The middle half earn $81,860 to $132,620.
• About 160,200 people work in this job now, and about 165,400 are projected by 2035. (+3.3%)
• People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Related jobs

• First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers
• First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers
• First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers

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Questions people ask

How much does a First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $106,040 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $81,860 to $132,620.

Is a First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 3% by 2035, from about 160,200 to about 165,400 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives?

Not always. 47% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

• Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.