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Career

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives

Typical education: High school diplomaHigh pressure

What they do

Directly supervise and coordinate activities of members of police force.

Kinds of work

  • Enterprising: Leading, persuading, selling and starting new projects or businesses.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $106,040 Median per year · $50.98/hr Most earn $63,350–$165,110

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Maintain logs, prepare reports, and direct the preparation, handling, and maintenance of departmental records.
  • Conduct raids and order detention of witnesses and suspects for questioning.
  • Requisition and issue equipment and supplies.
  • Monitor and evaluate the job performance of subordinates, and authorize promotions and transfers.
  • Maintain logs, prepare reports, and direct the preparation, handling, and maintenance of departmental records.
  • Inspect facilities, supplies, vehicles, and equipment to ensure conformance to standards.

Job outlook

United States
3% more jobs by 2035, about as fast as average · about 10,600 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals81.5%
  • State government, excluding education and hospitals10.8%
  • Federal government, excluding postal service4.1%
  • Colleges, universities, and professional schools2.7%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: None

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: NoneEntry-level

This career is listed with a high school diploma as typical education and no required prior work experience, so it's not out of reach right after school. In practice, supervisor jobs usually go to people who have already worked as officers, and requirements vary by department, so check the specific agency you're interested in.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finish school with strong grades, reading, writing, and communication skills, since supervisors write reports and lead teams.

  2. Police Academy Certificate, then Police Officer

    Several months to 1 year

    Complete required police academy training and certification, then work as a patrol officer to learn the job from the ground up.

  3. First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives

    Varies by agency

    Once you have shown good judgment and leadership on patrol, you can be promoted to supervise and coordinate the officers on your team.

Where it can lead

  1. Police Lieutenant

    Several years as a supervisor of experience first

    Lieutenants oversee larger groups or whole units and handle more planning and budgeting, usually after proving yourself as a sergeant-level supervisor.

  2. Police Captain

    Several years as a lieutenant of experience first

    Captains lead major divisions of a department and set policy, which takes strong management experience and often advanced training.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take English and speech or debate classesClear writing and speaking are needed to write reports and give direction to a team.
  • Take civics, government, or psychologyThese classes help you understand how laws, communities, and people's behavior work.
  • Join a leadership club or student councilTaking a leadership role shows you how it feels to organize and guide others.
  • Volunteer with a community or safety organizationHelping neighbors builds trust and shows you how to work with the public.
  • Get a part-time job that involves teamwork or responsibilityJobs like retail or food service teach you to handle pressure and follow procedures.

In college

  • Study criminal justice, public administration, or a related majorThese majors cover law enforcement, leadership, and how public agencies are run.
  • Take courses in writing, communication, and conflict resolutionSupervisors must write clear reports and calmly resolve disagreements on their team.
  • Join a criminal justice or pre-law student groupGroup involvement helps you learn about the field and build leadership experience.
  • Work a campus job that involves supervising or customer serviceExperience managing shifts or helping people builds practical leadership skills.
  • Seek an internship with a police department or public safety agencyAn internship gives you a real look at how departments are organized and how supervisors work.

Tips for getting started

  • Look up the requirements for police officers in your city, county, or state, since academy rules and promotion steps differ a lot from place to place.
  • Build people skills now by joining a team, leading a group project, or working a customer-facing job, because supervisors spend much of their time guiding others.
  • Keep a clean record and stay physically fit, since police hiring usually includes background checks and fitness tests.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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