First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives (SOC 33-1012) earn a median $106,040 a year ($50.98 an hour) in the United States, with 154,610 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is California.
What first-line supervisors of police and detectives do
First-line supervisors of police and detectives directly supervise and coordinate the activities of members of a police force. They supervise and coordinate the investigation of criminal cases, offering guidance and expertise to investigators and making sure procedures follow laws and regulations, and they direct the collection, preparation and handling of evidence and of prisoners' personal property. They prepare work schedules and assign duties to subordinates, explain police operations to help them perform their job, and train staff in proper police work procedures. They inform personnel of changes in regulations and policies, the implications of new or amended laws, and new techniques of police work. They investigate and resolve personnel problems and charges of misconduct against staff, maintain logs, prepare reports, and direct the preparation and handling of departmental records. O*NET alternate titles include desk sergeant, detective sergeant, detective lieutenant, detective supervisor, captain and deputy sheriff. About 56 percent of respondents report a high school diploma, with about one in five each reporting some college courses or a bachelor's degree. The supervisor stays close to the work of patrol officers and investigators, in contrast to those who run a whole department.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical level of education for this occupation (56 percent).
Also called: Captain, Chief Deputy, Community Relations Police Lieutenant, Deputy Chief Sheriff, Deputy Sheriff.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $30.46 | $39.35 | $50.98 | $63.76 | $79.38 | $53.94 | 154,610 |
| Annual | $63,350 | $81,860 | $106,040 | $132,620 | $165,110 | $112,190 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where first-line supervisors of police and detectives earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $58.52 | $64.99 | $78.83 | $91.41 | $98.32 | $78.47 | 13,200 | 0.73 | 0.73 |
| Annual | $121,720 | $135,170 | $163,960 | $190,130 | $204,500 | $163,210 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $55.04 | $60.90 | $68.75 | $77.68 | $87.02 | $69.92 | 7,650 | 1.79 | 1.80 |
| Annual | $114,480 | $126,670 | $142,990 | $161,570 | $181,010 | $145,430 | ||||
| Hawaii | Hourly | $53.18 | $54.26 | $67.59 | $67.59 | $67.59 | $62.85 | 700 | 1.11 | 1.12 |
| Annual | $110,620 | $112,860 | $140,590 | $140,590 | $140,590 | $130,720 | ||||
| Alaska | Hourly | $40.79 | $48.10 | $66.02 | $81.85 | $93.08 | $66.60 | 320 | 0.99 | 0.99 |
| Annual | $84,850 | $100,040 | $137,320 | $170,250 | $193,610 | $138,520 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $50.82 | $60.48 | $65.52 | $77.55 | $86.91 | $68.59 | 2,750 | 0.78 | 0.78 |
| Annual | $105,710 | $125,800 | $136,280 | $161,310 | $180,770 | $142,670 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $58.52 | $64.99 | $78.83 | $91.41 | $98.32 | $78.47 | 13,200 | 0.73 | 0.73 |
| Annual | $121,720 | $135,170 | $163,960 | $190,130 | $204,500 | $163,210 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $45.24 | $48.17 | $59.66 | $72.16 | $91.13 | $62.14 | 12,750 | 1.32 | 1.32 |
| Annual | $94,100 | $100,200 | $124,080 | $150,080 | $189,550 | $129,240 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $30.21 | $38.96 | $48.50 | $60.73 | $75.56 | $51.37 | 9,900 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
| Annual | $62,840 | $81,040 | $100,880 | $126,320 | $157,160 | $106,840 | ||||
| Georgia | Hourly | $27.90 | $31.46 | $38.52 | $46.65 | $57.20 | $40.71 | 7,910 | 1.62 | 1.63 |
| Annual | $58,020 | $65,440 | $80,120 | $97,040 | $118,970 | $84,690 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $55.04 | $60.90 | $68.75 | $77.68 | $87.02 | $69.92 | 7,650 | 1.79 | 1.80 |
| Annual | $114,480 | $126,670 | $142,990 | $161,570 | $181,010 | $145,430 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $73.65 | $80.45 | $84.54 | $95.71 | $102.91 | $87.59 | 1,690 | 0.71 | 0.71 |
| Annual | $153,190 | $167,330 | $175,840 | $199,080 | $214,050 | $182,200 | ||||
| Vallejo, CA | Hourly | $66.26 | $72.61 | $84.17 | $94.12 | $102.66 | $83.71 | 150 | 1.01 | 1.01 |
| Annual | $137,820 | $151,030 | $175,070 | $195,770 | $213,530 | $174,110 | ||||
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | Hourly | $60.29 | $65.03 | $82.98 | $90.03 | $95.64 | $78.80 | 70 | 0.67 | 0.68 |
| Annual | $125,410 | $135,270 | $172,590 | $187,270 | $198,920 | $163,910 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $66.19 | $76.04 | $80.58 | $96.10 | $97.79 | $82.23 | 4,840 | 0.77 | 0.78 |
| Annual | $137,680 | $158,160 | $167,600 | $199,890 | $203,410 | $171,030 | ||||
| Napa, CA | Hourly | $46.29 | $65.84 | $78.92 | $99.31 | $100.52 | $79.21 | 50 | 0.60 | 0.61 |
| Annual | $96,280 | $136,950 | $164,150 | $206,560 | $209,080 | $164,760 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $48.10 | $59.60 | $65.04 | $77.68 | $94.69 | $68.42 | 13,970 | 1.47 | 1.48 |
| Annual | $100,050 | $123,970 | $135,270 | $161,570 | $196,960 | $142,320 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $43.16 | $51.53 | $60.56 | $77.22 | $93.84 | $63.80 | 5,050 | 1.61 | 1.62 |
| Annual | $89,770 | $107,170 | $125,960 | $160,610 | $195,190 | $132,690 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $66.19 | $76.04 | $80.58 | $96.10 | $97.79 | $82.23 | 4,840 | 0.77 | 0.78 |
| Annual | $137,680 | $158,160 | $167,600 | $199,890 | $203,410 | $171,030 | ||||
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Hourly | $30.87 | $36.74 | $39.35 | $47.55 | $59.22 | $43.39 | 4,460 | 1.54 | 1.55 |
| Annual | $64,220 | $76,410 | $81,860 | $98,910 | $123,170 | $90,250 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $51.17 | $62.67 | $64.94 | $67.40 | $78.19 | $64.91 | 3,800 | 0.84 | 0.85 |
| Annual | $106,430 | $130,360 | $135,080 | $140,190 | $162,640 | $135,000 | ||||
Top industries employing first-line supervisors of police and detectives
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) employ 82.5% of first-line supervisors of police and detectives nationally (127,560 jobs) at a median $103,250 a year ($49.64 an hour), followed by State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) (10.4%) and Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) (4.0%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 127,560 | 82.5% | $103,250 | $49.64 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999200 | 16,100 | 10.4% | $119,780 | $57.59 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999100 | 6,150 | 4.0% | $181,600 | $87.31 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 3,290 | 2.1% | $91,450 | $43.97 |
| Junior Colleges NAICS 611200 | 620 | 0.4% | $75,300 | $36.20 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (154,610). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $99,330 for first-line supervisors of police and detectives in May 2021 and $106,040 in May 2025, with employment of 128,230 and 154,610.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $99,330 | $47.76 | 128,230 |
| May 2022 | $96,290 | $46.29 | 131,860 |
| May 2023 | $101,750 | $48.92 | 138,140 |
| May 2024 | $105,980 | $50.95 | 153,130 |
| May 2025 | $106,040 | $50.98 | 154,610 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California profile | $78.83 | $163,960 | $121,720 | $204,500 | 13,200 | 0.73 | 0.73 |
| 2 | New Jersey profile | $68.75 | $142,990 | $114,480 | $181,010 | 7,650 | 1.79 | 1.80 |
| 3 | Hawaii profile | $67.59 | $140,590 | $110,620 | $140,590 | 700 | 1.11 | 1.12 |
| 4 | Alaska profile | $66.02 | $137,320 | $84,850 | $193,610 | 320 | 0.99 | 0.99 |
| 5 | Washington profile | $65.52 | $136,280 | $105,710 | $180,770 | 2,750 | 0.78 | 0.78 |
| 6 | Illinois profile | $64.94 | $135,080 | $81,750 | $162,640 | 4,900 | 0.80 | 0.81 |
| 7 | District of Columbia profile | $64.79 | $134,760 | $98,690 | $195,190 | 1,230 | 1.76 | 1.77 |
| 8 | Nevada profile | $63.51 | $132,100 | $94,260 | $163,940 | 1,300 | 0.84 | 0.84 |
| 9 | Delaware profile | $63.02 | $131,080 | $98,030 | $190,120 | 410 | 0.85 | 0.85 |
| 10 | Colorado profile | $60.97 | $126,810 | $88,800 | $156,310 | 2,790 | 0.97 | 0.98 |
| 11 | New York profile | $59.66 | $124,080 | $94,100 | $189,550 | 12,750 | 1.32 | 1.32 |
| 12 | Oregon profile | $58.72 | $122,130 | $96,670 | $151,920 | 1,470 | 0.75 | 0.75 |
| 13 | Maryland profile | $58.03 | $120,700 | $78,720 | $160,590 | 6,700 | 2.43 | 2.44 |
| 14 | Minnesota profile | $57.09 | $118,750 | $79,050 | $136,430 | 2,870 | 0.97 | 0.98 |
| 15 | Texas profile | $53.36 | $111,000 | $70,910 | $149,570 | 5,540 | 0.39 | 0.40 |
| 16 | Utah profile | $53.12 | $110,500 | $82,270 | $135,490 | 1,360 | 0.78 | 0.79 |
| 17 | Connecticut profile | $52.58 | $109,360 | $94,500 | $142,020 | 2,240 | 1.32 | 1.33 |
| 18 | Nebraska profile | $51.01 | $106,100 | $73,920 | $143,290 | 730 | 0.72 | 0.72 |
| 19 | Arizona profile | $50.41 | $104,850 | $81,350 | $158,610 | 2,790 | 0.86 | 0.87 |
| 20 | Massachusetts profile | $50.15 | $104,320 | $77,110 | $159,680 | 5,540 | 1.52 | 1.53 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania profile | $49.23 | $102,400 | $72,840 | $137,980 | 5,690 | 0.94 | 0.94 |
| 22 | Virginia profile | $48.67 | $101,230 | $67,690 | $179,030 | 3,750 | 0.91 | 0.92 |
| 23 | Florida profile | $48.50 | $100,880 | $62,840 | $157,160 | 9,900 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
| 24 | New Hampshire profile | $48.10 | $100,060 | $79,790 | $121,910 | 940 | 1.38 | 1.39 |
| 25 | Vermont profile | $47.73 | $99,280 | $79,780 | $129,940 | 210 | 0.69 | 0.70 |
| 26 | Iowa profile | $47.52 | $98,840 | $76,150 | $126,470 | 1,370 | 0.88 | 0.88 |
| 27 | Ohio profile | $47.30 | $98,380 | $64,540 | $131,250 | 5,170 | 0.93 | 0.94 |
| 28 | North Dakota profile | $47.26 | $98,300 | $77,090 | $128,430 | 440 | 1.02 | 1.03 |
| 29 | Michigan profile | $47.19 | $98,140 | $69,680 | $122,200 | 3,290 | 0.75 | 0.75 |
| 30 | Rhode Island profile | $46.97 | $97,690 | $77,160 | $136,470 | 820 | 1.64 | 1.65 |
| 31 | Wisconsin profile | $46.69 | $97,120 | $77,250 | $125,950 | 2,080 | 0.71 | 0.71 |
| 32 | Idaho profile | $45.64 | $94,920 | $65,850 | $137,450 | 930 | 1.09 | 1.09 |
| 33 | Missouri profile | $45.41 | $94,440 | $59,610 | $125,000 | 3,490 | 1.19 | 1.20 |
| 34 | Maine profile | $44.40 | $92,350 | $77,630 | $118,590 | 440 | 0.69 | 0.70 |
| 35 | New Mexico profile | $44.33 | $92,200 | $59,990 | $130,510 | 1,320 | 1.52 | 1.53 |
| 36 | Wyoming profile | $43.94 | $91,400 | $66,890 | $113,360 | 430 | 1.53 | 1.54 |
| 37 | North Carolina profile | $43.80 | $91,100 | $61,750 | $124,120 | 4,820 | 0.98 | 0.98 |
| 38 | Montana profile | $42.97 | $89,380 | $68,050 | $128,540 | 450 | 0.88 | 0.89 |
| 39 | South Dakota profile | $42.22 | $87,810 | $71,650 | $140,500 | 190 | 0.42 | 0.42 |
| 40 | Kansas profile | $39.88 | $82,950 | $58,410 | $124,640 | 2,330 | 1.62 | 1.63 |
| 41 | Oklahoma profile | $39.82 | $82,830 | $48,380 | $121,100 | 2,420 | 1.42 | 1.43 |
| 42 | Indiana profile | $39.20 | $81,540 | $60,120 | $127,700 | 1,700 | 0.53 | 0.53 |
| 43 | Kentucky profile | $38.65 | $80,390 | $54,580 | $122,770 | 1,600 | 0.80 | 0.81 |
| 44 | Georgia profile | $38.52 | $80,120 | $58,020 | $118,970 | 7,910 | 1.62 | 1.63 |
| 45 | Alabama profile | $36.53 | $75,970 | $48,520 | $121,430 | 1,900 | 0.90 | 0.91 |
| 46 | Tennessee profile | $35.95 | $74,770 | $47,720 | $122,620 | 4,430 | 1.35 | 1.36 |
| 47 | West Virginia profile | $35.71 | $74,280 | $51,380 | $88,880 | 490 | 0.70 | 0.70 |
| 48 | South Carolina profile | $35.43 | $73,700 | $56,750 | $118,240 | 1,560 | 0.68 | 0.68 |
| 49 | Louisiana profile | $33.88 | $70,470 | $47,810 | $94,990 | 3,120 | 1.61 | 1.62 |
| 50 | Arkansas profile | $29.95 | $62,290 | $43,440 | $95,580 | 2,100 | 1.61 | 1.62 |
| 51 | Mississippi profile | $28.78 | $59,860 | $45,590 | $86,960 | 2,060 | 1.78 | 1.79 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (33-1010), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Protective Service Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 33-1012 First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 33-1012, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 33-1012.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.